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| Designed by © Lion Brand |
Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket by Lion Brand is a lovely corner-to-corner knitted blanket that combines relaxing garter stitch with delicate eyelet lace.
The diagonal construction gives this small baby blanket much more visual interest than a basic square, while the repeating garter and lace sections keep the knitting approachable.
Best of all, the original pattern is still available for free from Lion Brand, making this a beautiful choice for a baby gift or handmade keepsake.
✓ Free Pattern Availability
Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket is currently available as a free knitting pattern from Lion Brand. Use the official Lion Brand page linked below for the complete pattern and current download access.
Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket at a Glance
Pattern: Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket
Designer / Publisher: Lion Brand Yarn
Lion Brand Pattern Number: 90485
Category: Baby Blanket / Afghan
Skill Level: Easy (Beginner+)
Original Yarn: LB Collection Cashmere
Yarn Weight: Light / DK
Needles: US 8 / 5 mm circular needle for the 90485 version
Gauge: 17 stitches + 22 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in garter stitch
Finished Size: Approx. 27 × 27 in / 68.5 × 68.5 cm
Construction: One piece, corner to corner
Texture: Garter stitch and diagonal eyelet lace
Availability: Free from Lion Brand
About the Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket
The Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket is a classic Lion Brand design that combines a simple diagonal construction with alternating sections of garter stitch and open lace.
Instead of casting on enough stitches for one full side of the blanket, the project begins at a corner and grows diagonally.
Once the blanket reaches its widest point, the shaping reverses and the fabric gradually decreases toward the opposite corner.
Finished Size
The published finished measurement is approximately:
27 × 27 inches / 68.5 × 68.5 cm
This makes it a relatively compact baby blanket that works well for gifting, stroller use or as a handmade nursery keepsake.
Corner-to-Corner Construction
One of the most appealing features of this design is its corner-to-corner construction.
The blanket is worked in one piece, beginning at one corner and increasing to create the first half of the square.
The second half decreases back toward the opposite corner.
This diagonal structure creates strong visual lines even before the lace sections are added.
Garter Stitch and Eyelet Lace
The design alternates comfortable garter-stitch sections with decorative eyelet lace.
This combination is particularly effective in a baby blanket because the garter sections provide texture and structure while the lace keeps the overall fabric visually light.
It also gives the knitter a pleasant rhythm: simple knitting is broken up by sections that require a little more attention.
Skill Level
Lion Brand classifies Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket as:
Level 2 — Easy (Beginner+)
It is therefore a good next project for a knitter who is comfortable with basic knit stitches and wants to begin exploring simple lace, increases and decreases.
Original Yarn
Lion Brand pattern 90485 was designed using LB Collection Cashmere.
This is the version historically known as the Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket.
The luxurious cashmere yarn helps explain the “heirloom” name, but you do not need to use the original yarn to enjoy the design.
An Interesting Pattern History
Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket belongs to a family of Lion Brand versions built from the same basic pattern.
The design has also appeared under the name Diagonal Eyelet Baby Blanket and later as Diagonal Eyelet Baby Afghan.
The basic instructions, gauge and finished dimensions are the same, while Lion Brand changed the suggested yarn and needle size for different versions.
This is useful information if you encounter another Lion Brand version of the blanket while searching online.
Needles
For the Treasured Heirloom version (pattern 90485), the published needle is:
US 8 / 5 mm circular needle, approximately 29 in / 73.5 cm long
A circular needle is useful for holding the growing number of stitches, even though the blanket itself is worked back and forth rather than joined in the round.
Gauge
Lion Brand gives the following gauge:
17 stitches + 22 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in garter stitch
Gauge is not only about matching a number. It affects the finished size, drape and amount of yarn your blanket will require.
Choosing a Substitute Yarn
The original cashmere creates a very soft and luxurious blanket, but many knitters will prefer a more practical yarn for everyday baby use.
