I came across the granite stitch a few month back on YouTube. It is a four (4) row repeat knit pattern that is easy to execute and a no brainer to remember. Even when your furballs meow and distract you, I do not think you will be lost in this simple pattern. This pattern is also a fast knit as it is made of three (3) rows of stockinette and one (1) row of garter, so the height is building up as expected and see "result" quick. It is a good stitch pattern to consider for your travelling project.

The granite stitch is a very interesting stitch pattern that has not shown up much in knitting design (or maybe it has but the designer(s) did not mention it). I had used it in at least one of my design (not yet published, pattern still need improvement when I have time to go back to it again). When looking from afar, it really resembles crochet stitches. Though it has no yarn twisting (as in crochet) to give it the strength, the decreases (k2tog) and one row of garter stitch give the piece the structure it need to stand up strong lol

Below, I used the granite stitch in a dishcloth pattern and graded it from 3" - 8" square in worsted weight cotton. I experimented with colour works both in horizontal and vertical stripes. Also I used solid colour, variegated and self stripes yarn in the samples to see how granite stitch works with those yarns

To make this dishcloth / coaster piece a bit more tidy, I added in selvedge (see below, right) to make the edge look straight while others will like the rustic look without selvedge (see below, left)

Brown sample (on left) with no selvedge, red sample (on right) with selvedge

For horizontal stripes, colour yarns are managed along the left side of the WS row (change colour yarns last stitch in the row). It can either be carried up every pattern repeat (below, left) or every row (below, right)

For working vertical stripes, colour yarns are changed by twisting in each row, and since this is done in every row, carry yarns up the rows is automatically done. The twisting is easy: have the "old" colour yarn placed on top of the "new" colour yarn and then use the "new" colour yarn to continue knitting. You will find that as you used the "new" colour yarn and bring it in position, either in knit or purl, it will go on top of the "old" colour yarn and thus the twisting is completed.

If you do enjoy this pattern, use it in whole or in part for your project, please donate generously to your local cats / animals shelter. Furballs and I thanks you in advance.

In the next blog, we will check on the suitability of using granite stitch as border/ edging in projects. It's pros and cons together with a simple dishcloth pattern as demo. Stay tune, MEOW ;)

Furballs & the Granite Stone

Materials

Yarn, worsted weight, non mercerized 100% cotton

Measurement, pre block		Weight	Length

3" x 3"	7.6 cm x 7.6 cm	0.3 oz./7.7 g	12.1 yd. / 11.1m
3 ¹/₂" x 3 ¹/₂"	8.9 cm x 8.9 cm	0.3 oz /8.8 g	14.1 yd. /12.8 m
4" x 4"	10.2 cm x 10.2 cm	0.4 oz./12.1 g	20.2 yd./18.5 m
5" x 5"	12.7 cm x 12.7 cm	0.7 oz./18.7 g	31.5 yd./28.8 m
6" x 6"	15.2 cm x 15.2 cm	1.0 oz./27.5 g	45.9 yd./41.9 m
7" x 7"	17.8 cm x 17.8 cm	1.2 oz./35.2 g	58.7 yd./53.7 m
8" x 8"	20.3 cm x 20.3 cm	1.7 oz./48.4 g	77.3 yd./70.7 m

Knitting needles, straight, circular or double point, size 3.50 mm / US 4, one (1) pair

Scissors and yarn needle

Gauge (Pre block, granite stitch in situ)

4" x 4" / 10 cm x 10 cm 29 sts x 32 rows

Abbreviations

k2tog Knit two (2) stitches together

kfb Knit the front and back loop of the same stitch

k Knit

n Whole number, either odd or even

p Purl

ppso Pass previous stitch over

psso Pass slipped stitch over

RS Right side

sl1 Slip one (1) stitch purlwise with yarn in front

st(s) Stitch(es)

WS Wrong side

Specialty stitch: Slip one (1) stitch purlwise / part of selvedge (sl1)

Working on both RS or WS,

Step 1 With the first stitch on the left (holding) needle, use the right (working) needle and slip the stitch purlwise holding the yarn in front of the right needle

Step 2 To start knitting, bring the yarn to the back through the left side of the slipped stitch. To start purling, leave the yarn in front

Continue to knit according to pattern

Pattern repeat

Granite stitch is a four (4) row repeat pattern with even number (2n) cast on. In this pattern, selvedge added on both left and right edges and become (2n + 2) cast on

Knitting in normal rows,

Row 1 (RS) sl1, k to the end of row

Row 2 (WS) sl1, k2tog until last st, k1 (n+2 sts)

Row 3 sl1, kfb until the last st, k1 (2n+2 sts)

Row 4 sl1, p until the last st, k1

For all sizes in this pattern, bind off at last row of last repeat

Last row (WS) sl1, k1, psso, then (k1, ppso) to the end of row

Cast on

Using 3.50 mm knitting needle and long tail cast on, cast on the number of stitches as referenced below or as preferred

Measurement, pre block		Cast on stitches (2n + 2)	Pattern repeats	Total number of rows	Bind off row (WS)

3" x 3"	7.6 cm x 7.6 cm	22 (n = 10)	6	23+1	Row 24
3 ¹/₂" x 3 ¹/₂"	8.9 cm x 8.9 cm	26 (n = 12)	7	27+1	Row 28
4" x 4"	10.2 cm x 10.2 cm	30 (n = 14)	8	31+1	Row 32
5" x 5"	12.7 cm x 12.7 cm	36 (n = 17)	10	39+1	Row 40
6" x 6"	15.2 cm x 15.2 cm	44 (n = 21)	12	47+1	Row 48
7" x 7"	17.8 cm x 17.8 cm	50 (n = 24)	14	55+1	Row 56
8" x 8"	20.3 cm x 20.3 cm	58 (n = 28)	16	63+1	Row 64

Start knitting and complete the pattern repeat as referenced above

Bind off as recommended above, or last row of the last repeat

Cut yarn leaving 6" / 15 cm tail

Pull yarn tail through the stitch to secure

Weave in all loose end(s)

Blocking optional

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