FREE PATTERN: Diamond Memory Blanket

A few months ago, a friend of a friend of a friend asked me if I could look at her grandmother's hand crocheted sweater, and see if I could use part of it to create a blanket for her new baby. What an exciting opportunity!

The sweater was made with pink cotton (I think), using a unique post-diamonds pattern that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Here's what the sweater looked like before we took it apart :)

I spent quite some time with my mum, looking at the structure of the sweater and deciding how to start. We eventually resolved to undo the front and sleeves, leaving the back in a rectangular-ish section to start from.

Thank goodness for my husband and yarn winder! It felt a little bit sad to be frogging this beautiful work, but I was also hopeful that reusing the yarn and the back panel would give it a new life :)

I got some extra white 4 ply cotton to break up the pink a little, and did three white frames separating bands of different diamond motifs in the pink cotton, and ending with a crab stitch border. If I was to do it again, I would do fewer corner stitches in the post diamond band as it did get a bit pointy! 

It required an epic block - towels and sheets spread out over my living room floor and a bajillion pins holding it down. Fortunately my sister was visiting on blocking night, so I could use her spatial design talents to make sure it was straight! 

Ta-dah!  I shared this picture with a crochet support group on Facebook, and they all wanted the pattern! So, with the help of my wonderful husband taking dictation, I figured out what I did, changed the bits that could have been better, and wrote it all up for you! Below is the (completely untested) pattern for this Diamond Memory Blanket :) 

If anyone can find the original pattern for the post diamond sweater, please let me know so that I can give appropriate attribution!! 

Favourite or queue this pattern on Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-memory-blanket

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DIAMOND MEMORY BLANKET

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Finished size: Approximately 1mx1.2m 

Materials

4 ply cotton in pink and white (or your colours of choice)

2.25mm hook

3.5mm hook

Yarn needle

Scissors

All stitches are in American Terminology

St - stitch

Yoh - yarn over hook

Ch - chain stitch

Slst - slip stitch

Sc - single crochet

Dc - double crochet

Tr - treble crochet

Bptr - back post treble crochet

Fptr - front post treble crochet

Bpdc - back post double crochet

Fpdc - front post double crochet

dc3tog - double crochet 3 stitches together - [yoh, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop. Yoh, pull through two loops] x 3, yoh, draw through all 4 loops left on hook.

3dc cluster - 3dc into one st

Notes

- The row numbering restarts in each band/frame 

- For foundation stitches, see our chainless foundation hdc tutorial for the basics, and just make trebles instead of hdc!

Central post diamond panel

Ch105, turn. Tr in 5^th chain from hook, tr in each ch across (102tr) OR 102 foundation treble

Row 2              Ch4, 7fptr, (3bptr, 9fptr) 7 times, 3bptr, 7fptr. Turn.

Row 3              Ch4, 5bptr, (5fptr,7bptr) 7 times, 5fptr, 7bptr. Turn.

Row 4              Ch4, 5fptr, (7bptr, 5fptr) 7 times, 7bptr, 5fptr. Turn.

Row 5              Ch4, 3bptr, (9fptr, 3bptr) 7 times, 9fptr, 3bptr, 2fptr. Turn.

Row 6              Ch4, 2bptr, 1fptr, (11bptr, 1fptr) 8 times, 2bptr. Turn.

Row 7              Ch4, (3bptr, 9fptr) 8 times, 3bptr, 2fptr. Turn.

Row 8              Ch4, (5fptr, 7bptr) 8 times, 5fptr. Turn.

Row 9              Ch4, 5bptr, (5fptr, 7bptr) 8 times. Turn.

Row 10            Ch4, 7fptr, (3bptr, 9fptr) 7 times, 3bptr, 7fptr. Turn.

Row 11            Ch4, 7bptr, (1fptr, 11bptr) 7 times, 1fptr, 9bptr. Turn.

Repeat Rows 2-11 5 ½ times, ending after a Row 7. Finish off and weave in ends.

Stitch count at end of centre panel: 102 stitches, 67 rows.

White Frame 1

Row 1 - Join yarn with a standing dc in any stitch of last row of central panel. [Dc in each stitch across to the corner. In corner space (3dc, 2ch, 5dc). In next row end 2dc. 2dc in each row end to the next corner space. In corner space (5dc, 2ch, 3dc).] Repeat. Slip stitch to first standing dc.

Rows 2-4 - 3ch, dc in each dc. (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner space. Finish off and weave in ends after Row 4.

Mini-Diamond Band

Row 1 Join pink yarn in corner stitch before short side with standing dc. (dc, ch2, 2dc) in corner space. ** Dc in next (hidden) dc. Skip 1dc, (3dc in next dc, skip 2dc) 37 times, (or until you have 3dc left in row), 3dc in next dc, skip 1 dc, dc in next dc. In corner space (2dc, ch2, 2dc), skip 1 dc, (3dc in next dc, skip 2) 49 times (or until 2dc left before corner), 3dc in next dc, skip 1dc, in corner (2dc, 2ch, 2dc). ** Repeat from ** to **. Slip stitch to first dc.

Row 2 3ch, dc in next dc. ** In corner space (2dc, 2ch, 2dc). Dc in next 3dc. 2ch, (dc3tog in next 3dc, 3ch) – repeat until 3dc left before corner, 2ch, dc in next 3 dc, in corner (2dc, 2ch, 2dc). Dc in next 2 dc, 2ch, (dc3tog in next 3dc, 3ch) – repeat until 2dc left before corner. 2ch, dc in next 2 dc. ** Repeat from ** to **, omitting final 2dc on repeat. Slip stitch to initial 3ch, finish off and weave in ends.

