Checkerboard Illusion
Copyright © by Susan Mrenna 2006 Knit A Little
Worsted weight yarn, size 7 needles
Cast on 40 Stitches, K = knit, p = purl.
The first 12 rows will give you a garter stitch border.
Row 1, 2) (color 1) Knit across
Attach color 2. Just start knitting with it at the beginning of row 3. Leave color 1
attached. You will not cut any yarn till the end. As you change colors just carry
the unused color up the side of the cloth.
Row 3, 4) (color 2) Knit across
Change back to color 1. Just carry it up the side.
Row 5, 6) (color 1) Knit across
Row 7, 8) (color 2) Knit across
Row 9, 10) (color 1) Knit across
Row 11, 12) (color 2) Knit across
Now the pattern stitches will start. The first 5 stitches of every row are always knit
in this pattern to give the garter stitch edge. All odd numbered rows in the pattern
are knit.
Row 13) (color 1) Knit across
Row 14) (color 1) Knit (k) 5, purl (p) 5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 15) (color 2) Knit across
Row 16) (color 2) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 17) (color 1) Knit across
Row 18) (color 1) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 19) (color 2) Knit across
Row 20) (color 2) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 21) (color 1) Knit across
Row 22) (color 1) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 23) (color 2) Knit across
Row 24) (color 2) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
The first row of checks on the board is done. Now you want the opposite color to
show up so you reverse the order of the rows.
Row 25) (color 1) Knit across
Row 26) (color 1) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 27) (color 2) Knit across
Row 28) (color 2) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 29) (color 1) Knit across
Row 30) (color 1) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 31) (color 2) Knit across
Row 32) (color 2) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 33) (color 1) Knit across
Row 34) (color 1) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 35) (color 2) Knit across
Row 36) (color 2) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Now the second row of checks is done. Lay your project on a tabletop and slowly
bend down till it is just below your eye level. See the checks? Magic! Now we
again reverse the order of the pattern rows.
Row 37) (color 1) Knit across
Row 38) (color 1) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 39) (color 2) Knit across
Row 40) (color 2) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 41) (color 1) Knit across
Row 42) (color 1) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 43) (color 2) Knit across
Row 44) (color 2) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 45) (color 1) Knit across
Row 46) (color 1) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 47) (color 2) Knit across
Row 48) (color 2) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Now the third row of checks is done.
Row 49) (color 1) Knit across
Row 50) (color 1) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 51) (color 2) Knit across
Row 52) (color 2) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 53) (color 1) Knit across
Row 54) (color 1) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 55) (color 2) Knit across
Row 56) (color 2) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
Row 57) (color 1) Knit across
Row 58) (color 1) k10, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k5
Row 59) (color 2) Knit across
Row 60) (color 2) k5, p5, k5, p5, k5, p5, k10
The last 12 rows are all knit and will give the top garter stitch border.
Row 61, 62) (color 1) Knit across
Row 63, 64) (color 2) Knit across
Row 65, 66) (color 1) Knit across
Row 67, 68) (color 2) Knit across
Row 69, 70) (color 1) Knit across
Row 71, 72) (color 2) Knit across
Bind off and weave in the four ends, 2 at the beginning and 2 at the end. This
cloth should finish pretty close to square.
