Checkerboard Illusion  

Copyright © by Susan Mrenna 2006

Knit A Little

www.knitalittle.com

Cast on 40 stitches on size 7 needles with color 1.

The first 12 rows will give you a garter stitch border.

Row 1) (color 1) Knit across

Row 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) (color 2) Knit across

Row 4) (color 2) Knit across

            Change back to color 1. Just carry it up the side.

Row 5) (color 1) Knit across

Row 6) (color 1) Knit across

Row 7) (color 2) Knit across

Row 8) (color 2) Knit across

Row 9) (color 1) Knit across

Row 10) (color 1) Knit across

Row 11) (color 2) Knit across

Row 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) (color 1) Knit across

Row 62) (color 1) Knit across

Row 63) (color 2) Knit across

Row 64) (color 2) Knit across

Row 65) (color 1) Knit across

Row 66) (color 1) Knit across

Row 67) (color 2) Knit across

Row 68) (color 2) Knit across

Row 69) (color 1) Knit across

Row 70) (color 1) Knit across

Row 71) (color 2) Knit across

Row 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.