Knitted Granny Square
Susan Rainey
Lv2knit on Ravelry, Lv2knitmn on Instagram, The Rainey Sisters Blog
Inspired by Knitted Granny Square by Betty Salpekar (on Ravelry)
This square is perfect for making the Geddy Tee if you don’t know how to crochet. I was inspired
by Betty Salpekar’s Knit Granny Square, but hers wasn’t the right size for Geddy, and I also wanted
to simplify the cast on. Is the knitted version exactly like the crocheted? No, but it is a really close
facsimile!
Click this link for a video tutorial of the Knitted Granny Square. This is a homegrown video of the
process and should help you complete your square.
Materials needed:
Yarn: The same yarn type as the body of your Geddy in different colors for each tier. The sample
square uses 5 colors for 5 tiers. Sample knit using Malabrigo Rios.
Needles: 2 dpns in suitable size for project. Sample knit using size 6 dpns. Use needle that creates
the size square needed for your Geddy.
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Abbreviations:
Kf&b = knit front and back (inc 1 st) Special Stitch: Knit Chain Stitch (k-ch)
Pf&b = purl front and back (inc 1 st) Step 1: Slip st from right needle back to left needle and
RH = righthand knit it. (k-ch 1 done)
LH = lefthand Step 2: Repeat for k-ch 2
YO = yarnover TIP: An easy method is to do a YO on the RH dpn
TBL = through back loop and pass the st over.
P2tog = purl 2 tog
BO = bind off Special Stitch: Purl Front and Back (Pf&b)
Sts = stitches Purl into st but do not drop the st from LH needle.
Prev = previous Purl st again TBL and drop st from needle (1 st increased)
Rep = repeat
Finished Knitted Square (5 rounds) Crocheted Square in Same Colors
START Center Cluster
Cast on 8 sts using cable cast on method.
Row 1 (RS): (Kf&b, k1, YO), rep to last 2 sts, kf&b, k1 (15 sts).
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3 (RS):
• BO 2 sts (3 sts are used to BO 2). Mark 1st bound off st with clip on marker. 1 st on needle.
• Knit into YO hole and drop the st made in the YO on prev row, pass held st over this new st
(like binding off). Knit into YO again and pass st over.
• Continue row: [BO 3 sts. Knit into YO hole and drop st as before, pass held st over new st
(like binding off). Knit into YO again and pass st over]. Repeat between [ ] once more.
BO 3 sts, k-ch 2. Four motifs made.
Insert needle into YO Knit into YO space Drop stitch from prev row
Cut yarn and pull tail through last st. Join to beg of cluster at marker. Weave in end. Use tail to
close beginning of cluster by inserting a tapestry needle through the cast on sts (see pictorial
last page). Pull snugly and close as tightly as possible. Weave in end on WS.
Tier 1 –
Consists of 4 corners made up of two motifs each, with 2 k-ch sts
between corner motifs. There is only 1 k-ch between completed
corners. Corners are worked in the large spaces between motifs,
called the chain or chain space. From this point on, each motif is
worked separately over 4-5 sts. Two dpns needed.
Start first corner motif:
Tie contrast color yarn on at the beginning of a corner chain space
(see red circle above).
Row 1 (RS): YO, pick up a st under the chain, YO, pick up another
st under chain. (4 sts)
NOTE: when doing this step, don’t pull sts too tightly.
You should be able to clearly see all the sts on the RH
needle. See example to right.
Row 2 (WS): Pf&b in first st, P1, purl 3rd st together with the YO.
Row 3 (RS): BO 3 sts (this uses up 4 sts) – mark 1st bound off st with
clip-on marker. K-ch 2 (corner chain). 1 st remains on RH needle.
Start 2nd half of corner, starts in same chain space:
Row 1 (RS): YO, pick up a st into the same chain space, YO, pick up another st under chain. 5 sts
Row 2 (WS): Pf&b in first st, P1, purl 3rd st together with the YO. 1 st remains on RH needle.
Row 3 (RS): Slip 1 st as to purl. Pass the held st over the slipped st (like binding off). BO 3 rem sts.
K-ch 1 st to create side space. 1 st remains on RH needle.
First Half of Next Corner – starts in NEXT chain space:
Row 1 (RS): YO, pick up a st into next corner chain space, YO, pick up another st under chain. 5 sts.
Row 2 (WS): Pf&b in first st, P1, purl 3rd st together with the YO. 1 st remains on RH needle.
Row 3 (RS): Slip 1 st as to purl. Pass the st from the prev row over the slipped st (counts as 1st
bound off st). BO 3 rem sts. K-ch 2 sts. 1 st remains on needle.
Work 2nd half of corner, in same manner as before:
Row 1 (RS): YO, pick up a st into the same chain space, YO, pick up another st under chain. 5 sts
Row 2 (WS): Pf&b in first st, P1, purl 3rd st together with the YO. 1 st remains on RH needle.
Row 3 (RS): Slip 1 st as to purl. Pass the st from the prev row over the slipped st (like binding off).
BO 3 rem sts. K-ch 1 st to create side space. 1 st remains on RH needle.
Repeat for the two remaining corners. Cut yarn and attach it to the 1st motif at marker. Weave in ends.
Subsequent Tiers:
Work corners as done in Tier 1. Add side motifs in the spaces between the corners. Side motifs
are single motifs with k-ch 1 on either side.
Single Side Motif – worked in chain space(s) between two corners:
Row 1 (RS): YO, pick up a st into next chain space, YO, pick up another st under chain. 5 sts
Row 2 (WS): Pf&b in first st, P1, purl 3rd st together with the YO. 1 st remains on RH needle.
Row 3 (RS): Slip 1 st as to purl. Pass the st from the prev row over the slipped st (like binding off).
BO 3 rem sts. K-ch 1 st. 1 st remains on RH needle.
Continue to work new tier around the previous tier, starting with a corner. Corners consist of two
motifs separated by k-ch 2 (except for final tier – see note below). There will be one additional side
motif between corners with every new tier. Side motifs are single motifs separated by 1 k-ch stitch.
ON THE FINAL TIER, WORK K-CH 1 BETWEEN ALL MOTIFS, INCLUDING CORNERS.
As each tier is completed, cut yarn and attach to beginning of tier. Weave in ends as you complete
each tier. For the Geddy Tee, make the square the number of tiers called for and measure for the
correct size. Pin out to the proper dimensions and steam press. The finished size does matter,
because it determines the width of the garment. If your square isn’t the right size, experiment
with a different size needle.
Pictorial
Tie yarn, YO Knit 1 under chain (Yo, k1) x 2, 4 sts made
K-ch 2 Second half of corner
Close the beginning by inserting a tapestry needle through the cast on
sts. Pull snugly and close as tightly as possible. Weave in end on WS.
