knitting a square corner to corner?

[craftyboy]

I'm making a pattern for a friend that's a diagonally striped scarf but the pattern just starts with a CO of all the stitches for the full width so the scarf itself would have angled ends. i'd like to square the scarf up on either end... so essentially i'm going to be "knitting a square" corner to corner except in the middle i'm making a giant rectangle :D

i'm using bulky yarn and 10mm needles if that makes a difference at all. i'd love to be able to cast on 1 or 2 sts and build up the scarf and then be able to cast it off so that it's a big rectangle with diagonal stripes. any tips?

thanks in advance! :D

[suzeeq]

Yep, CO 1, 2, or 3 sts, knit every row with an increase until it's the width you want the scarf to be (measure from the CO up the needles along one side, not across the needles). Then continue the inc on one row, but do a deccrease on the other row. This 'turns the corner'. Do this until it's the length you want, then dec on both rows until you're down to 1, 2, or 3 sts like you started with.

[craftyboy]

and that'll come out relatively square?

god i live knitting. so nice and formulaic and mathematical :D

crochet with it's varying stitch heights isn't as friendly to this kind of thing.

thanks again :D i'll test it before starting the real project just in case.

[suzeeq]

You want a square scarf, or do you mean the corners squared off?

What I wrote will give you a long rectangular scarf. If you want a square one, then just keep increasing until it's the size you want, and then decrease on both rows.

Yes, working a sample of something before you start is a good way to test out what's going on.

[craftyboy]

yes the plan was a square ended scarf.

it's in stockinette stitch any particular increase you recommend for the first few rows? i'm gonna transfer to M1R/M1L after i get enough material between the stitches to do so.

thanks again :D

[suzeeq]

You can do a m1, or kfb, whichever you like the look of better.