DIAMOND BLANKET
Create diamond motifs for a blanket inspired by hot climates, perfect for al fresco evenings. By Heather Gibbs.
With its striking geometric design and bold colours made in granny diamonds, Heather Gibbs’ blanket looks like a souvenir from a pueblo in a hot, dry land. Clint Eastwood never had it so good.
NOTES
The ch3 at beginning of a round counts as a tr throughout.
Work through back loops only.
For both of the Half Motifs, it may help to place a stitch marker in the top of the beg ch-3 to help mark the top of the first st. When joining colours, keep RS facing. You will find the chart for this pattern on page 93.
FULL DIAMOND MOTIFS MAKE 49 Using Yarn A, ch4, ss to first ch to join into a ring.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr here and throughout), 3tr into the loop, ch3, (4tr into the loop, ch3) 3 times, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. [16 sts and 4 ch-3 sps]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 2 Join Yarn B with a ss to top of the st where you fastened off, ch3, tr in each of next 3 sts, *(tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 4 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp**, tr in each of next 4 sts*; rep from * to * once, then rep from * to **, ss to top of beg ch-3. [32 sts and 4 ch-3 sps]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 3 Count back 3 sts from where you fastened off (this is the tr after the last corner ch-3), join Yarn A with a ss to top of this st, ch3, tr in each of next 7 sts, *(tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 8 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp**, tr in each of next 8 sts*; rep from * to * once, then rep from * to **, ss to top of beg ch-3.
[48 sts and 4 ch-3 sps]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 4 Count back 3 sts from where you fastened off (this is the tr after the last corner ch-3), join Yarn B with a ss to top of this st, ch3, tr in each of next 11 sts, *(tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 12 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp**, tr in each of next 12 sts*; rep from * to * once, then rep from * to **, ss to top of beg ch-3. [64 sts and 4 ch-3 sps]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 5 Count back 3 sts from where you fastened off (this is the tr after the corner ch-3), join Yarn C with a ss to top of this st, ch3, tr in each of next 15 sts, *(tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 16 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in the next ch-3 sp**, tr in each of next 16 sts*; rep from * to * once, then rep from * to **, ss to top of beg ch-3.
[80 sts and 4 ch-3 sps]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
SIDE DIAMOND HALF MOTIFS MAKE 12
Using Yarn A, ch4, ss to first ch to join into a ring.
Row 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr here and throughout), 3tr into the loop, ch3, 4tr into the loop. [8 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 2 Join Yarn B with a ss to top of beg ch-3 of Round 1, ch3, tr in same st at base
of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 3 sts, (3tr, ch-3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in the next 3 sts, 2tr in last st. [16 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 3 Join Yarn A with a ss to top of the beg ch-3 of Round 2, ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 7 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 7 sts, 2tr in last st. [24 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 4 Join Yarn B to top of the beg ch-3 of Round 3, ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 11 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 11 sts, 2tr in last st. [32 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 5 Join Yarn C with a ss to top of beg ch-3 of Round 4, ch3, tr in same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 15 sts, (3tr, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp, tr in each of next 15 sts, 2tr in last st. [40 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
WIDE DIAMOND HALF MOTIFS MAKE 10
Using Yarn A, ch4, ss to first ch to join into a ring.
Row 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr here and throughout), 3tr into the loop, ch3, 4tr into the loop. [8 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 2 Join Yarn B with a ss to top of beg ch-3 of Round 1, ch3, 2tr in the same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 2 sts, 2tr in next st, (tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, 2tr in next st, tr in each of next 2 sts, 3tr in last st.
[16 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 3 Join Yarn A with a ss to top of beg ch-3 of Round 2, ch3, 2tr in the same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 6 sts, 2tr in next st, (tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, 2tr in next st, tr in each of next 6 sts, 3tr in last st.
[24 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 4 Join Yarn B with a ss to top of beg ch-3 of Round 3, ch3, 2tr in the same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 10 sts, 2tr in next st, (tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, 2tr in next st, tr in each of next 10 sts, 3tr in last st.
[32 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Row 5 Join Yarn C with ss to top of beg ch-3 of Round 4, ch3, 2tr in the same st at base of beg ch-3, tr in each of next 14 sts, 2tr in next st, (tr, ch3, tr) in next ch-3 sp, 2tr in next st, tr in each of next 14 sts, 3tr in last st.
[40 sts and 1 ch-3 sp]
Fasten off and weave in ends. TO MAKE UP
Once all Diamond Motifs are completed, sew them together using Yarn C, working through the back loop only using the Chart as a guide.
BORDER
Round 1 (RS) Join Yarn C with a ss to any corner sp, ch1 (does not count as st) (dc, ch1, dc) in same corner sp, *ch1, sk 1 st, (dc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st) along edge to next corner sp**, (dc, ch1, dc) in next corner, rep from * 3 times more, ending last rep at **, ss to first dc to join. Rounds 2-8 Ss into next ch-1 corner sp, ch1 (does not count as st), *(dc, ch1, dc) into ch-1 corner sp, ch1, (sk next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, ch1), along edge to next corner sp; rep from * 3 times more, ss to first dc.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
TO FINISH
Block the Blanket by gently immersing it in cold water. Do not soak it completely and do not wring it out. Lay out the damp Blanket on blocking mats and pin to measurements. Leave to dry completely for 24 hours, then unpin and your Blanket will be ready to use.