Knit a Little Square on the Bias (Diagonal)

In my first blog post, (here), I included a few photos of a few things that I had knitted. A dear reader requested the pattern for the little mug mats. Here's the background for them:
After making a lot of dishcloths, I had a lot of yarn leftovers. I wanted to use up every bit of the ball of yarn, so I couldn't follow any existing pattern without knowing how many yards I had left. So I set out to figure out a way to knit a little square that could be used as a coaster or mug mat (if worked with a smaller needle to obtain a more tightly knit square), a doll quilt or rug, or a child-size dish cloth. This square starts with 3 stitches, then 2 stitches are added every other row until almost all of the yarn is used, then bound off. The resulting size of the square depends on 1) the amount of yarn and 2) the needle size. Or you can finish it when it is the size you want.

Knit a Little Square on the Bias (Diagonal) by Sandra Carden

Materials and Notes:
Yarn: Cotton worsted-weight solid or variegated yarn: approximately 1/2 oz
Needles: Size US 6 or Size 3 or 4 if you are making coasters
Stitch marker (1)
Movable stitch marker or safety pin (1)
Abbreviations:
st(s) = stitch(es)
k = knit
M1T = Make 1 Towards
M1A = Make 1 Away

The special technique used in this little project is
paired increases between stitches (knit stitch).

M1T (Make 1 Towards): This is a left-leaning increase that perfectly matches M1A.
Here's how: Make a backwards loop of the working yarn onto the right needle, so that the working yarn points toward you. The ball yarn will be pointing to the front.

M1A (Make 1 Away): This is a right-leaning increase that perfectly matches M1T.
Here's how: Make a backwards loop of the working yarn onto the right needle, so that the working yarn points away from you. The new loop will be closer to the end of the needle than to the ball yarn.

Note: If your increase stitches show a small hole, you can close them up on the next row by twisting the stitch before knitting it.

M1A: To watch a short video of this technique, click here (for English style knitting) or here (for continental style knitting).

M1T: To watch a short video of this technique, click here (for English style knitting) or here (for continental style knitting).

Pattern:
Notes: All increases will be on even-number rows. The number of sts at the end of the row is shown in brackets [ ].

Cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: K 1, M1T, place marker, K 1, M1A, K 1. [5 sts]
Row 3: Knit across.
Row 4: Knit to marker, M1T, slip marker, K 1, M1A, knit to end of row. [7 sts]
Before beginning next row, place a movable marker a row or two from the beginning on this side of the work. This will help you to keep track of which rows you should work the increases.
Row 5: Knit across.
Row 6: Knit to marker, M1T, slip marker, K 1, M1A, knit to end of row. [9 sts]
Row 7: Knit across.
Knit to marker, M1T, slip marker, K 1, M1A, knit to end of row. [11 sts]
Row 9: Knit across.
Knit to marker, M1T, slip marker, K 1, M1A, knit to end of row. [13 sts]
Row 11: Knit across.

Continue these two rows, increasing 2 sts every other row until you have enough yarn for one more row (or until it's the size you want). Bind off and weave in ends.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments, and of course if you make some! Thanks!

Blessings and peace...