Lacy Diamonds

Lacy Diamonds Baby Blanket by Mockingbird Knits

Project Overview

Lacy Diamonds is an intermediate-level knitted baby blanket designed by Mockingbird Knits. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a beautiful 36" x 36" (91 cm x 91 cm) square blanket featuring elegant lace diamond motifs throughout. The pattern is specifically designed for knitters with some experience who want to create a heirloom-quality blanket with repeating lace elements that are straightforward to follow.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a lacy diamond baby blanket with a finished square dimension of 36" x 36" (91 cm x 91 cm). The blanket features decorative lace diamond patterns that repeat across the fabric, framed by a garter stitch border on all sides. The design combines open lacework in the center with solid stockinette borders, creating visual interest and structure.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The primary technique throughout the blanket, creating openwork diamond patterns using yarn overs and decreases
• Garter stitch: Used for the 8-stitch borders on all sides, providing a finished frame and structural stability
• Stockinette stitch: Used in the purl sections between lace pattern rows
• Circular needle construction: The pattern recommends 40-inch circular needles, allowing for easier management of the large blanket
• Stitch marker placement: Used to clearly delineate the border sections from the central lace pattern area

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Lacy Diamonds pattern works in multiples of 8 stitches plus 1 (not including the border), creating a repeating diamond lace motif. Key stitches include:

• Knit (K): Basic knit stitch used throughout borders and pattern rows
• Purl (P): Used to create smooth sections between lace rows
• Yarn over (YO): Creates the openwork holes essential to the lace diamond design
• Knit 2 together (K2TOG): Right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn overs
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK): Left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs for symmetrical lace shaping
• Knit 3 together (K3TOG): A centered double decrease used in specific pattern rows for diamond point definition

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for approximately 850 yards (777 metres) of yarn. The original design specifies Bernat Premium in Lilac, a worsted weight yarn. However, the pattern is flexible and notes that any favourite worsted weight yarn will work as a suitable substitute, allowing crafters to choose colors and fiber content that match their preferences.

Needles and Tools

• Needle size: US 9 (5.5 mm)
• Needle type: 40-inch (101 cm) circular needles or straight needles
• Additional supplies: 2 stitch markers for pattern placement and a darning needle for finishing

Pattern Construction Notes

The blanket begins with a cast-on of 145 stitches and includes 16 rows of garter stitch knitting to establish the top border before the lace pattern begins. The pattern uses stitch markers to clearly separate the 8-stitch garter borders from the 129-stitch central lace section. This structure makes the pattern easy to follow and helps prevent mistakes. For knitters wishing to adjust the blanket size while maintaining the same border dimensions, the pattern provides guidance to add 16 stitches to the total count.