Lowercase Letter a knitting pattern
Begin your personalized knitting journey with the Lowercase Letter a block. As the first letter of our new Alphabet Collection, this design features a clean, modern silhouette created with simple knit and purl stitches. I’ve redesigned the chart with high-contrast colors to make it even easier to follow, whether you’re building a nursery blanket, a custom pillow, or a personalized gift. It’s the perfect starting point for ‘writing’ your story in every stitch.
| Project Detail | Requirement |
| Skill Level | Beginner (only knits and purls) |
| Yarn Weight | DK or Worsted |
| Needle Size | 4mm / US 6 (and 4.5mm / US 7 for casting on and binding off stitches) |
| Finished Size | 8.5” x 8.5” (22 cm x 22 cm) |
Materials & Tools for the letter ‘a’ block
- Yarn: 70 yds (64 m) of DK yarn (8 ply). OR 140 yds (128 m) of light fingering yarn (approx 3 ply) USED DOUBLE.
- Needles: 4mm / US 6 (and 4.5mm / US 7 for casting on and binding off stitches).
- Tools: tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends, scissors.
- Gauge: 21 sts x 28 rows in stocking st with US 6 (4 mm needles) and DK yarn = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)
NOTE: You can change the yarn weight and needle size to obtain different sized blocks. Let me know in the comments if you need help!
Lowercase letter ‘a’: Knitted alphabet square instructions
Abbreviations:
- CO: cast on
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- st(s): stitch(es)
- k: knit
- p: purl
The Pattern: General Instructions
- Cast on sts
CO 43 sts with US 7 (4.5 mm) needles.
I always cast on and bind off stitches with larger needles than I use for the main work. This prevents my cast on and bind off rows from being too tight. - Garter stitch bottom border
With US 6 (4 mm) needles, knit 4 rows.
Slip first stitch on every row as if you were to knit it, but without knitting it (except on the first row). It will form a neat and sturdy border. - Main pattern with garter stitch side borders
Continue working the next 55 rows as follows:
4 garter sts, Lowercase Letter ‘a’ knitting pattern over 35 sts, 4 garter sts
You can follow either the row-by-row written instructions or the chart below for the Lowercase Letter ‘a’ knitting pattern. - Garter stitch top border
Knit 4 rows.
- Bind off
Bind off all sts with a US 7 (4.5 mm) needle. Cut yarn and weave in ends.
- (Optional) Blocking
Block your square to its final measures.
Lowercase Letter ‘a’ Knitting Pattern: Row-by-Row Instructions
Click to expand
Row 1) and every following odd row (RS) Knit all stitches
Row 2) Purl all stitches
Row 4) Purl all stitches
Row 6) Purl all stitches
Row 8) Purl all stitches
Row 10) Purl all stitches
Row 12) p13, k5, p5, k5, p7
Row 14) p11, k9, p3, k5, p7
Row 16) p9, k13, p1, k5, p7
Row 18) p7, k21, p7
Row 20) p6, k8, p5, k9, p7
Row 22) p6, k6, p9, k7, p7
Row 24) p6, k5, p11, k6, p7
Row 26) p6, k5, p11, k6, p7
Row 28) p6, k5, p11, k6, p7
Row 30) p6, k5, p11, k6, p7
Row 32) p6, k6, p9, k7, p7
Row 34) p6, k7, p7, k8, p7
Row 36) p7, k8, p3, k10, p7
Row 38) p8, k14, p1, k5, p7
Row 40) p10, k11, p2, k5, p7
Row 42) p13, k6, p4, k5, p7
Row 44) Purl all stitches
Row 46) Purl all stitches
Row 48) Purl all stitches
Row 50) Purl all stitches
Row 52) Purl all stitches
Row 54) Purl all stitches
Row 55) Knit all stitches
Lowercase Letter ‘a’ Knitting Chart
- Read all odd rows from right to left, and all even rows from left to right.
Note: These charted instructions represent the 35-stitch design area. Remember to work your 4-stitch garter borders at the beginning and end of every row.
Looking for more blocks with the same size?
Check out the growing Free Square Patterns Library! Here are some suggestions:
Download the Printable PDF
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