Knit-a-Square Official Pattern Book

Foreword

By Sandy McDonald
Who could have imagined in 2008, when the Knit-a-square website first went up with one single pattern for a striped square, that in just a few short years, the good stitchers of the world would have contributed hundreds of thousands of squares, jumpers, hats and toys to warm and comfort some of southern Africa's 2.4 million children, orphaned or made vulnerable as a result of HIV AIDS and poverty?

Read more...

Knitted Sweater and Vest Patterns

	Knitted Go-Over The most important thing about the GO-OVER is that it has large enough armhole and neck openings to accommodate hoodies or whatever else underneath.
	Zanny’s T Sweater This sweater is from the original KAS pattern by Zanny (Ronda’s sister, Sandy’s Mother). This was the first garment pattern issued by KAS.
	Grace’s Ribbed Vest This vest is stretchy, which makes it great for growing kids, with sturdy shoulder straps.
	Heather’s Winter Warmer This lovely raglan-style design uses colours and stitch textures to make a gorgeous warm sweater for a child.
	Kathy’s Cozy Jumper The beauty is that it really is so simple to make but so warm - which is of course the most important thing.
	Robert’s Ribbed Slip-Over The rib in this vest means that it will stretch over many different sizes and shapes, while keeping warmth close to the skin on cold nights.
	Wendy’s Slip Over This vest allows for a generous overall length especially for KAS Care children to accommodate potentially swollen tummies.

Knitted Square Patterns

	Block Stitch Square This pattern creates a great, double thickness square in two colours, without all the confusion that you get with normal fair-isle. This stitch pattern is very useful when trying to use a soft, "unstable" yarn such as chenille or thick short eyelash, which can easily stretch out of shape used on its own.
	Checkerboard Square This stitch pattern creates a gently textured square, and can easily be adapted for any yarn or gauge.
	Diagonal Square For the slightly more advanced knitter, a diagonal square is one of the best ways to make sure that your squares are always the perfect size and shape, no matter what yarn or needles you are using!
	Gemma’s Square Zanny adapted the basket weave pattern to make a baby blanket for Gemma, her great-niece and Ronda’s granddaughter.
	Heart Square Show a child just how much they are loved, by rendering a heart right into their blanket square.
	Mitre Square This square is guaranteed to come out the right size, because it starts from the corner and grows outward.
	’Plain Jane’ Square “Plain Jane” and striped squares are the most fundamental part of what Knit-A-Square does. It takes 35 of these squares to make a blanket for a child in need, and each square is treasured (even if they sometimes come out a bit wonky!)
	Six Stitch Rib Square As well as making squares which are thicker and warmer, ribbed squares have almost no curl around the edges, which makes them great, sturdy edge squares on a blanket as well as bright centre squares.
	Two Stitch Rib Square This square, as well as being warm, will provide the children with a tactile pattern to explore.
	Zanny’s Basket Weave Square The original pattern for this square came from a pattern for a vest by Zanny. Zanny is Sandy’s mother and Ronda’s sister.

Other Knitting Patterns

	Simple Beanie This is a simple pattern to make a warm hat for a cold child. A blanket can keep almost all of a child warm, but they still need something to protect their heads from the cold!
	Square Beanie Hat If you can knit a square then you can make this very simple hat using knit stitch only and no shaping/decreasing.
	Knitted KASCuddle The KASCuddle is designed to be an outer garment, like a “little sleeping bag” to be used over whatever clothing the baby might be wearing. The size (30" circumference, 35" long) will make it useful for babies up to the age of 12-15 months. The ‘cuff’ or ‘collar’ can be rolled up to lay younger babies’ heads on, or rolled down as the babies grow.
	Teddy Hand Puppet The children in Shelley’s school knitting club make these as their first attempt at knitting, so they must be simple! They make a companion for a lonely child to talk to, or if you make two, then it's a pair of gloves

Crochet Sweater and Vest Patterns

	Chain Stitch Hexagon Sweater This pattern is based on the same concept as the chain stitch square, except that it is constructed as a six-sided hexagon instead of a four-sided square. You may want to practise by making a chain stitch square, if you haven’t done so already.
	Crochet KAS Go-Over The most important thing about the GO-OVER is that it has large enough armhole and neck openings to accommodate hoodies or whatever else underneath.
	No Sew Crochet Slip-Over This slipover is worked from the top down, beginning with a rectangular yoke. This means that there is no hand-sewing required to finish. Please use a soft yarn as the children wear these slip-overs against the skin.
	Crochet Slip-Over This simple slip over is made out of simple crocheted rectangles. It’s so simple, even beginner crafters can make it! Please use a soft yarn as the children may wear these slip-overs against the skin.
	Stripes and Triangles Go-Over This pattern is worked in one piece from the neck down. Change colours as you wish to create stripes.

Crochet Square Patterns

	Chain Stitch Square An advantage of this pattern is that, since there is no end to the rounds, you can tie on a new yarn when your previous yarn ends. You can also alternate yarns “round by round” to make it look stripy.
	Diamond in a Square This pattern produces an interesting square all on its own, but it can also be used as a technique to adapt smaller square patterns to the sizes required in KAS blankets.
	Granny Square Granny squares are popular with both novice and experienced crocheters.
	Jigsaw Square This square has a step pattern crossing diagonally. By choosing complementary colours, this can create a wonderful effect.
	Mitre Square This square is guaranteed to come out the right size, because it starts from the corner and grows outward.
	'Plain Jane' Square Plain Jane and striped squares are the most fundamental part of what Knit-A-Square does. It takes 35 of these squares to make a blanket for a child in need and each square is treasured.
	Puffed Heart Square Show a child just how much they are loved, by rendering a heart right into their blanket square.
	Solid Square This square is simple to make, and has no holes or gaps which might let cold air in.
	A Warm-Hearted Square The heart is a lovely way to show the children you care, by sending them a little love.
	Wheel Spoke Square A wheel-style centre adds an interesting focal point to this solid crochet square.
	Love and Hope Square Crochet these words of encouragement. The children will love having a special word sewn into their blankets.

Other Crochet Patterns

	Front Post Hat This hat is extremely adaptable in terms of types of yarn and hook size. A blanket can keep almost all of a child warm, but they still need something to protect their heads from the cold!
	Crochet KASCuddle The KASCuddle is designed to be an outer garment, like a “little sleeping bag”, to be used over whatever clothing the baby might be wearing. For our South African babies, it can be used both during the day when the baby is being carried and as a sleep sack at night, when many of these babies sleep on the ground snuggled beside their caregivers. For these little ones, the KASCuddle has the advantage of staying in place at night, unlike a blanket which can be kicked off.
	Teddy Bear Hand Puppet The children in South Africa have very few if any playthings. A puppet will give a child many hours of fun and laughter.