Block 7: Rhombi
Hello!! A little late today, but Block 7 of our “12 blocks of Xmas” blanket is finally here!! Did you know that you can say “rhombuses” and “rhombi” as a plural for “rhombus”? I didn’t knew the second option, and love it 🙂 As you can see, I easily find a lot of little things to be happy about.
Today’s block is accompanied by a charity project. If you just came to this post to find the pattern for BLOCK 7, go directly to the title “BLOCK 7: RHOMBI”. Otherwise, continue reading.
Thanksgiving and harvest festivals
Some time ago I was thinking of publishing a free pattern today, especially knowing that most of the people who follow my blog are in the USA. As I did not know exactly on what day this year was celebrated, so I went to ask mr. Google 😊 The search helped me learn more about similar celebrations that take place in other countries around the world. Of course, each country gives it a different meaning, rooted in its own history and traditions, but they all have one thing in common: gratitude. Some are mainly harvest festivals, others are more religious ceremonies. I also discovered that there is something called “Giving Tuesday“, celebrated 5 days after Thanksgiving in USA. It is a festivity of charitable giving. Did you know it? Well, anyway, I thought I would write this, but I always like to learn new things 😊
In Argentina we do not have a special date like the US or Canadian Thanksgiving, but small local festivals for different crops. I think the most popular is the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest National Festival), which takes place every year in the province of Mendoza to celebrate the harvest of grapes (our province of Mendoza is known to produce delicious and internationally famous wines) In a National Geographic’s article, our Harvest Festival ranked number two on the Top 10 Harvest Festivals around the world, after Thanksgiving in Plimoth Plantation, Massachusetts.
Being grateful
Leaving aside dates and countries, I think it is important to start each day with the spirit of Thanksgiving, taking a few moments to observe our life with gratitude. So, thinking of values like sharing our knowledge and helping others, I published today my pattern for charity hats for babies. They come in 3 sizes and they are knitted very quickly. You can find them in the following article:
If you have time and material to make some, I’m sure you can find local charities and hospitals happy to receive them.
Now, let’s get to our block 7. And happy Thanksgiving!!
❤
Cecilia
You just find this MKAL?
Don’t worry, you can start now! Look for more info in the following page: “12 Blocks for Xmas” A new free knitting project to make a blanket in blocks.
You’re also welcome to join our Ravelry group.
UPDATE April 2019
The entire pattern is below.
You can now purchase the the entire “12 Blocks for Xmas” pattern collection (12 different patterns) HERE or in my ETSY shop HERE. The high quality PDF file includes:
- gauge/tension info and materials
- written instructions
- charted instructions
- row-by-row CONTROL TABLE: specially prepared for novice knitters, with integrated instructions for the block pattern AND edge stitches, to avoid confusion. You can use the table cells to check each row as you finish it, and there is a column for every repeat of the pattern you need to make according to the instructions. A great resource to print and check your progress as you knit.
BLOCK 7: RHOMBI
ABBREVIATIONS
- CO: cast on
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- st: stitch
- k: knit
- p: purl
INSTRUCTIONS
– CO 47 sts with US 8 (5 mm) needles.
– With US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, knit 4 rows.
– Continue working as follows:
3 garter sts, Rhombi Stitch over 41 sts, 3 garter sts (see the stitch glossary below) until you have a total length of 9.25’’ (23.5 cm).
I knitted 8 times the Rhombi pattern complete + rows 1 to 3.
– Knit 4 rows.
– Bind off with US 8 (5 mm) needle. Cut yarn and weave in ends.
STITCH GLOSSARY
Garter Stitch
k all sts, all rows.
Rhombi Stitch
(Over a multiple of 8 sts. I added 1 more st to adjust for our needed 41.)
Repeat instructions between brackets as many times as needed. For this block, make them a total of 5 times, horizontally.
Row 1) (RS) p1, [k7, p1]
Row 2) [p1, k1, p5, k1], p1
Row 3) k1, [k1, p1, k3, p1, k2]
Row 4) [p3, k1, p1, k1, p2], p1
Row 5) k1, [k3, p1, k4]
Row 6) [p3, k1, p1, k1, p2], p1
Row 7) k1, [k1, p1, k3, p1, k2]
Row 8) [p1, k1, p5, k1], p1
Rhombi Stitch – CHART
- Read all odd rows from right to left, and all even rows from left to right.
- Repeat the grey painted part as many times as the pattern calls for (5 times horizontally in the case of this block).
Thank you for the hat pattern. I teach knitting at a local hospital in the Antepartum unit, and this pattern will be much appreciated by the patients!
That’s so wonderful!! Please, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
oh my! I somehow never caught the fact you are in Argentina! [I’m in NY, USA] thank you so much for these patterns – the KAL blanket project is a big winner with our kal group that does dishcloths – your talents are beautiful creations – myself, I’m doing the blanket in a mini-version, for babies. I admit tho that it hasn’t got far, been busy with so many other projects right now! But I’m definitely doing one or more of these. Thank you SO much – ps-and for the baby hat pattern too, as I knit for babies for gifting to charities.