Mitered Squares Baby Afghan in Lion Brand Ice Cream - L60362 - Downloadable PDF

Mitered Squares Baby Afghan in Lion Brand Ice Cream – Free Knitting Pattern L60362

Designed by Irina Poludnenko and published by Lion Brand Yarn Company, the Mitered Squares Baby Afghan (Pattern Number L60362) is a charming, colorful knitted baby blanket worked in a modular, square-by-square construction. The finished afghan measures approximately 32 x 32 inches (81.5 x 81.5 cm), making it an ideal size for a crib, stroller, or tummy-time play mat. This pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and is rated Easy+, placing it at an accessible intermediate level — perfect for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore a slightly more structured modular approach.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a square baby afghan constructed from individual mitered squares joined together as the work progresses. The mitered square technique creates a visually striking geometric design, with diagonal lines radiating from the center of each square outward to its corners. When multiple mitered squares are assembled, they produce a bold, graphic patchwork effect that is both modern and playful. The use of four coordinating colorways from the Lion Brand Ice Cream yarn line gives the finished blanket a soft, pastel palette reminiscent of its dessert-inspired color names.

Techniques Used

• Modular knitting: The afghan is built one square at a time. Square 1 is worked first, and each subsequent square is picked up and knitted directly from the edges of previously completed squares. This join-as-you-go approach eliminates the need for seaming and keeps the construction tidy and satisfying.
• Mitered square construction: Each square is shaped by working decreases at a central axis on every right-side row, drawing the fabric inward from a wide cast-on edge down to a final few stitches. This creates the characteristic diagonal lines that give mitered knitting its geometric appeal.
• Picking up and knitting stitches: To attach new squares to completed ones, stitches are picked up along finished edges. This technique is essential to the modular construction and results in a seamless, unified fabric.
• Color management: Four colors are used across the blanket, requiring knitters to manage yarn changes between squares. Keeping yarn ends organized and weaving them in neatly is an important part of finishing this project.
• Border/edging: A circular knitting needle is required in addition to straight needles, suggesting that a border or edging is worked in the round or picked up around the perimeter of the completed blanket to give it a polished finish.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch: The primary stitch used throughout each mitered square, creating a smooth, even fabric.
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): The pattern provides a full stitch explanation for this left-leaning decrease. To work it, slip the next two stitches one at a time as if to knit, then insert the left-hand needle into the fronts of both slipped stitches and knit them together, resulting in a single decreased stitch. This decrease is used at the center of each square to create the mitered shaping.
• Stitch marker placement: Stitch markers are used to mark the central decrease point of each square, helping knitters maintain accurate placement of the SSK decrease on every right-side row.

Materials

Yarn

• Lion Brand Ice Cream (Art. #923) — a sport weight yarn used in four colorways:
• 206 Tutti Frutti — 2 balls (Color A, the primary color)
• 207 Strawberry — 1 ball (Color B)
• 211 Lemon Meringue — 1 ball (Color C)
• 208 Mint — 1 ball (Color D)

Needles and Notions

• Lion Brand knitting needles, size 6 (4 mm) — standard straight or short needles for working individual squares
• Circular knitting needle,