Lesson Three Contents

Corner Modules

The pillow top is finished except for the corners and borders.

The corner modules are not worked in intarsia; they are simply mitered squares. Begin at the top right corner square: with white (A) and right side of work facing, pick up 15 sts from top of goldenrod/white square below, pick up 15 sts from side of adjoining bluebell/white square. Continue from Row 1 below.

Abbreviations: 

Row 1: (WS) K 1 tbl, k 13, k 2 tog tbl, k 13, yfwd, sl 1 p. (29 stitches)

Row 2 and all RS rows: K 1 tbl, k across row until 1 st remains on left needle, yfwd, sl 1 p. No decreases made. Note special instructions for Row 12.

Row 3: K 1 tbl, k 12, k 3 tog tbl, k 12, yfwd, sl 1 p. (27 sts remain)

Row 5: K 1 tbl, k 11, k 3 tog tbl, k 11, yfwd, sl 1 p. (25 sts)

Row 7: K 1 tbl, k 10, k 3 tog tbl, k 10, yfwd, sl 1 p. (23 sts)

Row 9: K 1 tbl, k 9, k 3 tog tbl, k 9, yfwd, sl 1 p. (21 sts)

Row 11: K 1 tbl, k 8, k 3 tog tbl, k 8, yfwd, sl 1 p. (19 sts) Cut yarn A leaving 3" tail.

Row 12: Join Contrast Color. K 1 tbl, k across row (weaving in yarn ends on WS 3 or 4 times) until 1 st remains, yfwd, sl 1 p.

Row 13: K 1 tbl, k 7, k 3 tog tbl, k 7, yfwd, sl 1 p. (17 sts)

Row 15: K 1 tbl, k 6, k 3 tog tbl, k 6, yfwd, sl 1 p. (15 sts)

Row 17: K 1 tbl, k 5, k 3 tog tbl, k 5, yfwd, sl 1 p. (13 sts)

Row 19: K 1 tbl, k 4, k 3 tog tbl, k 4, yfwd, sl 1 p. (11 sts)

Row 21: K 1 tbl, k 3, k 3 tog tbl, k 3, yfwd, sl 1 p. (9 sts)

Row 23: K 1 tbl, k 2, k 3 tog tbl, k 2, yfwd, sl 1 p. (7 sts)

Row 25: K 1 tbl, k 1, k 3 tog tbl, k 1, yfwd, sl 1 p. (5 sts)

Row 27: K 1 tbl, k 3 tog tbl, yfwd, sl 1 p. (3 sts)

Row 29: K 3 tog tbl. Fasten off.

Next, knit the bottom right corner square: with white (A) and right side of work facing, pick up 15 sts from side of white/goldenrod square, pick up 15 sts from bottom of adjoining white/bluebell square above. Continue from Row 1 above.

Then, knit the bottom left corner square: with white (A) and right side of work facing, pick up 15 stitches along bottom edge of goldenrod/white square; pick up a further 15 stitches along side edge of bluebell/white square. (30 stitches total).

Finally, knit the top left corner square: with white (A) and right side of work facing, pick up 15 sts from side of adjoining white/goldenrod square, pick up 15 sts from top of adjoining white/spring green square below. Continue from Row 1 above.

Slip Stitch Intarsia Border

I worked the surrounding border in a modular fashion as well. That is, I picked up stitches along one side, worked the border section, and bound off all stitches. I did this for each of the 4 sides, then sewed the corner miters up neatly by hand. It was easier to see the intarsia slip stitches when using 90+ stitches spread out as opposed to 360+ stitches (90 x 4) scrunched up on a long circular needle.

	st(s) - stitch(es)
	RS - right (public) side of work
	WS - wrong (private) side of work
	k - knit
	p - purl
	m 1 – make 1 (increase 1 stitch by lifting the bar between the last stitch worked and the next stitch on to the left needle, from front to back. Knit this loop through the back)
	sl 2 – slip 2 stitches purlwise

For each border section, with right side of work facing you, using white and 4 mm needle, pick up 90 stitches along one edge (15 stitches picked up for each square).

Row 1: (WS) P1, knit across row until 1 stitch remains, p 1..

Row 2: (RS) K1, m 1, knit across row until 1 stitch remains on left needle, make 1, knit 1. (92 stitches)

Row 3: As row 1.

Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: (WS) Purl. Drop white, but do not cut.

Row 6: (RS) Using 1 to 3 yard lengths of contrast color, K 1, m 1, *slip 2 stitches purlwise with yarn in back, k 2. Repeat from * across row until 3 stitches remain on left needle. End slip 2, m 1, k 1. (94 st).

Note: change contrast color after 3, 4, or 5 color "blocks" by dropping old yarn and attaching new length of another color. Cross yarns on WS of work (as for regular intarsia) behind the slipped stitches.

Row 7 and 9: P1 k 1, *sl 2 with yarn in front, k 2. Repeat from * across row , end sl 2, k 1, p 1.

Row 8: K 1, p 1, *sl 2 with yarn in back, p 2. Repeat from * across row, end sl 2, p 1, k 1.

Row 10: With white, work as for Row 2. (96 st) (Note you can weave in both ends of the contrast yarns on this row.)

Row 11, 12, 13: Work 3 rows of purl stitches, maintaining selvedge stitches in stockinette (k on RS, p on WS).

Row 14: K 1, m 1, purl across row until 1 stitch remains, m 1, k 1. (98 st)

Row 15: Purl. Next row bind off all stitches knitwise. When you have finished 4 border sections, sew corners together neatly by hand.

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Homework

Complete your pillow top. In the next lesson, I’ll cover finishing your pillow with a fabric backing and show you another technique for joining squares that will enable you to join squares facing in different directions easily as you knit (think pinwheels).

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