Free Letter M Dishcloth or Afghan Square Knitting Pattern – Daisy and Storm

If you love combining practicality with creativity, alphabet knitting patterns are one of the most satisfying projects you can take on. Whether you are knitting a personalized dishcloth for your kitchen, working on a decorative pillow cover, or building an entire alphabet afghan square by square, the letter M is a particularly fun one to tackle. Bold, symmetrical, and instantly recognizable, the letter M works beautifully in almost any colorwork style — but today we are diving into a specific favorite: the Daisy and Storm colorway combination.

This free pattern is suitable for knitters of all skill levels. If you can cast on, knit, purl, and read a simple chart, you have everything you need to complete this project. Below you will find full written instructions, chart guidance, yarn and needle recommendations, tips for getting clean letter definition, and ideas for using your finished square in a larger project. Let’s get into it.

Why Knit Alphabet Squares?

Alphabet squares have been a staple of the knitting world for decades, and it is easy to see why. They make wonderful personalized gifts — a dishcloth with someone’s initial feels far more thoughtful than a generic kitchen cloth, and an afghan made entirely from a person’s name or initials is an heirloom-quality present that will be treasured for years.

Beyond gifting, alphabet squares are a fantastic way to practice colorwork techniques without committing to a massive stranded project. Each square is small enough to complete in an evening or two, which makes them perfect for knitters who love the satisfaction of finishing something quickly. And because you are working in simple two-color stockinette or seed stitch, you can experiment with contrast, texture, and yarn weight without any steep learning curves.

The Daisy and Storm colorway gives this particular letter M square a fresh, modern feel. Daisy is a warm, creamy off-white — think freshly churned butter or the center of a chamomile flower. Storm is a cool, medium-toned grey with just enough blue undertone to keep it from feeling flat. Together, they create a crisp, clean contrast that makes the letter pop beautifully against the background, while still feeling soft and cohesive rather than harsh.

Materials You Will Need

Before you cast on, gather the following materials. This pattern is written for a standard dishcloth or afghan square measuring approximately 8 inches by 8 inches, but you can scale it up or down by adjusting your needle size and yarn weight.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors. For the Daisy and Storm version, you will need Color A (Daisy — off-white or cream) and Color B (Storm — medium grey). A single square uses approximately 40–50 yards of each color, so one skein of each is more than sufficient for multiple squares.

Recommended yarn types include cotton for dishcloths, since cotton is absorbent, durable, and washes beautifully. For afghan squares, an acrylic or wool blend works wonderfully — it blocks nicely and holds its shape over time. Good choices include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (for dishcloths), Paintbox Yarns Simply DK or Worsted (for afghan squares), or any smooth, plied yarn with good stitch definition.

Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles work well for worsted weight yarn. If you are knitting with cotton, you may want to go up a half or full size, as cotton tends to knit up tighter than wool or acrylic.

Additional tools: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers (optional), and a ruler or blocking mat if you plan to block your finished square.

Gauge

Gauge is especially important in alphabet patterns because the proportions of the letter depend on consistent stitch sizing. A gauge that is too loose will make your letter look wide and blobby, while a gauge that is too tight will make it look narrow and cramped.

For this pattern, aim for approximately 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using worsted weight yarn and US size 7 needles. If your gauge differs significantly, adjust your needle size accordingly. For a dishcloth, being a stitch or two off will not ruin the project — but if you are making multiple squares for an afghan, consistent gauge across all squares will make seaming and assembly much easier.

Understanding the Chart

This pattern uses a 30-stitch by 40-row chart. The background (Color A, Daisy) forms the field of the square, and the letter M is worked in Color B (Storm). Each square on the chart represents one stitch, and each horizontal line of squares represents one row.

Right-side rows are read from right to left on the chart. Wrong-side rows are read from left to right. If you are unfamiliar with reading knitting charts, this might feel counterintuitive at first, but it quickly becomes second nature. A sticky note or row counter to track your place in the chart is genuinely helpful, especially on the wrong-side rows where the chart direction reverses.

