Green Square Placemat (Kandinsky)

Green Square Placemat (Kandinsky)

What Is Being Made

The Green Square Placemat is a knitted table accessory inspired by Wassily Kandinsky's 1935 painting "Gravitation." This downloadable knitting pattern from designer knitvana creates a decorative placemat featuring a patchwork of small colored squares arranged to echo the abstract composition of Kandinsky's artwork. The finished piece serves as both a functional table setting element and a wearable art tribute to modernist painting.

Design and Inspiration

The placemat design draws directly from Kandinsky's "Gravitation," translating the geometric abstraction and color relationships of the original painting into knitted form. Rather than replicating the exact palette of Kandinsky's work, the pattern encourages crafters to use yarn colors already in their stash, making it an accessible and sustainable knitting project. The designer notes that the color selection used includes Dark Green, Mint Green, Light Green, Medium Blue, Black, Burgundy, Medium Pink, Orange, Dark Yellow, Bright Pink, Light Blue, Medium Red, Light Yellow, Lavender, Dark Grey, Tan, and Dark Salmon.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This placemat employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for crafters of various skill levels. The pattern uses garter stitch and stockinette stitch as its primary construction methods. The back side of the placemat is worked using a simple alternating pattern: all odd rows (rows 1 through 73) are knitted, while all even rows (rows 2 through 74) are purled. This creates a textured stockinette fabric that forms the base of the design.

The small colored squares that create the Kandinsky-inspired composition are individually knitted units, each measuring 5 stitches by 7 rows. These modest dimensions mean each small square requires minimal yardage—typically no more than 2 yards of yarn per color. This modular approach allows crafters to work with scraps and leftover yarn from other projects, reducing waste and making the placemat an economical choice for stash-busting.

Materials and Construction Details

The placemat pattern begins with casting on 55 stitches, establishing the width of the finished piece. The work continues for 74 rows total before casting off. While the PDF does not specify needle size or yarn weight, the stitch count and row gauge suggest a medium-weight yarn worked on appropriately sized needles to achieve the intended dimensions.

The designer emphasizes using yarn already available in a crafter's collection rather than purchasing multiple new colors specifically for this project. This approach makes the Green Square Placemat an ideal pattern for utilizing small quantities of leftover yarn—perfect for anyone with a yarn stash containing various colors and fiber types.

Pattern Notes

• Suitable for knitters seeking a straightforward project combining basic stitches with creative color work
• Modular small squares allow for flexible color placement and personalization
• Minimal yardage requirements per color make this an excellent stash-busting opportunity
• The finished placemat functions as both a practical table accessory and an artistic homage to abstract modernism