How to Do a Diamond in Knitting

Diamonds draw elegance to your knitting project.

Diamonds are an easy pattern to master in knitting and add a unique look to a finished project. Diamonds can be used on knitted scarves, baby blankets or mittens. Any size needle or type of yarn may be used to create diamond patterns. Follow either pattern to achieve a different look on your project.

Instructions

1. Use reverse diamonds on projects to view the same results from either the right or wrong side. Cast on 9 stitches for each diamond or a multiple of nine to knit several horizontal diamonds across your pattern. Repeat the following eight rows for each vertical diamond.

   1. Purl 1 stitch and knit 8 stitches.
   2. Knit 3 stitches and purl 6 stitches.
   3. Purl 5 stitches and knit 4 stitches.
   4. Knit 7 stitches and purl 2 stitches.
   5. Purl all stitches.
   6. Knit 7 stitches and purl 2 stitches.
   7. Purl 5 stitches and knit 4 stitches.
   8. Knit 3 stitches and purl 6 stitches.

2. Outline diamonds emphasize the outline of a diamond on your project and add a more sophisticated look to your design. Cast on 8 stitches for each diamond or a multiple of eight to knit several horizontal diamonds across your pattern. Repeat the following eight rows for each vertical diamond.

   1. Purl 4 stitches, knit 1 stitch and purl 4 stitches.
   2. Knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch and knit 3 stitches.
   3. Purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch, purl 3 stitches, knit 1 stitch and purl 2 stitches.
   4. Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 5 stiches, purl 1 stitch and knit 1 stitch.
   5. Purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 5 stiches, knit 1 stitch and purl 1 stitch.
   6. Knit 2 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch and knit 2 stitches.
   7. Purl 3 stitches, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch and purl 3 stitches.
   8. Knit 4 stitches, purl 1 stitch and knit 4 stitches.

3. Use two different colors to emphasize diamonds. Change colors whenever you change from a knit to purl stitch or vice versa. Observe which color applies to which stitch, since opposite stitches are worked on the wrong side of the project. Weave in all loose ends once knitting is completed. Knit in beads throughout your diamond or weave in one bead in the middle of the diamond. Beads can also be used to accentuate the outline of a diamond as in the second pattern.

References

• Knitting Help: The Knit Stitch
• Knitting Help: The Purl Stitch
• Knitting Help: Common Join

Resources

• Knitting Help: Double Knitting
• Dummies: How to Knit a Diamond Brocade