Valley Yarns Dicentra Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Dicentra Knit Blanket Throw

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Dicentra is a sophisticated knit blanket throw designed by Julie Turjoman. This finished piece measures 55 inches long by 40 inches wide, making it an ideal size for use as a throw blanket or stroller blanket. The blanket combines aesthetic appeal with practical functionality, featuring a carefully balanced design that alternates between delicate lace elements and broader sections of classic Stockinette stitch.

Construction Method and Techniques

This blanket is constructed using an efficient two-piece method, with each section worked sideways (horizontally across the width) on flat needles rather than in the round. This approach keeps the project manageable during the knitting process, preventing the piece from becoming too heavy while under construction. Once both pieces are completed, they are carefully seamed together along their long edges to create the finished blanket.

The seaming technique involves laying both pieces side by side on a flat surface with their 1-inch Garter stitch edges butted together to form a center vertical seam line. The edges are then sewn together using a tapestry needle and waste yarn, creating a secure and professional-looking join.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Dicentra pattern incorporates several key knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stockinette Stitch: Forms the broad, smooth sections that provide visual balance to the lace elements
• Garter Stitch: Creates a 1-inch border edge on all sides, offering structure and a finished appearance
• Lace Stripes: Delicate lace sections are strategically placed throughout the blanket, created using yarn overs and decreases to form openwork patterns
• Yarn Overs (Yo): Used to create the openwork characteristic of lace knitting
• Decreases: Including K2tog (knit 2 together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), and Sk2p (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) techniques to balance yarn overs and shape the lace
• Make Bobble (mb): An optional decorative stitch element created by knitting front and back twice into a single stitch, leaving all stitches on the needle, then knitting all four stitches together

The pattern emphasizes proper edge finishing by instructing knitters to slip the first stitch purlwise on every row and knit this same stitch at the end of every row. This technique both facilitates the seaming process and creates clean, professional-looking finished edges.

Materials and Specifications

The Dicentra blanket requires 11 skeins of Valley Yarns Granville yarn. Granville is a premium blend composed of 90% Pima Cotton and 10% Merino Wool, offering a soft hand with excellent drape and breathability. Each skein contains 50 grams and provides 167 yards of yardage.

Needles required are US Size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches in length. Circular needles are used for working flat, allowing the knitter to accommodate the large number of stitches (276 cast-on stitches) comfortably. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, with at least 2 locking stitch markers recommended for marking important positions, and a tapestry needle for seaming the two pieces together.

The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches when worked in Stockinette stitch on US Size 7 needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced beginner, indicating it is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns. The combination of lace work, Stockinette stitch, and seaming requires solid foundational skills and the ability to read and follow a detailed pattern with multiple stitch abbreviations and techniques.