A Thousand Splendid Suns Square Pattern

A Thousand Splendid Suns square by Tuppence

Design inspired by A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The description of the design components (and what parts of the book inspired them) includes possible spoilers, so I won't include that description and explanation here. It is available in a post on the Ravelry Book Club group page on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ravelry-book-club/57450/1-25#5

You need to be a member of Ravelry to access the page. If you're not yet a member, join us!

Size: Approximately 8 x 8 inches

Materials used:

Red Heart Super Saver yarn (or any worsted-weight yarn) in Light Blue and Bright Yellow

Size 8 knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Yarn needle

Gauge: 17 stitches and 23 rows = 4" x 4" in stockinette stitch

This square is knitted with Light Blue, and then after the knitting is completed, the sun is added to the square with Bright Yellow using duplicate stitch with the sun's rays in backstitch.

Cast on 34 stitches with Light Blue. (Even-numbered rows are the right side.)

Rows 1-4: Knit.

Rows 5, 7 and 9: Knit 2, purl 30, knit 2.

Rows 6 and 8: Knit.

Row 10: Knit 9, (yarn over, knit 2 together) eight times, knit 9.

Row 11: Knit 2, purl 30, knit 2.

Row 12: Knit 9, (slip 1 as if to knit, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch, yarn over) eight times, knit 9.

Row 13: Knit 2, purl 30, knit 2.

Rows 14-25: Repeat rows 10-13 three more times to complete mesh section.

Rows 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44: Knit.

Rows 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 and 43: Knit 2, purl 30, knit 2.

Rows 45 and 46: Knit.

Bind off as if to knit.

Follow chart to add the sun with Bright Yellow using duplicate stitch. Chart is worked over the center 8 stitches and over rows 40-44 (just beneath the garter stitch border).

The sun's rays are added with Bright Yellow using backstitch, arranged as desired. Weave in all yarn ends.

44 VVVVVVVV 44
43 VVVVVVVV 43
42 VVVVVVVV 42
41 -VVVVVV- 41
40 --VVVV-- 40

Key:

V = Duplicate stitch in Bright Yellow

- = Stitch left unembroidered