Year of Color 2026 — Month 2 of 12
Welcome to Year of Color!
February’s square introduces broken seed stitch, a simple pattern that creates surprisingly complex texture. The fabric has a satisfying tactile quality that invites touch, and the interrupted rhythm keeps your hands (and eyes) engaged.
Materials
- Yarn: Cascade Heritage Fingering in Thistle (MC), Pale Peach (CC1), and Butter (CC2)
- Needles: US 6 (4mm) Circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Circular needles are important for this design because you use both edges of them. Straight needles will not work in their place.
- Gauge: 22 sts and 27½ rows = 4″
- Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors
- Finished size: 8″ × 8″ blocked
In The Loop
- Slide – when you see the “Slide” instruction, don’t do a turn, and instead slide all sts to the other side of the needle. This is how the one-row stripes are done, and why you need to be using a circular needle.
- Reduce tangles by NOT pulling a lot of yarn out of the ball. You’re changing colors each row, so you won’t need a lot of yarn for your current row. Less yarn = less tangles.
- Go under the needle – if you ever need to move the other color of yarn out of the way, so do by bringing that yarn UNDER/IN BETWEEN your needle. If this will create a tangle, just untangle it after doing this maneuver.
- A shorter circular needle will make the slides quicker to execute.
- If you need to frog, it won’t be in a neat, continuous motion. Keep in mind that you’ll be frogging both the slides and the two colors.
- Blocking – when blocking, don’t try to stretch the square. The tactile feel of the square is part of its charm! Plus, if you stretch it, the square would be wider than 8”.
Pattern
With MC, CO 44 sts using the Long Tail Method
Setup: Purl
Section 1
Do NOT cut yarn while working this section. The pattern is written knowing where each yarn is at (in part, due to the Slides).
CC is CC1
MC, Row 1 (RS): Knit.
CC, Row 2 (WS): *P1, k1* across. At end of row, slide work back to other edge – DO NOT TURN.
MC, Row 3 (WS): Purl.
CC, Row 4 (RS): *K1, p1* across. At end of row, slide work back to other edge – DO NOT TURN.
Continue: Repeat Rows 1-4 until section is to your length preference. Cut CC1 and join CC2. Then, work Section 2.
Section 2
Do NOT cut yarn while working this section. The pattern is written knowing where each yarn is at (in part, due to the Slides).
Work this section just like Section 1 EXCEPT that you’ll be using CC2 instead of CC1.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until section is 8″ long. Cut CC2.
Bind Off
Work the BO loosely so that it can accomodate stretching during blocking. Work the BO using the Lace BO.
About Year of Color
This square is part of Year of Color 2026: a free year-long program that combines fiber arts education with color theory. Each month features a new color palette, technique focus, and both a crochet and knit pattern. By December, you’ll have 12 squares to join together, documenting your year of color exploration.
MORE ABOUT YEAR OF COLOR
What you get each month:
- Free crochet blanket square pattern (8″ × 8″)
- Free knitted blanket square pattern (8″ × 8″)
- Color inspiration articles exploring the month’s palette
- Technical tips and tutorials
- Cultural and historical color spotlights
- Community engagement opportunities
2026 Color Themes:
January: Winter Whites & Creams • February: Soft Pastels • March: Jewel Tones • April: Spring Brights • May: Shades of Blue • June: Orange & Blue • July: Sunset Colors • August: Warm Neutrals • September: Dark & Moody • October: Triadic Colors • November: Rich Harvest • December: Winter Sky
Cascade Yarns is partnering on the project to help make quality color education accessible to fiber artists at every skill level. You can join at any time and work at your own pace – the patterns aren’t going anywhere!
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