The Mighty Mitered Square

Don't you love when you discover that something that looks complicated turns out to be easy?  That's how I feel about the knitted mitered square.  It's a fun pattern that looks unique and a touch more complicated than it really is.  And once you master this tiny square, there is a lot of creative freedom to go wild with colors and square configurations.  (There is a tutorial post about joining mitered squares as you go if you are interested.  Very useful if you are working on a large project.)  

This tutorial will walk you through a simple pattern for a mitered square.  Through my knitting journey on the topic, I have uncovered various methods to accomplish the same marvelous mitered masterpiece, but every pattern has a double decrease in the center.  It is the center double decrease (CDD) that gives the signature zippered diagonal of the mitered square.  The method outlined below is one I found to be straightforward and easy.

1.  The first step is to cast on the correct number of stitches.  This takes a little thought.  If you want your finished square to be a certain size, you must double that count and add one.  Stick with me here, I promise it will make sense.  If you want a finished square with 10 stitches along each side, you will need to cast on 10+10+1 or rather 21 stitches.  To make this an equation that is universally applicable to any desired project, let's make it algebraic.  If you want a square with Z number of stitches along each edge, you will need to cast on 2Z+1 stitches.  Just for clarity's sake, let's do one more real stitch example.  If you want a square with 24 stitches on each side, you would cast on 2(24)+1, which is 49 stitches.

2. The next step is to place your marker.  While holding your needles with the stitches cast on in your right hand, count stitches starting on the right side.  You will count over Z+1 stitches and then place your marker.  Using the example above, you will count over 24+1 stitches, or rather 25 stitches.  This gives 25 stitches on the right side of the marker and 24 on the left side.

3. Knit one row sliding the marker as you go.

4. Now it is time to work your first "zipper" row.  Knit across until two stitches before the marker.  Slip those two stitches knitwise onto your righthand needle.  Remove the marker. (Don't slip the marker, it will get in your way. You actually need to remove it.)  Knit one stitch.  Now, pass the two slipped stitches over the one knit stitch.  You will have decreased your number of stitches by 2.  Replace your marker.  Knit to the end.  

5. Knit one row slipping the marker as you go.  

6. With your knitting in your left hand, you can take a moment to make sure things are going as planned.  Count the number of stitches on the right side of the marker.  Then count the number on the left side.  The right side should have one more stitch than the left.  Using our example, we started with 25 stitches on the right side and 24 on the left.  We have completed one zipper row, which is my way of saying we did a CDD.  Now there should be 24 stitches on the right side and 23 on the left.  You can do this counting check at any point when making your square.  With the needle in your left hand after working the knit row, you should always have one more stitch on the right side than the left.

7. Work another "zipper" row.  (Repeat step 4).  You can start to see the corner of your square forming early in the process.  It is like magic, each zipper row brings you closer to a neat little square.  

8.  Continue to work a knit row then a zipper row until you only have three stitches left.  You will work these three stitches in the same fashion, slipping two, knitting one then passing the slipped stitches over.  This will leave one knit stitch on your needle.  Tie off your work and you have your mitered square.

---