Mitred squares blankets

Small blanket:

C1: Oyster 103: 2 balls
C2: Pink Cockatoo 150: 3 balls
C3: Donkey 104: 2 balls

• 4.5mm - You can use a pair of straight needles, but I prefer a 60cm circular needle, and a long circular for the border.
• You could do each side of the border separately, and seam the corners if you don't have a long enough needle.
  
  
  

Abbreviations:

• S1: Slip one
• K2tog: Knit the next 2 stitches together as if they were 1, thus decreasing one stitch.
• Psso: Pass the slipped stitch over, thus decreasing one stitch.
• K: Knit
• P: Purl

Notes:

If you are knitting the large blanket, start by casting on 37 stitches in colour 1: denim, and change to 2: sky when directed. For the small blanket, cast on 37 stitches in oyster, and change to pink cockatoo when directed.

Basic striped mitred square instructions: 

Each square begins with 37 stitches (some cast on, but mostly picked up along edges of previously knitted squares).

• Cast on/pick up 37 stitches in first colour.
• Row 1: K36, P1 (this will be the wrong side)
• Change to second colour
• Row 2: S1, K16, S1K2tog psso, K16, P1
• Row 3: S1, knit to last stitch, P1
• Change back to first colour:
• Row 4: S1, K15, S1K2tog psso, K15, P1
• Row 5: S1, knit to last stitch, P1
• Change back to second colour:
• Row 6: S1, K14, S1K2tog psso, K14, P1
• Row 7: S1, knit to last stitch, P1

Continue in this manner, changing colour each two rows, double decreasing in the centre of each right side row, always slipping the first stitch, and purling the last.

When you have only 3 stitches left, complete the wrong side row: (slip 1, knit 1, purl 1) then without changing colour S1K2tog psso. The one stitch remaining becomes the first stitch of the next square.

Putting the squares together: 

• There are two charts below, to help you visualise colour placement, and order of working squares.
• The first square knitted is the one in the bottom left corner. All 37 stitches are cast on, in the first colour listed, and the square worked as above, in the first and second colours.
• At the end of the first square, your one stitch remaining should be in the second colour. Leave this stitch on the right hand needle. With the right side of your work facing you, pick up 18 more stitches along the edge of the first square, working from right to left.
• There should be one for every slipped edge stitch, plus an extra one right at the end. 
• Turn your work so the wrong side is facing you and cast on another 18 stitches onto the same needle: 37 stitches in all.
• You are ready to knit your second square, using the second and third colours on the list.
• The second square is the one directly above the first in the charts below.
• Work your way up the column on the left until the desired number of squares have been worked.
• Finish the top square by cutting yarn and threading it through the one remaining stitch. Pull up tight.
• For the second column of squares, begin back at the bottom of the chart, next to the first square knitted. This time (and at the start of all new columns) first cast on 18 stitches, turn your work, then pick up 19 stitches along the side of the first square knitted.
• Knit the square.
• For the second and subsequent squares in this and all subsequent columns, all 37 stitches are picked up: 18 along the side of the square just knitted, one right at the corner, and 18 from the side of the adjacent square in the previous column.

The blankets: 

The small blanket is 6x7 squares, plus a border.

• I used 3 different colours (two of each plus an extra in the border colour).
• Colours are introduced in the order listed so the first square, in the bottom left corner, is cast on in oyster, then striped with pink cockatoo.
• For the second square, pick up/cast on in pink cockatoo, knit one row, change to donkey.
• For the third square, pick up/cast on in donkey, knit one row, back to oyster.
• To start the second column, cast on/pick up in donkey, knit one row, change to oyster.
• Once all squares are knitted, knit a border.
• Using donkey, pick up stitches around the outside edge: 18 stitches per square, plus an extra one on each corner.
• Purl one round.
• Change to pink cockatoo.
• Knit one round, increasing one stitch each side of the corner stitches (8 stitches increased in all)
• Purl one round. Knit one round, increasing 8 stitches, at corners.
• Continuing to alternate between knit and purl rounds, and increasing at corners on knit rounds, work 3 more rounds in pink (6 in total), a further one round in donkey, then cast off in purl.
  
  

 

The large blanket is 12x12 squares, plus a small border. I used 12 different colours (about 1 2/3 balls of each plus an extra ball in the border colour).

• Colours are introduced in the order listed so the first square, in the bottom left corner, is cast on in denim, then striped with sky.
• For the second square, pick up/cast on in sky, knit one row, change to Stormy.
• For the third square, pick/cast on in Stormy etc.
• To start the second column, cast on in teal, knit one row, change to denim.
• Once all squares are knitted, knit a border.
• Using denim, pick up stitches around the outside edge: 18 stitches per square, plus an extra one on each corner.
• Purl one round.
• Knit the second round, increasing one stitch each side of the corner stitches (8 stitches increased in all).
• Cast off in purl on the third round, or continue for a wider border, increasing 8 stitches, at corners, every second round.