Mitred Knitting

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Mitred knitting is a knitting technique that is popular with beginners and knitting experts alike.

And although there are many different ways of working the decreases (some are more decorative than others), most if not all mitred squares follow a similar method.

Mitred Square Blanket | © Deborah Mason & Knitting Naturally

Basically, you cast on double the number of stitches for the block size you want your finished square to be, and then you start knitting decreasing one stitch on either side of the centre point on every second row until you have 1 stitch remaining.

The pattern in my blanket is done by using two colours for each block and changing the position of each colour in successive blocks.  To see how it all works and to grab a copy of the knitting instructions click through to my mitred blanket pattern page here.

These squares do not use much wool and you can either purchase wool for your project or the squares can be knitted using 'left-overs'.  Many frequent knitters collect their left-over yarn to make bright colourful blankets, throws or cushion covers with this knitting technique.  The squares are quick and easy to make, all the knitting is in garter stitch making them an ideal project for beginners.  

If you are planning on making a blanket or a throw with mitred squares you can either knit them all as individual squares and then sew them together, or you can use a block or modular method of joining your squares as you go.

What that means is that after you have made your first square(s) you begin the next and following squares by picking up and knitting stitches along the edge of your existing squares rather than doing a cast on edge as you would if you were making a new stand-alone square.

Mitred Square Sample | © Deborah Mason & Knitting Naturally

With this form of knitting, you can use a single colour for each square or create a pattern like the one above by changing colours halfway through knitting the square.  

The square in the picture has a cast on edge of 40 stitches, I changed the colour when I had 20 stitches remaining, creating the smaller square in the top left-hand corner of the square.

Instructions for a Basic Mitred Knitting Square

Cast on 40 Stitches.  

First 2 rows: Knit 18, k2tog tbl, knit to end of row.
Next 2 rows: Knit 17, k2tog tbl, knit to end of row.
Next 2 rows: Knit 16, k2tog tbl, knit to end of row.

Continue this pattern until you have 2 sts remaining. K2tog and fasten off.