This colorful Mitered Squares Throw With a Fabric Lining is a beautiful example of how a knitter can take the construction ideas from an established blanket pattern and give the finished project a very different look.
The version shown here was created by Elaine of Italian Dish Knits. Her project was inspired by Mitered Crosses Blanket by Kay Gardiner, but Elaine made several important modifications, including replacing the original crosses with colorful mitered squares and adding a fabric backing to the finished blanket.
The result has the visual character of both knitting and patchwork quilting: color-changing knitted squares are surrounded by broad light-colored borders, while the fabric lining gives the reverse side a clean, finished appearance.
Featured project and photos: Elaine / Italian Dish Knits. Original blanket design inspiration: Mitered Crosses Blanket by Kay Gardiner.
Mitered Squares Throw Project Overview
- Featured project: Mitered Squares Throw With a Fabric Lining
- Project by: Elaine / Italian Dish Knits
- Based on: Mitered Crosses Blanket
- Original designer: Kay Gardiner
- Project type: Knitted throw / blanket
- Main technique: Mitered garter-stitch knitting
- Featured modification: Squares instead of crosses
- Finishing modification: Fabric lining
- Construction: Modular knitted blocks
- Original pattern availability: Paid
About the Featured Mitered Squares Throw
Elaine originally discovered Kay Gardiner's Mitered Crosses Blanket and decided to use its modular construction as the starting point for her own throw.
Instead of reproducing the cross motif from the original design, she changed the colorful sections into mitered squares.
This creates a striking geometric effect: multicolored squares appear to float inside wide light-colored frames.
The individual blocks also make the project portable during much of the knitting process because the blanket does not become one large piece until the blocks are assembled.
The Original Mitered Crosses Blanket
The inspiration for this project is Mitered Crosses Blanket by Kay Gardiner, originally published in 2011.
Kay Gardiner's original blanket combines two modular knitting ideas: mitering and log-cabin construction.
Each original block begins with knitted miters that form a cross. The cross is then surrounded by garter-stitch strips to create a larger square block.
The blocks are eventually joined and finished with an applied edging.
How Elaine Changed the Design
The blanket featured in the photographs should not be confused with an unaltered sample of the original pattern.
Elaine deliberately changed several elements to create her own version.
Most noticeably, she chose mitered squares rather than mitered crosses for the colorful centers.
She then surrounded those colorful sections with a neutral background, producing the strong grid-like appearance visible in the finished throw.
What Is a Mitered Knitted Square?
A mitered square is shaped by strategically decreasing stitches around a central point.
As the decreases are repeated, the knitted fabric develops diagonal lines that travel toward the center of the square.
When worked in garter stitch with a self-striping or color-changing yarn, those diagonal lines can make the color changes look especially dramatic.
Once the technique becomes familiar, mitered squares can be satisfying small modules to knit one at a time.
A Portable Modular Blanket Project
One advantage Elaine noted about this style of blanket is its portability.
For much of the project, you are working on individual blocks rather than holding an entire blanket on your needles.
That makes modular blankets particularly convenient for knitters who like taking a project with them while traveling or working away from home.
Only later, when the blocks are assembled, does the project grow into its full blanket size.
Using Color-Changing Yarn
The colorful centers are especially effective when knitted with yarn that changes gradually from one shade to another.
Because the mitered construction creates diagonal lines, the changing colors develop differently across each square.
Surrounding those colorful centers with a quieter neutral shade helps define each block and prevents the overall blanket from becoming visually overwhelming.
This makes the project an interesting source of inspiration for combining self-striping yarn with a solid background color.
The Fabric Lining
One of the most useful ideas in Elaine's project is the fabric backing.
After completing the knitted blanket, she added fabric to the reverse side. This gives the throw a finished appearance similar to a quilt and hides the back of the knitted construction.
The combination of knitted blocks on the front and fabric on the back also creates an interesting meeting point between knitting and sewing.
Why Add Fabric to a Knitted Blanket?
A fabric lining can serve several purposes.
It can give the reverse side of a modular blanket a cleaner appearance, cover yarn ends or joins, and add another decorative element to the finished project.
However, knitted fabric and woven fabric behave differently. Knitting is naturally stretchy, while many woven fabrics have much less give.
For that reason, the lining should be attached carefully so that it does not pull, distort or restrict the knitted blanket.
Preparing the Knitting Before Adding Fabric
Before attaching a lining, finish the knitted portion completely.
Weave in loose ends and block the blanket according to the care requirements of your yarn.
Blocking first allows the knitted fabric to settle into its final dimensions before the lining is measured and attached.
This is especially useful for a modular blanket because blocking can help the individual sections sit more evenly.
Choosing Fabric for the Backing
If you want to use Elaine's project as inspiration for your own lined blanket, choose a backing fabric that works well with the weight and intended use of your knitting.
The fabric should be large enough for the finished dimensions of the blocked blanket, including any allowance required for finishing the edges.
Washable materials are practical when the finished throw will be used regularly, but always consider the care requirements of both the yarn and fabric before combining them.
Skills Used in This Style of Project
Depending on whether you follow the original Kay Gardiner design or create a modified version inspired by Elaine's throw, useful skills may include:
- Garter stitch
- Mitered knitting
- Decreasing stitches
- Picking up stitches
- Modular knitting
- Joining knitted blocks
- Weaving in ends
- Blocking
- Basic sewing for adding a fabric backing
Original Pattern Specifications
For reference, the published information for Kay Gardiner's Mitered Crosses Blanket lists:
- Yarn weight: Aran
- Suggested yarn: Noro Silk Garden
- Needles: US 6 / 4 mm
- Gauge: 20 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
- Original finished size: approximately 40 × 52 inches
- Sizing: Easily adaptable larger or smaller
These specifications refer to Kay Gardiner's original Mitered Crosses Blanket, not necessarily to every modification used in Elaine's Mitered Squares Throw.
Important Pattern Availability Note
Older references to this project may describe the underlying pattern as a charity pattern or may point to an older download location.
The situation has changed over time.
Kay Gardiner's Mitered Crosses Blanket is currently a paid pattern.
For that reason, Amazing Knitting does not describe this project as a free knitting pattern.
Visit the Featured Mitered Squares Project
Elaine's original article explains how she adapted the Mitered Crosses idea into squares and how she added a fabric lining to her finished throw.
See the Mitered Squares Throw Project →
Get the Original Mitered Crosses Blanket Pattern
If you want to knit Kay Gardiner's original design rather than Elaine's modified project, the Mitered Crosses Blanket pattern is currently available as a paid Ravelry download.
View the Original Mitered Crosses Blanket Pattern →
Pattern Availability
Amazing Knitting links readers to legitimate designer or publisher sources whenever possible. Pattern prices, download locations and availability can change after an article is published.
Read Our Pattern Availability Policy →
Amazing Knitting is an independent pattern discovery and project-guide site. Mitered Crosses Blanket and its original knitting instructions remain the intellectual property of Kay Gardiner. The featured modification and photographs belong to their respective creator. This article provides project information and links readers to the credited sources rather than reproducing the complete knitting pattern.