Four Squares

There are four (or five) ways to knit a centre out square Geometric (method courtesy of Joan Schrouder) and Swirl (method from Mary Thomas).

The Usual Suspect or the Geometric Square

This is the most commonly taught centre out square. It is very symmetrical, very ordered and a bit predictable. On balance everything a square should be.

To knit a Geometric Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth
Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Increase into or before every stitch (16 stitches total 4 per needle)

Round 3: (and all odd rounds) Knit

Round 4: Increase 1 at start and end of each needle (24 stitches total 6 per needle)

Repeat rounds 3 & 4.

In the example, on each increase round, I used a yarn over, knit to last stitch, yarn over knit 1 on each needle.

A Slightly different slant or the Windmill variation

This little square starts out the same as the Geometric but starts to shift a bit once there are 24 stitches on the needles.

To knit a Windmill Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth
Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Increase into or before every stitch (16 stitches total 4 per needle)

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: Increase 1 at start and end of each needle (24 stitches total 6 per needle)

Round 5: (and all odd rounds) Knit

Round 6: On each needle: knit 2, increase 1, knit to last three stitches, increase 1, knit 3 (32 stitches total 8 per needle)

Repeat rounds 5 & 6

The Maltese Cross

This little square starts out the same as the Geometric and the Windmill but the variation happens at round 4 when the increases move to the centre of each needle.

To knit a Maltese Cross Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth
Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Increase into or before every stitch (16 stitches total 4 per needle)

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: On all needles, knit 1, increase 1, place marker, knit 2, place marker increase 1 knit to end of needle (24 stitches total 6 per needle)

Round 5: (and all odd rounds) Knit

Round 6: On each needle: knit to marker, move marker, increase 1, knit 2 move marker, increase 1, knit to end of needle (32 stitches total 8 per needle)

Repeat rounds 5 & 6

This is the variation used in the sample. Another version would have the increases happen in the two centre stitches using a bar (knit into front and back) increase into each.
The major difference between this square and its siblings is the direction of the knitting as illustrated below.

The Maltese cross medallion provides for the insertion of lace motifs in the corners and also makes morphing the medallion into additional points as shown on page 241 of Mary Thomas's Knitting Patterns.

The Swirling Square Medallion

Unlike its siblings, this square uses single increases rather than double increases and it increases every round after the first.

To knit a Swirl Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth
Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Increase at the beginning of each of the 4 needles

Repeat Round 2

Mary Thomas suggests the use of a yarn over for the increase in this square because it has greater give (the better to block that sucker flat).
Again, if a more regimented shape is desired, this square must be blocked into submission. The unblocked square is shown above and the blocked square is shown below:

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The Usual Suspect or the Geometric Square
	This is the most commonly taught centre out square. It is very symmetrical, very ordered and a bit predictable. On balance everything a square should be.
To knit a Geometric Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth Round 1: Knit Round 2: Increase into or before every stitch (16 stitches total 4 per needle) Round 3: (and all odd rounds) Knit Round 4: Increase 1 at start and end of each needle (24 stitches total 6 per needle) Repeat rounds 3 & 4. In the example, on each increase round, I used a yarn over, knit to last stitch, yarn over knit 1 on each needle.
A Slightly different slant or the Windmill variation
	This little square starts out the same as the Geometric but starts to shift a bit once there are 24 stitches on the needles.
To knit a Windmill Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth Round 1: Knit Round 2: Increase into or before every stitch (16 stitches total 4 per needle) Round 3: Knit Round 4: Increase 1 at start and end of each needle (24 stitches total 6 per needle) Round 5: (and all odd rounds) Knit Round 6: On each needle: knit 2, increase 1, knit to last three stitches, increase 1, knit 3 (32 stitches total 8 per needle) Repeat rounds 5 & 6
The Maltese Cross
	This little square starts out the same as the Geometric and the Windmill but the variation happens at round 4 when the increases move to the centre of each needle.
To knit a Maltese Cross Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth Round 1: Knit Round 2: Increase into or before every stitch (16 stitches total 4 per needle) Round 3: Knit Round 4: On all needles, knit 1, increase 1, place marker, knit 2, place marker increase 1 knit to end of needle (24 stitches total 6 per needle) Round 5: (and all odd rounds) Knit Round 6: On each needle: knit to marker, move marker, increase 1, knit 2 move marker, increase 1, knit to end of needle (32 stitches total 8 per needle) Repeat rounds 5 & 6 This is the variation used in the sample. Another version would have the increases happen in the two centre stitches using a bar (knit into front and back) increase into each. The major difference between this square and its siblings is the direction of the knitting as illustrated below.

The Maltese cross medallion provides for the insertion of lace motifs in the corners and also makes morphing the medallion into additional points as shown on page 241 of Mary Thomas's Knitting Patterns.
The Swirling Square Medallion
	Unlike its siblings, this square uses single increases rather than double increases and it increases every round after the first.
To knit a Swirl Square -- cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth Round 1: Knit Round 2: Increase at the beginning of each of the 4 needles Repeat Round 2 Mary Thomas suggests the use of a yarn over for the increase in this square because it has greater give (the better to block that sucker flat). Again, if a more regimented shape is desired, this square must be blocked into submission. The unblocked square is shown above and the blocked square is shown below: