Knitting Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket in Lion Brand Homespun

Knitting Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket in Lion Brand Homespun

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Lion Brand Yarn guides knitters through creating a beautifully textured diagonal baby blanket worked in the beloved Lion Brand Homespun yarn. The finished blanket measures a generous 36 inches square, making it an ideal size for swaddling, stroller use, or crib decoration. The diagonal construction gives this classic baby blanket a distinctive, eye-catching appearance that sets it apart from traditionally worked square or rectangular blankets.

What Is Being Made

The project is a knitted baby blanket worked entirely on straight needles from corner to corner. Rather than casting on the full width and working row by row, the diagonal method begins at one corner with just a handful of stitches and gradually increases to the blanket's widest point before symmetrically decreasing back down to a single corner. The result is a square blanket with a dynamic diagonal grain running through the fabric, adding visual interest even when worked in a single solid or self-striping colorway.

Techniques Used

• Corner-to-corner diagonal construction: The blanket is cast on with only 5 stitches and shaped entirely through strategic increases and decreases, growing stitch by stitch until 126 stitches are on the needle at the widest point, then mirroring that process back down to the bind-off edge.
• Yarn over increases (yo): Each increase row uses a yarn over to add one stitch, simultaneously creating a subtle decorative eyelet detail along the diagonal increase and decrease lines that frames the blanket beautifully.
• Knit 2 together decreases (k2tog): On the decrease half of the blanket, paired k2tog decreases are used in combination with a yarn over to maintain the decorative ridge while reducing the stitch count symmetrically.
• Garter stitch throughout: Every row is knitted, meaning no purl stitches are required at any point. This makes the pattern highly accessible for beginner knitters while producing a fabric with natural stretch, cozy thickness, and a classic ridged texture on both sides.
• Standard cast-on and bind-off: The pattern begins with a simple cast-on of 5 stitches and concludes with a standard bind-off of the remaining 5 stitches after the final decrease rows.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k): The foundational stitch used for every row throughout the entire blanket.
• Yarn over (yo): Used on both the increase and decrease sections to create the decorative diagonal ridge and to compensate for decreases on the second half, keeping the stitch count consistent during the decrease phase.
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used during the second half of the blanket to reduce stitch count and shape the corner.

Materials

• Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun — 3 skeins in #348 Gazebo or a color of your choice. Homespun is a chunky-weight yarn known for its soft, textured, woven-look construction, which adds warmth and a cozy hand-feel perfectly suited to a baby blanket.
• Needles: Size 11 (8.00 mm) straight knitting needles, or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge.
• Gauge: 9 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended to ensure the finished blanket reaches the intended 36-inch square dimensions.

Who This Pattern Is For

Because the entire blanket is worked in garter stitch — knitting every row without ever purling — this pattern is wonderfully approachable for beginner to intermediate knitters. The yarn over and k2tog techniques are simple to learn and are clearly explained through the pattern's abbreviations. The use of Lion Brand Homespun, a thick and chunky yarn worked on large size 11 needles, means the blanket works up quickly, making it a satisfying and practical project for gift-giving or personal use.