Diamond Rose

Diamond Rose is a perfect gift pattern, really quick if you are familiar with Icelandic intarsia, an old tradition seen mostly in knitted shoe inserts that almost got lost. It takes me only one hour to complete but I do have a lot of practice! It is however a very good introduction to the technique and some more challenging designs in my book. Diamond Rose can be made both as a brooch or a fancy button. You can use any scraps of yarn, even the shortest ones. It is extremely light and won’t tug on your delicate knits or laces. Good news is that you don’t need to darn the ends. Size varies depending on the yarn and needles used but a large button doesn’t mean a disgraceful buttonhole: learn a little trick on how to use the Diamond Rose button with your favorite cardi without touching the already made buttonholes. If you are knitting a brand new cardi, learn a similar trick and wear different Diamond Roses everyday of the week if you wish!

If you want to know more about the tradition of Icelandic intarsia and teh shoe-inserts, read my book Icelandic color knitting: using Rose patterns (Search press 2009)

Design: Hélène Magnússon

Size: Depends on yarn used. As an indication, diameter runs over 15 sts and with the stretching, it is about about 7 cm (2”7) on 2,5 mm needles with a DK yarn and 5 cm (2”) on 2 mm needles with a lace weight yarn.

Yarn: Any scraps will do. I´ve been using cotton, wool, metallic threads, fantasy yarns, lace weight yarn doubled against sport weight, etc… You will need less than 5gr for the main color and about 1 m (40”) for each of the other colors. Love Story and Gilitrutt Tvíband knitted very tight will allow you to knit smaller buttons.

Other: You will also need a compass, a piece of strong cardboard 2 mm (0”8) thick (or alternatively a piece of rigid plastic sheet), sharp scissors or a cutter and a bit of stuffing material (carded wool, polyester stuffing, more yarn scraps, etc…). For the brooch, a pierced brooch fitting. For a large button: a button matching a normal sized buttonhole.

Needles: a circular needle comfortable to work magic loop or DPN´s needles, in a size suitable with the yarn used.

Gauge: depends on yarn used but I highly recommend a tight gauge.

Techniques: Icelandic intarsia, Magic loop (optional)

Pattern: once you’ve made your payment, you will receive an email with a link to download the pattern PDF. We don’t send patterns by snailmail.

Errata: no mistake was found in this pattern.