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A Pattern For Life
By: Michelle Edwards
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It’s a small pattern. Very small. Tiny. Knit half and you have a right
triangle. Knit both parts of the pattern and you have a square. Once memorized after the first
few rows, this pattern is very hard to forget. You can knit it as it is, half or whole, or
embed it in more elaborate patterns for washcloths, baby blankets, and shawls. You can write
the entire pattern on a napkin, the back of an envelope, or even a post-it. If you are so
inclined, you can write it on your hand.
Here’s the first part of the pattern: Cast on three stitches, knit one, yarn over, knit to
the end of row. Repeat this row. That’s it. If you want to make a shawl, warm and soft, in
the yarn and color of your choice, just keep knitting. Knit one, yarn over, knit to the end
row, until the shawl is the size you want.
If you’d rather make a wash cloth or a blanket, then you’ll need the other
half of this pattern. Again, you’ll knit the first half until your right triangle is the
size you want. Then decrease your stitches to make a square. Every row you’ll knit two
stitches together, yarn over, knit two stitches together again, knit to the end of the row. Do
this until there are only three stitches are left. Then, bind off. Voila. A square. I promise.
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Click here for the pattern.
Click here for the pattern for the tiny sachets.
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This is a pattern for life. Once you are friendly with it, you can put together a gift in a
jiffy. I always have a basket of squares going. Last year, after a marathon gift knitting
month, I made a couple of stacks of squares from left-over Wool-Eease Thick and Quick. They
sat on a bench in my living room waiting to be called into action. And soon they were.
"Mom, our bus driver’s leaving. She’s having a baby. Could you make her a
gift?" asked my youngest daughter, Lelia.
"Sure." Is there anything sweeter than knitting for a baby? Already I am thinking of
a totem jacket, my favorite Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern. In a washable wool, of course.
Heathered green, maybe.
Lelia could see me making plans. She hesitated only a second.
"Tomorrow’s her last day," She told me quickly. And in a moment of true mother
daughter unity, we both looked at the stack of squares on the bench. Did I mention this
conversation took place at 9:30 p.m.?
"I’ll help," Lelia promised. And she did. She laid out the squares and together we
sewed them into a small blanket. I crocheted a wide, thick edging. Lelia wrapped the gift and
made the card. We were a team. In the morning, she boarded the bus, with a handmade baby gift.
That’s the beauty of this pattern; it’s always ready to help out.
In my next life, I plan to knit complicated lacy shawls. But for now, I love the beauty of the
simple square.
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Need help with this pattern? Click here and let us know how we can be of assistance!
Authored by Michelle Edwards
Michelle Edwards is the author of A KNITTER'S HOME COMPANION. She has also written and illustrated many award winning children's books. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys talking about books in schools throughout the US and beyond. Her newest book, Room for the Baby, will be available from Random House in Fall 2012. Visit Michelle Edwards at her website or on Facebook. |
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