The letter M in this pattern is centered within the square, with approximately three to four stitches of background color on either side and four to five rows of background at the top and bottom. This framing gives the letter room to breathe and creates clean, even borders around the finished square.

For the Daisy and Storm colorway, Color A (Daisy) is always your background, and Color B (Storm) is always the letter. Keep these consistent throughout and do not switch them accidentally — it sounds obvious, but when you are mid-project and distracted, it happens more than you might think.

The Pattern

Abbreviations:

CO — cast on
K — knit
P — purl
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
CA — Color A (Daisy)
CB — Color B (Storm)
St(s) — stitch(es)

Method: This square is worked flat in rows using the intarsia colorwork method. Intarsia means you use separate lengths of yarn for each color section rather than carrying both colors across every row (as you would in stranded/Fair Isle colorwork). This keeps the back of your work tidy and prevents puckering.

Before you begin, wind a separate bobbin or butterfly of CB (Storm) for the letter section. You will need one main ball of CA (Daisy) and one smaller length of CB that is long enough to complete the letter. Approximately 40–50 yards of CB should be more than enough.

Cast On

Using CA (Daisy), CO 30 stitches using your preferred cast-on method. A long-tail cast on creates a neat, even edge that works well for both dishcloths and afghan squares.

Rows 1–5: Background Border (Bottom)

Row 1 (RS): Knit all 30 sts in CA.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all 30 sts in CA.
Row 3 (RS): Knit all 30 sts in CA.
Row 4 (WS): Purl all 30 sts in CA.
Row 5 (RS): Knit all 30 sts in CA.

These five rows create a smooth background border at the bottom of your square. They also help establish your gauge and give the letter visual space beneath it.

Rows 6–35: Letter Section

This is where the letter M is formed. The following written instructions describe the color sequence for each row. On RS rows, work from right to left. On WS rows, work from left to right. Remember to twist your yarns at every color join to prevent holes.

Row 6 (WS): P4 CA, P22 CB, P4 CA.
Row 7 (RS): K4 CA, K22 CB, K4 CA.
Row 8 (WS): P4 CA, P22 CB, P4 CA.
Row 9 (RS): K4 CA, K4 CB, K10 CA, K4 CB, K4 CA. (Note: this row begins to form the inner legs of the M)
Row 10 (WS): P4 CA, P4 CB, P10 CA, P4 CB, P4 CA.

Continue in this manner, following the chart for each row. The letter M in this pattern is constructed with two solid outer legs and two inner diagonal lines that meet at a central peak, giving the letter its classic bold appearance. The full chart spans rows 6 through 35, after which you will return to a solid background for the top border.

Because the full 30-row letter section is best followed using the visual chart rather than line-by-line written instructions alone (particularly for the diagonal portions of the M where the CB stitches shift by one or two stitches per row), a printable chart is included at the end of this post. You can also draw your own on graph paper using the dimensions given — 30 stitches wide, 30 rows tall for the letter section, with the M centered and framed by background stitches on all sides.

Rows 36–40: Background Border (Top)

Row 36 (WS): Purl all 30 sts in CA.
Row 37 (RS): Knit all 30 sts in CA.
Row 38 (WS): Purl all 30 sts in CA.
Row 39 (RS): Knit all 30 sts in CA.
Row 40 (WS): Purl all 30 sts in CA.

Bind Off

Using CA, bind off all 30 sts knitwise on a right-side row. A stretchy bind off, such as the k2tog bind off or the Russian bind off, helps the top edge lie flat and match the cast-on edge in elasticity.

Finishing

Weave in all ends carefully using a yarn needle. For intarsia work, you will have multiple ends at every color join, so take your time here. Thread each tail through several stitches on the wrong side in different directions to secure it without creating visible bumps on the right side.

Once your ends are woven in, wet block your square by soaking it in cool water for about ten minutes, gently squeezing out the excess water (do not wring), and pinning it to your blocking mat in the correct dimensions. Allow it to dry completely before unpinning. Blocking evens out stitches, sharpens the definition of the letter, and gives your square that polished, professional finish.

If you are making a dishcloth, blocking is optional — it will soften and settle with washing anyway. If you are assembling an afghan, blocking every square to the same dimensions before seaming will make your life significantly easier and your finished project much neater.

