What about smaller doses of the variegated? Two colored mitered squares, with a larger outer square of solid and an inner square of the variegated? Lauren just proposed this idea for pillows over at Almost Felted, and I intend to copy her ASAP!

Have you the book Knitter's Almanac by EZ? There is a really pretty blanket in there made of mitered squares :-)

I typically don't like garter stitch, but I think the garter stitch square looks better than the stockinette one. Why not alternate solid colored and variegated squares?

Alison,

Have a(nother) look at MasonandDixon there is a lot on mitred sqares there that may inspire you.

Personally, I like the sqares with a smaller square in one corner.

All the best,
Dawn

Oh, I like those variegated mitred squares...

Here's a thought on knitting with the variegated yarn : try knitting a triangle, then picking up stitches on one side and knitting another triangle, pick up stitches on new side, knit triangle, until you have four joined triangles, knit last one on to first triangle. Voila : mitered square. I hope this is a clear enough description and maybe it will give a different look to the variegation.

I think the Manos looks really lovely. This is a completely different take (although does include mitered squares), but have you seen the rambling rows afghan from Cottage something? You attach the squares as you knit, so there isn't a ton of finishing (other than weaving in ends), and there's a somewhat random but planned color scheme, so you could use the verigated for one of the five or so colors, and intersperse that with solids. I think the verigated is lovely, but it's one of those things that you like or don't, and you're going to be seeing a lot of this afghan in the coming months (or for you, days), so you should love what you're holding.

Have fun in Germany! You're getting me over my fear of traveling (even with my husband!) with my boys.

I'll be the oddball, and say that I really like the solid squares, and am not at all digging the variegated ones.

Another EZ comment--if you don't like the seams, why not do the squares in the round? Of course EZ did a _lot_ of grafting.

I like the idea of stripes. I made a baby blanket using the Psychedelic Squares pattern and loved it very much. It was fun to do only 1/4 of the square in any given color combo too. 4-row stripes might mitigate the varigation too -- I'm with Rose, I think the overall varigation is a bit much.

Alison, that photo of the fence in the background really got to me.. i'm sooooo homesick.. tears streaming.. weepy.. :-(
oh well enjoy it for me:-)
karola

Perhaps it's not the variegation, it's the colors? Pastels creep me out, though the red is lovely.

Also, that dinosaur is eating a hamburger. No, really, it's made out of people from Hamburg. *snerk*

What if you designed it along the lines of this pattern: http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTdanica.html, that is, (not entrelac, but), alternating squares of a light and dark somewhat neutral solid color, and every now and then throw in a different color, randomly, just for interest? I love that in this scarf there's a little unexpected surprise of purple every now and then -- it really dresses up the rest of it, I think....

I agree with Rose. I like the solid. Maybe save that variegated for something else. If you're not feeling it, then you're not feeling it.

Just my two cents: I think the variegation looks nice in the garter stitch square. I agree that the stockinette isn't that great. What if you tried the solid color in garter stitch also? Then if you did use both variegated and solid they would have a more uniform look to them.

I like the colors in the yarn, btw. :)

Kit, I thought the same thing, but my mother-in-law said it was his egg. What an American I am, seeing a hamburger! :D

Bummer. I'd go with the garter stitch if you are choosing between the three in the photo.

I did something similar to that for my brother: at first I HATED the squares - they looked horrible! Lumpy and weird and like something knitted in the dark. But I plugged on through, and once I joined the squares together, it looked pretty cool.

I like your solid square - very fun.

Hahaha, that last photo's cute!

I've been wanting to do the mitered square blanket myself, but have been hesitant...hmm maybe I'll wait until your done to see what you do....;o))
Good Luck!

you could take a look at Maryse's blog @ http://morici.typepad.com/bag_n_trash/ around Feb 7 - 8 - 9 re the varigated mitered square look

Cheers

Check out the Mitered square rug on the Interweave Knits website. It's from their . . . . Summer 04 issue, I think? The squares have a really nice shape with a potential for stripes OR a solid square in the middle. AND better yet, it ends up all connected, so if one hates finishing (me! me! me!), then one has very little finishing to do! I am a would-be quilter but a much better knitter, and that pattern satisifies the visual quilting urge while being fun to make.

Tschuss! (sorry, no "s-szet" on this comp. . . )

I had the same trouble with the Crayon Box Jacket -- It's in bottom of the UFO bag right now. I'll watch to see how you resolve this...

This American thought it was a hamburger too. I like the garter stitch square, and I would definitely try Melissa's EZ inspired suggestion of knitting them in the round. As for the variegated yarn, perhaps it will look better to you once surrounded by more of the solid colors.

I really like the look of the plain color mitered square. I think the variegated yarn looks too busy in a mitered square. What about alternating rows of solid color mitered squares with strips of variegated yarn? It might be the best way to show off the good aspects of variegation and mitered squares.