Toni's Shawl My niece, Toni, requested a baby shawl that was colourful.  I knitted this as separate squares, then placed them parquet style and joined with a flat 3-needle bind off.  More details Knitted in 3-ply baby wool, using 7 colours for the squares and a light green for joining and edges.

Click on any of these to see a closer view of the pattern details.

The squares were done using garter stitch based lace eyelet patterns. Initially I used some of my pattern dictionaries, then just created them using standard graph paper. 

For this shawl, each square was 35 sts wide and 69 rows high (35 garter st ridges). I used a provisional cast on, and left the sts on a length of yarn at the end.   There are 25 squares (5 x 5) and all are different.

Side edges were done using a chain selvedge:
In each row, knit the first st in the back loop and work the last st by bringing yarn to front then slipping the st purlwise.

To join the squares I placed the squares in position parquet style (alternating stitch direction - see the close-up above), then knitted up 35 sts per square across the top edge of a complete row. Next I repeated that across the lower edge of the adjoining squares. I then cast (bound) them off together using the flat 3-needle bind off. Work all horizontal rows this way, then repeat the procedure on the vertical rows.

When all internal seams are joined, knit up around the outside edges and cast off in the same manner.

Finally, block the shawl to allow the lace to look its best.
Wet shawl and stretch it out on towels on a flat surface, using rustless pins or blocking wires..

Flat 3-needle bind off

With wrong sides facing, hold both pieces in left hand. Using third needle in right hand, knit together first stitch of each needle, bring wool forward, purl together next stitch of each needle, lift first st on right needle over second and off. Take yarn back and continue alternating knit and purl sts while casting off.  
This cast off (bind off) is fairly elastic so ideal for this project.