Want to try illusion knitting? This pattern will walk you through it step by step.
Free PDF here. Checkerboard Illusion Copyright © by Susan Mrenna 2006 Knit A Little http://knitalittlestore.blogspot.com/ One ball of cotton 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, p5, k10 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.
