Puncetto Valsesiano: Part 9 – Diamond
Posted by Avital Pinnick on February 17, 2011
For some reason, people seem find the diamond a tricky design. I think it’s because if you don’t realise that the rows are worked diagonally, you might be tempted to work back and forth horizontally, increasing at each side, then decreasing on each side. That would give anyone hives. Fortunately, the diamond is not all that difficult, especially when you see the thread path in the animation that follows.
Diamond
The sample is worked on 10 loops (= 11 knots). The actual number is irrelevant because the diamond itself occupies a space that is 2 squares wide and 2 squares high. I am using a 3-knot square as my base, so this diamond covers 6 loops (= 7 knots).
Abbreviations: L to R: Left to Right. R to L: Right to Left
- L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. R to L: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. Repeat. L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. This forms the lower left block of the sample.
- Skip 2 loops of the base row of loops and make a knot in the the 3rd loop, leaving enough thread to form the diagonal side of the triangular space on the lower left side of the diamond.
- Skip 2 loops of the base row and make a knot in the 3rd loop, leaving enough thread to form the diagonal side and the right vertical side of the triangular space on the lower right side of the diamond. You are read to start the lower right block of the sample.
- L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. R to L: Make 2 knots in 2 loops and 1 knot on the vertical thread. Repeat. L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. This forms the lower right block of the sample.
- R to L: Make 2 knots in 2 loops.
- Start working the diamond. R to L: Make 5 knots on the right diagonal thread and 1 knot on the left diagonal thread. L to R: Make 4 knots in 4 loops. R to L: Make 4 knots in 4 loops and 1 knot on the left diagonal thread. Repeat the last two rows 3 times. You have finished the diamond. Continuing R to L: Make 2 knots on 2 loops (over top of the lower left block).
- Start the upper left block. L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. R to L: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. Repeat. L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. This forms the upper left block of the sample.
- Make a knot in the top loop of the diamond, leaving enough thread to form the top edge of the triangular space on the upper left side of the diamond. Make a knot on the first loop of the lower right block, leaving enough thread to form the top edge and right side of the triangular space on the upper right side of the diamond. Work the upper right block: L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. R to L: Make 2 knots in 2 loops and 1 knot on the vertical thread. Repeat. L to R: Make 2 knots in 2 loops.
- R to L: Make 2 knots in 2 loops. Make 3 knots on the thread over the right triangular space. Make 3 knots on the thread over the left triangular space. Make 2 knots in 2 loops (over top of upper right block).
This and That 
Onna Addis said
this is so cool and so wonderful of you to teach us online. Is the animation a drawing for the cordonette layout? Or some stitches and if stitches, is this for the puncetto where one would wrap the thread around the needle backwards making a knot?
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Avital said
Onna, Puncetto is not worked with a cordonnet. If you go back to the photos in the first tutorial, you can see how it is sometimes worked on the edge of a piece of fabric. In another lesson I show how to create a foundation ladder and work on top of that. The animation shows the path of the thread and knots.
I’m not sure what you mean by wrapping the thread around the needle backwards. If you’re working from left to right, the thread wraps clockwise (looking down) around the needle. If you’re working from right to left, the thread wraps counter-clockwise. It’s not the double knot used in Armenian and Mediterranean needle laces. Rather, it’s a single knot, like Chebka (you can find diagrams in Therese de Dillmont’s Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework).
Onna said
Avital, I have to tell you how hooked I am on this Puncetto. Daily my fingers are flying trying to work as fast as tatting or crochet. Once it is in my head I am lost inside the pattern. *I love your instructions, you should really do a book on this. All your ideas and versions I bet are amazing.
Onna
Onna Addis said
Dear me: Scroll up for the instructions..hmmm? Oh am I embarrassed of that post..Look above, Lady and read it.
Onna
Marina said
It has been a while since I wrote to you Avital. Your drawing is well done. I did not do too much of Puncetto lately, but I would like to start something. As I see on the Internet, Puncetto is showing more pictures and instructions on how to do it. I learned the hard way: By myself with little instructions. Just a great desire to learn this beautiful lace. As you know, it takes time and precision in executing the lace. One thing I tried to avoid is the big loops because they never come out perfect. I am glad that you were able to have some instructions and pass along to other people to learn this beautiful lace. Best regards, Marina.
Avital Pinnick said
Great to hear from you again, Marina! Yes, I remember those days well, when there was hardly anything available and I was so grateful that you explained some things to me. Now that there are groups and more books available, it is becoming quite popular. I hope you do more Puncetto. Your work is really amazing!
Karla said
This is amazing! Thank you so much for these tutorials. The animated diagrams are incredibly useful. I am officially addicted to puncetto and its overhand knots that can form such delicate laces. 🙂
Thing-a-Day, 2011 « This and That said
[…] Puncetto Valsesiano tutorial: Diamond. YES! Something that isn’t growing in Nachum’s garden! Adding Flash animations to my tutorials has removed a lot of the border and pressure. When I’m tired I don’t do needle lace very well. With Flash I don’t have to worry about messy stitches. […]
HERMINDA said
ESTE TRABAJO,ESTAN HERMOSO Y FACILES DE SEGUIR.SALUDOS
On the Internet: Puncetto Valsesiano | LaceNews said
[…] Israeli artist Avital Pinnick has recently posted very useful information on Puncetto Valsesiano. She has developed a step-by-step series of instructions demonstrating the technique – the site currently has nine pages. Here is a list with pointers to each page: puncetto-valsesiano-part-1 Introduction puncetto-valsesiano-part-2 The Stitch puncetto-valsesiano-part-3 Foundation Thread puncetto-valsesiano-part-4 Circular Foundation Thread puncetto-valsesiano-part-5 Ladder Foundation puncetto-valsesiano-part-6 Squares and Bars puncetto-valsesiano-part-7 Open Squares puncetto-valsesiano-part-8 Web puncetto-valsesiano-part-9 Diamond […]
helenroth57 said
Do you have something to show how u make the knots