When substituting, consider:
- Softness against sensitive skin
- Washability
- Good stitch definition for the eyelet sections
- Enough drape for a comfortable blanket
- The published gauge
- Care instructions suitable for the recipient
A washable DK or similar yarn that achieves the required gauge can be a practical choice for a frequently used baby blanket.
Do Not Choose Yarn by Weight Label Alone
An interesting detail about this Lion Brand design is that different published versions have recommended different yarns.
For that reason, matching the 17-stitch garter gauge and the fabric you want is more useful than relying only on the yarn-weight name printed on a label.
Make a swatch before committing to the entire blanket if finished size is important to you.
Why the Diagonal Layout Works So Well
Knitting a square diagonally creates natural visual movement from one corner to another.
In Treasured Heirloom, the eyelet panels emphasize those diagonal lines and make a relatively simple square blanket look much more elaborate.
This is one reason the design can look impressive without requiring extremely complicated knitting.
Keeping the Lace Sections Accurate
The eyelet sections depend on increases and decreases being correctly positioned.
If you miss a yarn over or decrease, the problem may affect both the appearance of the lace and your stitch count.
Check your work at the end of each lace section instead of waiting until much later in the blanket.
Use Lifelines If You Are New to Lace
If this is one of your first lace projects, a lifeline can make the experience much less stressful.
Insert a contrasting thread through a known-correct row before a lace section. If something goes seriously wrong, you have a safe point to return to.
Watch the Center Transition
A corner-to-corner blanket has an important transition where the increasing half becomes the decreasing half.
Mark this point carefully in your pattern or row notes so that you do not continue increasing beyond the intended size.
Keep Simple Project Notes
The repeating sections make this an excellent project to pick up and put down, but only if you know where you stopped.
Record whether you are in a garter or lace section and note your current row before putting the project away.
A simple row counter or paper checklist is enough.
Blocking the Finished Blanket
Blocking can make a noticeable difference to this design because it helps the eyelets open and allows the diagonal square to settle into an even shape.
Use a blocking method appropriate for your chosen yarn and arrange the four sides evenly without overstretching the lace.
Baby Blanket Safety and Practicality
For a baby project, yarn choice and finishing deserve as much attention as appearance.
Secure all yarn ends carefully and avoid adding loose decorative elements that could detach.
Always follow current safe-sleep guidance when deciding how and when a handmade blanket is used around an infant.
Skills Used in Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket
- Garter stitch
- Working flat on circular needles
- Increasing
- Decreasing
- Yarn overs
- Simple eyelet lace
- Corner-to-corner construction
- Maintaining stitch counts
- Blocking
Is Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket Still Free?
Yes.
Lion Brand currently maintains an official page for the Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket Pattern (Knit), pattern number 90485, with free pattern access.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce Lion Brand's complete copyrighted knitting instructions. Use the official Lion Brand page for the current pattern.
Get the Free Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket Pattern
Visit Lion Brand for the official pattern:
Get the Free Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket Pattern →
More Free Baby Blankets on Amazing Knitting
If you like this combination of texture and lace, we have already verified several other free baby blanket patterns in the Amazing Knitting archive.
- Jordan Baby Blanket - Free Pattern
- Heart Baby Blanket - Free Pattern
- Sunny Baby Blanket - Free Pattern
Or explore:
Before You Start
Download or open the current Lion Brand pattern first, then make a small garter-stitch swatch if you are substituting yarn.
Pay attention to the transition from increasing to decreasing and check your stitch count after the lace sections.
Once you understand the corner-to-corner rhythm, this becomes a satisfying combination of relaxing garter stitch and just enough lace to keep the project interesting.
Pattern credit: Treasured Heirloom Baby Blanket is a Lion Brand Yarn design, pattern 90485. The existing image on this Amazing Knitting page is credited to Lion Brand. Amazing Knitting provides an independent project guide and does not reproduce Lion Brand's complete copyrighted knitting instructions.