Year of Color 2026 — Month 1 of 12
Welcome to Year of Color!
This first knit square introduces you to creating texture through simple stitch manipulation – alternating between stockinette and reverse stockinette. But there’s a trick hidden in the color changes that solves a common problem knitters face. Pay attention to when the colors change relative to when the texture changes.
Materials
- Yarn: Cascade Heritage Fingering in Macadamia (A), Snow (B), and Grey Frost (C)
- Needles: US 6 (4mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
- Gauge: 22 sts and 27½ rows = 4″
- Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors
- Finished size: 8″ × 8″ blocked
Stitch Guide
Stockinette: Knit on RS, purl on WS
Reverse Stockinette: Purl on RS, knit on WS
Pattern
With A (Macadamia), CO 44 sts.
Rows 1-7 — Macadamia, Stockinette:
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-7: Continue in stockinette.
Rows 8-12 — Snow:
Row 8 (WS): Change to B (Snow). Purl. (Still stockinette – this is the trick!)
Row 9 (RS): Purl. (Reverse stockinette begins)
Rows 10-12: Continue in reverse stockinette (knit WS, purl RS).
Rows 13-19 — Grey Frost, Stockinette:
Row 13 (RS): Change to C (Grey Frost). Knit.
Rows 14-19: Continue in stockinette.
Rows 20-24 — Macadamia:
Row 20 (WS): Change to A (Macadamia). Purl. (Still stockinette)
Rows 21-24: Reverse stockinette.
Rows 25-31 — Snow, Stockinette:
Row 25 (RS): Change to B (Snow). Knit.
Rows 26-31: Continue in stockinette.
Rows 32-36 — Grey Frost:
Row 32 (WS): Change to C (Grey Frost). Purl. (Still stockinette)
Rows 33-36: Reverse stockinette.
Continue: Repeat Rows 1-36 until piece is long-enough to measure approximately 8″ once blocked. For me, that was on the second repeat of Row 19. BO loosely. I used the Lace Bindoff.
In The Loop
Did you notice that the color changes happen one row before the reverse stockinette sections begin? This is intentional!
When you purl on the right side (starting reverse stockinette), those purl bumps sit on top of your fabric. If you changed colors on that same row, the bumps would show the previous color peeking through – creating an unintentional dotted line effect.
By changing colors one row earlier (while still in stockinette), the first row of purl bumps is already in the new color. Clean color transitions, no dotted lines. This is the kind of small decision that separates a polished project from a “why does that look weird?” moment.
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 that combine into a finished blanket 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!
This is so simple I should have known it. Thanks for giving the basics.
Sure thing! We’re starting out simple and it will get progressively more challenging throughout the year.
I don’t know if I’ve ever made such a simple square, so it surprised me with how scrunchable and soft it is!