How to Knit a Mitered Square Look Stitch + Video (NO Seaming!)
The Mitered Square Look Stitch is a beautiful way to get that classic patchwork effect without knitting separate squares and joining them together!
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It’s worked in one continuous piece using only knit and purl stitches. No increases, no decreases, and no seaming. Just gorgeous, raised vertical columns and embossed horizontal lines that create an unusual, eye-catching texture.
And there’s more good news: this stitch lays completely flat, making it a lovely choice for blankets, infinity cowls, sweaters, cardigans, wraps, and even home decor projects.
If You Are Ready to See How It Works…
In the video tutorial below, I’ll show you how to work the Mitered Square Look stitch pattern step by step:
The pattern has a 14-row repeat, with a combination of knit and purl stitches that creates its distinctive texture.
And because every even row is a plain purl row, you’ll have little breaks between the more involved rows — a welcome feature in a longer repeat ♥️
Grab your needles and some yarn, and let’s get busy…
Why You’ll Love This Knitting Stitch
A Mitered Square Look Without the Extra Work
I love mitered squares. They’re beautiful, and you can do so many things with them. But there’s one thing that always puts me off: joining them all together!
Whether you sew the squares together or join them as you knit, there’s still extra work involved.
That’s why I love this stitch. It gives you a similar square-inspired look, but you work the entire piece continuously. No individual squares, no seaming, and no decreases to worry about.
It’s not a traditional mitered square construction; it’s a different way to achieve a similar visual effect. And if you love that patchwork look but prefer to keep things simple, this could be just what you’re looking for.
An Unusual, Gorgeous Texture
This is not your ordinary knit-and-purl pattern!
The combination of stitches creates raised vertical columns alongside horizontal, embossed lines. Together, they form a wonderfully textured fabric with plenty of depth and definition.
The texture really comes into its own as the fabric grows. That’s why I think this stitch is especially lovely for larger projects, where you can appreciate the full effect of the pattern.
It Lays Completely Flat
No curling edges here! The fabric lays completely flat, which makes it a practical choice for projects where you want the stitch pattern to do the work without fighting the edges.
One thing to keep in mind: this isn’t a reversible stitch. The wrong side has an attractive texture of its own, but it doesn’t look the same as the right side.
Just Knits and Purls
You don’t need to work increases, decreases, cables, or any other special techniques. The pattern is built entirely from knit and purl stitches.
The repeat is 12 rows, but every even row is a plain purl row. That gives you a regular rhythm as you work through the pattern.
And here’s another idea: you can use different colors to create horizontal or vertical stripes, adding another dimension to the square-inspired design.
Where to Use the “Mitered Square Look” Stitch
The larger the piece, the more the texture stands out. So while you can certainly use this stitch for smaller projects, I think it really shines on larger ones.
Here are a few ideas:
Blankets and Throws
This is one of my favorite possibilities. The raised columns and horizontal ridges create a lovely textured surface, and the square-inspired design works beautifully across a large piece.
Infinity Cowls, Scarves and Wraps
If you love textured accessories, this stitch is worth trying. The fabric lays flat, and the pattern gives a simple project plenty of visual interest.
Sweaters, Cardigans and Vests
Use it throughout a garment or incorporate it into selected sections to add texture. It could be particularly lovely for a cozy cardigan or vest.
Home Decor
Think cushions, pillow covers, throws and other home accessories. The embossed texture adds depth without requiring complicated techniques.
Colorful Projects
Why not experiment with color? Work horizontal stripes by changing colors across the rows, or try vertical stripes to emphasis the raised columns. You could even explore different color combinations to give the fabric a patchwork-inspired feel.
Not sure how many stitches to cast on? Check out my guide to calculating stitches, yarn and measurements for any project. It takes the guesswork out completely!
My Two Best Tips for Knitting This Mitered Square Look Stitch Pattern
1. I don’t care if I sound like a broken record, but always check your tension!
The Mitered Square Look stitch is made entirely with knit and purl stitches, and tension is key if you want those vertical and horizontal lines to look neat and clean.
My little trick? After every purl stitch, give your yarn a gentle tug. Remember: Purl → gentle tug → keep knitting.
Try it! Such a tiny detail can make your knit work stand out and shine 🤩
2. Use Stitch Markers to Separate the Repeats
The pattern repeat is 13 stitches long, so keeping track of each repeat can make your life much easier.
Place stitch markers between the repeats across the row. That way, you’ll be able to see exactly where each section begins and ends, and you’ll spend less time counting stitches or checking whether you’ve gone off track.
This is particularly helpful in larger projects, where there are lots of stitches on the needles.
A few markers can save you a surprising amount of time — and a few knitting-related tears!
✨ Want to knit this without ads or scrolling?
👉 Click on this line if you want to download the printable pattern (PDF file)
Love Textured Knitting Geometric Stitches? Try These Too
Materials
For this swatch I used:
US 6 (4 mm) bamboo knitting needles (these double pointed needles are perfect for swathing, dishcloths, socks, hats, sleeves, gloves and small projects) #ad
And a blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (light, machine washable, soft and durable) #ad
This is the other side of the work:
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Abbreviations
CO: cast on
st (s) = stitch (es)
RS: right side of the work
K: knit
P: purl
WS: wrong side
BO: Bind off
How to Knit The Mitered Square Look Stitch
Stitch Multiple
CO multiples of 13 + 2 (edge sts).
For example:
- 13 + 2 = 15 stitches for one pattern repeat.
- 26 + 2 = 28 stitches for two pattern repeats.
- 39 + 2 = 41 stitches for three pattern repeats.
The 2 extra stitches are the edge stitches, one at each side of the work.
Instructions
Row 1 (RS): K1 (edge), *K1, P2, [K1, P1] 5 times*. Repeat from * to * to last st, K1 (edge)
Row 2 and every even row: P across
Rows 3 and 5: K1 (edge), *P3, [K1, P1] 5 times*. Repeat from * to * to last st, K1 (edge)
Row 7: K1 (edge), *P5, [K1, P1] 4 times*. Repeat from * to * to last st, K1 (edge)
Row 9: K1 (edge), *P7, [K1, P1] 3 times*. Repeat from * to * to last st, K1 (edge)
Row 11: K1 (edge), *P9, [K1, P1] 2 times*. Repeat from * to * to last st, K1 (edge)
Row 13: K1 (edge), *P11, K1, P1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, K1 (edge)
Row 14: P across.
Repeat rows 1 – 12. When finished, BO purl-wise after row 13 (WS).
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A big hug, and happy knitting,
Carolina – So Woolly
PS: You can explore more designs like this in the Textured Stitch Patterns collection.
