Diamond Knit Shawl in Lion Brand Homespun - 670

Diamond Knit Shawl in Lion Brand Homespun – Pattern Summary

This Diamond Knit Shawl is a stunning, large-format knitted wrap designed to drape elegantly across the shoulders. Published by Lion Brand Yarn Company, this free downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished shawl measuring approximately 72 inches across the top edge, making it a generous, statement-making accessory suitable for a wide range of occasions. The design is rated Intermediate skill level, making it an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore more intricate lace-style construction.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a large triangular knitted shawl or wrap, worked from the top edge downward in a repeating diamond lace pattern. The overall silhouette is classic and timeless, while the textured diamond motifs add visual interest and elegance. With a top edge spanning 72 inches, this shawl is designed to wrap comfortably around the shoulders or be worn as a decorative accessory over outerwear.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun (Art. No. 790), a chunky, textured yarn known for its soft, cozy feel and subtle color variation. The pattern calls for 3 skeins of 6 oz. each in Ebony #313, though the pattern notes that any color of your choice may be substituted. Lion Brand Homespun is a popular choice for large projects due to its warmth and the speed at which it works up.
• Needles: A Lion Brand circular knitting needle, size 13 (or the size needed to obtain gauge) is required. The pattern specifically recommends using a circular needle to accommodate the large number of stitches as the shawl grows, working back and forth in rows rather than in the round.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 2 stitches per inch. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly emphasized to ensure the finished shawl reaches the correct dimensions.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting on circular needles: Although a circular needle is used, the shawl is worked back and forth in rows, a common technique when a project has too many stitches to fit comfortably on a straight needle.
• Lace knitting: The diamond pattern is created through a series of carefully placed yarn-overs and decreases, producing an open, decorative fabric with a classic lace aesthetic.
• Shaping through increases: Several rows incorporate increases at the beginning and end of rows — such as working (k1, p1) into the first and last stitch or (k1, p1, k1) into the first and last stitch — to gradually expand the width of the shawl as it grows downward.
• Centered double decrease: A key technique in this pattern is the Sl 2 kwise-k1-p2sso, which involves slipping 2 stitches together knitwise, knitting 1, then passing the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch. This creates a neat, centered double decrease that is essential to forming the pointed tips of the diamond motifs.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) — the foundational stitches forming the fabric base
• Yarn over (yo) — used to create decorative eyelets and openwork within the diamond pattern
• K2tog (knit 2 together) — a standard right-leaning decrease used throughout the lace pattern
• K2tog-tbl (knit 2 together through the back loop) — a left-leaning decrease that mirrors the k2tog, helping to create the symmetrical diamond shapes
• Sl 2 kwise-k1-p2sso — the centered double decrease described above, used at key points in the pattern repeat to sharpen the diamond motif
• Bar increases — worked by knitting or purling into the front and back of edge stitches to add width at each side of the shawl