Fan and Square is exactly what the name implies: it is a combination of the Floating Square and the Doubled Fan, alternating in each row of pattern. It has essentially endless variations: fan-square-fan-square, or fan-fan-square-square, etc. Or a ten-count square/five-count fan, eight-count on both, etc. The variation I will describe here is a simple eight count.

Fig 1

1. Cast on as though you were doing a Floating Square: 4 short, 1 long, 8 short, 1 long, 8 short, 1 long, 4 short (this is going to give you half squares or fans at the ends of the row). Work three more rows, just as though it were a Floating Square (doing the Criss cross or not, as suits you). (See Fig 1, left).

Fig 2.

2. On the next row, in between the descended sections (your floating square), all the stitches should be long, as though you were doing a double fan. Ideally, the stitches should all be the same length and extend to the bottom of your half finished floating square (my illustration has exaggerated the length, to make it easier to see). When you come to the floating square part, do normal stitches. (See Fig 2, left).

Fig 3a.

3. On the next row (your sixth), you're going to be doing essentially two patterns. When you come to the long stitches, treat it as a Doubled Fan (knotting all the long loops together, and increasing with long stitches until you have the same number again). (Fig 3a, left). Note that when you're moving from the fan to the square, you do NOT do any sort of extension/double wrapping/whatever on that stitch. It is a simple Finesse stitch, to reach to the bottom of the fan, around the gauge, and straight up, just like in a Floating Square (See Fig 3b, below). Fig 3b.

Fig 4.

4. the next four rows, you work just as though it were a simple Floating Square pattern. (Fig 4, left), until you're back to the levelling row, doing your doubled stitch, and start the sequence over again.

[The information and images on this website are Copyright of Lady Cecilia Bartoletti (June). You may make a copy and use any information contained herein for personal use only, or for SCA documentation purposes. Unauthorised publication is not permitted.]