Row 3 With white yarn, join with a standing sc in any 3ch space. 2sc in same space, 3sc in each 3ch space, 1sc in 2ch space, sc in each dc, (sc, 2ch, sc) in corner. Repeat to end of row. Slip stitch to first standing sc and finish off.

Row 4 Join pink with standing dc in corner space before short side. (dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same space. ** Dc in next 3sc, skip 1, (3dc in next sc, skip 2) – repeat until 4sc before corner. 3dc in next sc, skip 1, dc in next 2 sc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner. Dc in next 2 dc, skip 1, (3dc in next dc, skip 2) – repeat until 3 stitches remaining before corner. 3dc in next sc, skip 1, dc in next sc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner). ** Repeat from ** to **.

Row 5 3ch, dc in next dc, ** (2dc, 2 ch, 2dc in corner), dc in next 5 dc, ch2, (dc3tog in next 3dc, ch3) – repeat until one 3dc cluster left before corner. Dc3tog in next 3dc, ch2, dc in next 4dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner). Dc in next 4 dc, ch2, (3dctog in next 3dc, 3ch) – repeat until one 3dc cluster before corner. 3dctog in next 3dc, ch2, dc in next 3dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner). ** Repeat from ** to **

Row 6 Repeat Row 3

Row 7 Join pink yarn in corner stitch before short side with standing dc. (dc, ch2, 2dc) in corner space. **DC in next 5 dc, skip 1, (3dc in next sc, skip 2) – repeat until there are 5 stitches remaining in row. 3dc in next sc, skip 1, dc in next 3dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner). Dc in  next 4 sc, skip 1, (3dc in next sc, skip 2) – repeat until 4dc left in row. 3dc in next sc, skip 1, dc in next 2 sc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner).** Repeat ** to **.

Row 8 3ch, dc in next dc. ** In corner space (2dc, 2ch, 2dc). Dc in next 7 dc, ch2, (dc3tog in next 3dc, 3ch) – repeat until one 3dc cluster remaining. Dc3tog in next 3dc, 2ch, dc in next 5 dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner). Dc in next 6dc, 2ch, (3dctog in next 3dc, 3ch) – repeat until one 3dc cluster before corner. 3dctog in next 3dc, ch2, dc in next 4dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc in corner).** Repeat from ** to **.

Row 9 Repeat Row 3.

White Frame 2

Row 1 – Join white yarn with a standing dc in any sc. Dc in each stitch, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner space. Join with slip stitch to first standing dc.

Rows 2-4 – Repeat rows 2-4 of White Frame 1 above.

Post Diamond Band

Row 1 Join pink yarn in corner space before a short side with standing tr (or 4ch). (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same space. Tr in each stitch to next corner space (don’t miss the hidden stitch!). In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Repeat to end of row. Slst to standing tr or 4^th chain.

Row 2 Stacked standing tr in first stitch of Row 1 (or 4ch up and skip first stitch of Row 1). **In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Tr in next stitch. (fptr in next stitch, bptr in next 7 stitches) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fptr in next stitch. Tr in next stitch.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last tr on final repeat. Slst to first stitch of Row 2.

Row 3  Stacked standing tr in first stitch of Row 2 (or 4ch up and skip first stitch of Row 2). Tr in next stitch. **In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Tr in next two stitches. (3fptr, 5bptr) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fptr in next 3 stitches. Tr in next 2 stitches.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last two tr on final repeat, slst to first stitch of Row 3.

           

Row 4  Stacked standing tr in first stitch of Row 3 (or 4ch up and skip first stitch of Row 3). Tr in next 2 stitches. **In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Tr in next 3 stitches. (5fptr, 3bptr) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fptr in next 5 stitches. Tr in next 3 stitches.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last two tr on final repeat, slst to first stitch of Row 4.

Row 5  Stacked standing tr in first stitch of Row 4 (or 4ch up and skip first stitch of Row 4).Tr in next 3 stitches. **In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Tr in next 4 stitches. (7fptr, 1bptr) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fptr in next 7 stitches. Tr in next 4 stitches.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last  4tr on final repeat, slst to first stitch of Row 5.

Row 6  Stacked standing tr in first stitch of Row 5 (or 4ch up and skip first stitch of Row 5). Tr in next 4 stitches. **In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Tr in next 7 stitches. (5fptr, 3bptr) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fptr in next 5 stitches. Tr in next 7 stitches.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last 4tr on final repeat, slst to first stitch of Row 6.

Row 7  Stacked standing tr in first stitch of Row 6 (or 4ch up and skip first stitch of Row 6). Tr in next 5 stitches.  **In corner space, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr). Tr in next 10 stitches. (3fptr, 5bptr) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fptr in next 3 stitches. Tr in next 10 stitches.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last  5tr on final repeat, slst to first stitch of Row 7.

Row 8  Stacked standing dc in first stitch of Row 7 (or 3ch up and skip first stitch of Row 7). dc in next 6 stitches. **In corner space, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc). dc in next 13 stitches. (1fpdc, 3bpdc) 20 times (short side) or 24 times (long side). Fpdc in next stitch. dc in next 13 stitches.** Repeat ** to ** 3 times. Omit last 6dc on final repeat, slst to first stitch of Row 8.

White Frame 3

Row 1 – Join white yarn with a standing dc in any tr. Dc in each stitch, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in each corner space. Join with a slip stitch to first standing dc.

Rows 2-4 – Repeat rows 2-4 of White Frame 1 above.

Crab stitch edging

Using 2 strands of pink yarn and 3.75mm hook, join yarn in any dc. Reverse single crochet (crab stitch) in each stitch around, doing 2 in each corner space. Finish off, weave in all ends.