Can you please have a look and tell me where I went wrong!

[bobkate]

www.flickr.com/photos/80293802@N06/7797368246/

In my head - I imagined a raised knitted border about an inch or so all around, with then a sunken square in the middle. I thought it would be a nice base square to show off someone else's crochet creation - sort of like a knitted picture frame I suppose.
As you can see - I got the knitted border bit but then only a sunken line as opposed to the whole inner square.
I was happy enough with it to send it off, but I suppose it's just annoying me that it didn't turn out as I'd imagined.
Can anyone tell me what I did wrong.
I think I basically knitted the first 7 row, then knitted say 7 stitches, purled 21, then knitted 7 and repeated that until there was about an inch or so left then knitted every row again.
Apologies if this reads like a load of old waffle. I'm not best at explaining things at the best of times

From what you say, it sounds like you purled every row in the inner square - which would give you a garter stitch.

I think you should have done a stocking stitch in the middle if I think I know what you are thinking. So your first 7 rows, knitted, fine. Then you should have done (RS) k7, k21, k7 and (WS) k7, p21, k7. Repeat the two rows until its long enough then go back to 7 knitted rows and cast off.

That would leave you with a garter stitch border all around and a sunken stocking stitch square in the middle. Does that make sense (anyone else care to correct me?)?

Looks great anyway though - I quite like how it's all garter stitch but with that line to break it up.

Thanks ning - I'm guessing RS = right side and WS = wrong side. Problem is that I'm not sure what that means exactly.
I think when I did my first striped square, I made sure that I started each colour when my original casting 'tail' was hanging down to the bottom left...waaah I'm so useless at explaining things!!! But it meant that the stripes looked the same on the top and sort of with added stripes on the back.
Boo hoo - wish I could make more sense
Just googled stocking stitch and yep you're right. Also spotted this which is what I had in my head!!! wildharedaily.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/82908-melissa-the-scarf-stockinette-edge-treatments/

Ah okay - don't worry, I've been knitting for years and still get confused by RS and WS when I'm working on something (and what you guessed are the right terms for them)!

Think of RS as the presentation side. So if you are doing stocking stitch, it's on the RS when the flat side of the stitch is facing you as you knit and WS when the bumpy side faces you. In the first square we were talking about, the RS would be the side with the sunken line.

In garter stitch (which is knit all rows) it's all bumpy stitch so there's not so much emphasis on RS/WS. What you did for your striped square (keeping the tail to one side when you change colours) is a great idea for keeping track and marking the sides - garter stitch is so uniform that it's hard to keep track sometimes.

I think what you mean by added stripe is where you changed colours? That's normal - the colours have to join there and on the back there will always be a row which sorta looks half one colour and half on the other. Your knotting is great and don't worry if you are doubting yourself atm, just keep practising and it'll come!

I found this side really useful when I was learning www.knittinghelp.com/ - it might help you too?

Does this help at all or am I just confusing you more . Honestly, it'll get easier as you do more and more - your squares look great as they are!

What ning said. But it still looks good You just need to do your first 7 rows then knit 7 purl to last 7 and knit them then next row knit all stitches, then

knit 7 purl 21 knit 7,
next row knit all stitches

Repeat the above and after a few rows you will see the bumpy garter stitch border and the little v's in the middle will appear sunken on the right side of the work hth :)

Thanks again Ning and soremummy. Not confusing me more at all Ning and thanks for the link. I've got some wool that I'm not sure what it is so can't use for any blanket squares but will be good to practise on. I'll scribble your tips down and have a practise soon .