BEY Diamonds: a lace knitting stitch pattern

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The Centered Single Decrease with yarnover technique makes for an attractive way to make symmetrical chevrons with smooth decrease lines. It follows, then, that it should make really nice diamonds. I think this result is good! (I used to call this technique Bunny Ears Yarnover, which is why this stitch pattern is called BEY Diamonds. More on the name change in the link above.)

Chart showing how to knit BEY Diamonds using symbols.
Click chart to enlarge

Notes:

  • This is a stitch pattern such as might be found in a stitch dictionary. It is not a pattern for a finished object. You will need to add selvedges or some other form of knitted stitches to either side.
  • BEY Diamonds is a multiple of 6 + 7 stitches and 12 or 12 + 6 rows (end after either row 6 or row 12).
  • I’ve made a stitch map for BEY Diamonds.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this in your patterns. I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • My blog posts and free stitch patterns are supported by subscriptions on Patreon or donations to my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. If you appreciate my work, please consider helping out. Thanks!

Abbreviations:

  • Bunny Ears YO (from chart key): see entry from CSD-yo.
  • CSD-yo (centered single decrease with yarnover): This turns three stitches into three stitches with a yarnover in the middle. Knit 2 together, but only remove the first stitch from the needle; yarn over; then work ssk with the second and third stitches. The middle stitch of the original three has been knit together with each of its neighbors.
  • CDD: centered double decrease: slip the next 2 stitches as if to knit 2 together, knit the next stitch, then pass the 2 slipped stitches over the third.
  • k: knit.
  • k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1. (Right-leaning decrease)
  • p: purl.
  • p1b: purl one below. For this stitch pattern, it’s not quite the same as a regular p1b, because it’s actually purling the bar below a yarnover, but the action is much the same. From behind, pick up the bar below the yarnover with the right needle and place it on the left needle next to the yarnover; purl both those strands at the same time. This prevents the bar from making a horizontal line in front of the yarnover.
  • ssk: slip each of the next 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit them together through the back loop. (Left-leaning decrease)
  • yo: yarnover

Row 1 (RS): K2, *CSD-yo, k3; work from * to last 5 sts, CSD-yo, k2.

Row 2: P3, p1b, p1, *p4, p1b, p1; work from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 3: K1, k2tog, *yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog; work from * to last 4 sts, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: K2tog, yo, *k3, yo, CDD, yo; work from * to last 5 sts, k3, yo, ssk.

Row 6: Purl.

Row 7: Yo, ssk, *k3, CSD-yo; work from * to last 5 sts, k3, k2tog, yo.

Row 8: P5, *p1, p1b, p4; work from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 9: K1, yo, *ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo; work from * to last 6 sts, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1.

Row 10: Purl.

Row 11: K2, *yo, CDD, yo, k3; work from * to last 5 sts, yo, CDD, yo, k2.

Row 12: Purl.