Saturday, August 07, 2010
Shadow Boxes Free Pattern
The new free pattern on my website is Shadow Boxes and was designed for the Knit-a-Square Project.
The origin of this design was a request from a volunteer with the project called Knit-a-Square. This project involves knitters from all over the world knitting and contributing squares (all of the same size) to be sent to South Africa. There they are pieced together into blankets to be given to children who are victims of the AIDS epidemic.
For more information about the project and to participate: Knit-a-Square .
Shadow Boxes are knitted squares, each 20 cm./8 in. by 20 cm./8 in., worked in an intriguing adaptation of the ever-versatile Garter Stitch. Both the knit version and the purl version of Garter Stitch are combined together with the practice of beginning every two rows from alternate ends of a circular needle.
The result is an interesting effect of "shadow play".
You will need a circular needle (or a pair of longish double-pointed needles) to achieve this effect.
I found this pattern to be addictive and could go on making more and more of these squares in different colours. When pieced together, they can form a fully reversible knitted quilt. Here you can see the two sides of a square:
This design has a spongy thickness, which would make a particularly warm and cosy quilt.
It could also work on its own as a wash cloth. Simply crochet along both sides to give the square a finished look.
Once you understand the construction of this fascinating stitch pattern, you can come up with your own variations. The possibilities are endless.
Page 1 of 1 pages
