Stripy stockinette knitted squares

This is a kind of a tutorial on how to do stripes on double-pointed knitting needles using stockinette stitch.

I'm sure that this is not a new technique. I'm also sure that someone out there will read this and go: "I know how to do that or "Someone I know" knows how to do that and they taught me."

n.b. about this technique - my regular knit stitch is tbl knitting, so doing "regular" front loop knitting is weird for me.

But, I think that this is a very nifty way of getting neat stripes with an equally neat back so here it is:
1. Start with a simple cast on in colour A (A) and purl the first row.
2. "Casting in" colour B (B), knit into the back of the loop (tbl) one row.
3. Slide the knitting over and knit a regular row (front of the loop) with (A).
4. Change to (B) and purl a row.
5. Slide the knitting over to the ther side and change to (A) and purl a row, BUT, into the back of the loop.
6. (repeating the cycle) Using (B), knit (tbl) a row.

repeat rows 3. - 6. until you either run out of materials or you get the length you want.

Last row: Cast off using the opposite colour you started with - I use stretchy cast off as I'm a tight knitter. I tend to end up on a knit row when casting off.

If the above sound difficult (or strange), what you are essentialy doing is knitting two rows and then purling two rows, but in order to keep the stitches from twisting (as it would if you just knit (or purled) regularly for both rows), you knit (or purl) one side of the loop for the first row, then the other side for the next row. You need the double pointed needles in order to change colours smoothly and cleanly (no stranding of colours across the back of the knitting) - and to do that, you need to be able to slide the knitting back and forth between the points.
Try it using your own method of casting on and what you start the first row with - purl or knit. If you use cotton floss, the twisting will become apparent very quickly.
When you've gotten to the end, do a cast off using the opposite colour than you cast on with.



Knitted square (stockinette stitch), using yellow varigated and regular blue cotton floss

The square shown is pre-washed and blocked, so it is quite "curly". If you look though, you can see the end of a yellow row peeking out from underneath the cast-off row.

I hope this creates the urge to attempt one. They're not that hard once you get the hang of it.
Kind of rhythmic, really.

Bye for now.