Tips for a Clean, Crisp Letter M

A few things will make a noticeable difference in how sharp your letter looks once the square is finished.

Twist your yarns consistently. At every point where your two colors meet, bring the new yarn up from under the old yarn before making the first stitch in the new color. This twisting locks the yarns together and prevents holes or loose loops at the join. Consistent twisting on both RS and WS rows is the single biggest factor in getting a clean letter edge.

Keep your tension even. Intarsia can get uneven at color joins, with the first stitch of the new color pulling tighter or looser than the rest. Practice maintaining the same tension as you switch, and if a particular join consistently looks loose, try tugging the new yarn slightly before making the stitch.

Use bobbins for large color sections. For the background sections on either side of the letter, working from your main ball of CA is fine. But for the letter itself, winding CB onto a small bobbin rather than pulling from a loose length of yarn will prevent tangles and make it easier to manage the yarn on the WS rows.

Don’t skip the chart. Even experienced knitters sometimes try to improvise alphabet patterns from memory or from written instructions alone. For the diagonal sections of the letter M — particularly the inner peak — the chart is your most reliable guide. Print it, mark your rows, and refer to it every time rather than trying to hold the sequence in your head.

Ideas for Using Your Letter M Square

A single letter M dishcloth makes a lovely personalized gift on its own, especially paired with a nice hand soap or a set of matching kitchen linens. But the real fun begins when you start thinking about how these squares can combine into something larger.

Monogram dishcloth set: Knit the initials of a friend or family member as a set of three squares (first, middle, and last name initials), seam them together side by side, and finish with a simple crocheted or knitted border. It is a meaningful, handmade wedding gift or housewarming present.

Name afghan: Spell out a full name or word using individual alphabet squares and seam them together into a wall hanging or lap blanket. A child’s name in bright colors, or a couple’s surname initial as a large single-square wall piece — both are beautiful.

Alphabet sampler blanket: Knit all 26 letters of the alphabet in your chosen colorway and assemble them into a full blanket. This is a longer-term project, but the result is a genuinely stunning heirloom that can be used as a teaching tool for young children or displayed as a piece of textile art.

Personalized pot holders: Knit two letter squares and seam them together with a layer of heat-resistant batting in between for a functional, monogrammed pot holder.

Gift bag stuffers and stocking fillers: A single dishcloth knitted in someone’s initial is the perfect small gift — quick to make, inexpensive, practical, and personal. The Daisy and Storm colorway in particular has a lovely neutral elegance that suits almost any kitchen.

Adapting the Daisy and Storm Colorway

While Daisy and Storm is a particularly beautiful combination for the letter M — the warm cream of Daisy against the cool grey of Storm gives it a timeless, almost Scandi feel — there is no reason to stop there. This same chart works in any two-color combination you choose.

For something bold and graphic, try a deep navy (CB) on a crisp white (CA). For a seasonal feel, a rich burgundy on natural cream is gorgeous for autumn and winter. For a child’s room or nursery, a cheerful sunflower yellow on soft sky blue is bright and playful. If you are building an alphabet afghan, using the same two colors across all 26 letters will give your finished piece visual cohesion. If you prefer a more eclectic, scrappy look, each letter in a different colorway against a consistent background color is equally striking.

The Daisy and Storm colorway also looks beautiful in reverse — try Storm as the background and Daisy as the letter for a darker, moodier feel that works especially well as a standalone wall piece or framed textile art.

Sharing Your Finished Square

If you make this pattern, please share your finished square — it is always wonderful to see how different knitters interpret the same design. Whether your yarn is slightly different, your tension is looser or tighter, or you swapped out the colorway for something entirely your own, every finished square tells its own story.

Tag your projects with the pattern name so others can find your version for inspiration. And if you run into any questions about the chart, the intarsia joins, or adapting the pattern to a different yarn weight, drop a comment below. The knitting community is one of the most generous and supportive creative spaces on the internet, and there is almost certainly someone who has navigated the same challenge and can help.

Happy knitting — and enjoy every stitch of your letter M square in Daisy and Storm.