Ten free knitting patterns for people who love granny squares but knit. A true knitted granny square is rare, because the granny square is a crochet idea, and only the first pattern here is a real one. The other nine are knit squares with the same patchwork spirit: mitered squares, pinwheel squares, color block patches and log cabin blocks. I left out the plain squares and kept the ones that look interesting.
Every pattern here is free, and every link goes to the designer’s own page. Most of these are blankets and jackets built from squares you knit and join, which also makes them good projects for odd skeins. If you crochet, my roundup of granny square patterns has the classic versions.
Knitted granny square patterns to explore
1. How to Knit a Granny Square
Designer Frankie Brown on Ravelry. The one true knitted granny square on this list. It shows how to knit a granny square, and a circle, with an I-cord based technique that gives a thick fabric with a rippled outer edge. It uses DK yarn on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, and the designer says knitting takes much longer than crocheting, so it suits coasters better than blankets. The Knitting Space shares it with a photo tutorial and says a finished square is about 4 inches across. The pattern is a free Ravelry download.
2. Whirligig Cardigan
Designer Afifa Sayeed for Universal Yarn. A cardigan built from 52 individual squares knit on the bias in garter stitch, then sewn together, with stitches picked up for the hem, front edging and sleeves. It pairs two solid shades of Cotton Supreme with two Cotton Supreme Speckles on US 8 needles, at 18 stitches and 32 rows to 4 inches. The three sizes have a back bust width of 26 to 29.25 inches, and Universal Yarn suggests choosing a size 9 to 12 inches larger than your back bust. It is rated easy and is a free pattern download.
3. Knit Patchwork Jacket
Pattern from Red Heart. A jacket made from mitered square motifs and larger knit sections, worked in Red Heart Super Saver, All in One Flower Power and All in One Granny Square yarn, so the yarn does the colorwork for you. It is comfortably fitted and rated easy, and you practice garter stitch plus center increases and decreases. It is a free download.
4. Knit Mitered Square Jacket
Pattern from Red Heart. A women’s jacket-style sweater where shaded yarn makes the mitered squares for you, with no color changes to juggle. Red Heart rates it intermediate and offers it as a free pattern download.
5. Colour Block Patchwork Cardigan
Designer JW Anderson, shared on Ravelry. An oversized, seamed cardigan knit flat in colour block patchwork squares, with drop sleeves and a buttoned front. It uses six colours of super chunky yarn on US 11 (8 mm) needles, with Aran yarn for the trim and six 2 cm buttons. The gauge is 18 stitches to 14 cm in stockinette, and it is one size, with a body 84 cm wide and 60 cm long. The colourwork is charted and stranded. The pattern is free and linked from the Ravelry page.
6. Patchwork Poncho
Designer Irina Poludnenko for Lion Brand. A poncho knit in six different stitch patterns, each with its own gauge, in worsted weight acrylic and rayon yarn. It measures about 33 inches across the front at the bust and 26.5 inches long from the shoulder. Lion Brand rates it intermediate and offers it as a free download.
7. Fading Blocks Mitered Knit Blanket
Pattern from Caron. A graphic garter stitch blanket made from mitered squares joined as you go. You separate the five striping shades in each Caron Cakes ball to build a stepped, deco-style design. It is rated easy and is a free download.
8. Just Keep Knitting Mitered Squares Knit Blanket
Pattern from Bernat. A throw in Bernat Velvet with motif-based, join-as-you-go construction, so there is no seaming at the end. The colors are arranged in an abstract digital pattern. You practice picking up stitches and center decreases, and Bernat rates it easy. It is a free download.
9. Make-A-Blanket Mitre Square
Designer Lynette Meek of Le Tissier Designs on Ravelry. A seamless, one-piece garter stitch throw made from mitred, domino-style squares with interior decreases. Each square is about 10 inches, in worsted weight yarn (Cascade 220) on US 7 needles, using 95 to 125 yards. The designer recommends it for advanced beginners and describes it as one part of a year-long blanket project. It is a free Ravelry download.
10. Learn to Knit a Log Cabin Blanket
Designer Staci Perry on Ravelry. A garter stitch log cabin blanket for using up leftover worsted weight yarn on US 7 needles, finishing at 47 by 63 inches. The pattern links to a six-part video tutorial on the designer’s website, plus an FAQ page about changes. It is a free Ravelry download.
