How to knit the entrelac stitch (video & written pattern)

Entrelac is not a technique for the faint of heart. This stitch pattern is as complex as it looks, so it’s best for advanced knitters or those intermediate knitters who are ready to step up their skills. Though the fabric produced looks woven, it’s actually created by knitting interconnected right- and left-leaning blocks of color one row at a time. Whole blocks, which are multiple rows long, are created on a single row by knitting sections of stitches back and forth. Sound confusing? Have no fear! I’ve broken down the pattern into sections and steps rather than rows, so it should be a bit easier to follow. Still, you’ll want to both read and watch a few times before beginning.
All of the effort you put into this technique is worth it when you’re through. Entrelac is beautiful. When you knit a project in Entrelac, be it an enormous throw (if you’re feeling really ambitious) or a basic scarf to get you started, you will absolutely be met with admiring gasps of “You knit that?!” wherever you and your project go. Again, because it’s not actually woven, it doesn’t produce a big, bulky knit, so it works well for all kinds of garments.
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Check out the video tutorial below from Knitting Daily TV:
Materials
Yarn in any weight - 2 colors
Knitting needles in the size indicated on your yarn label
Abbreviations
CO - cast on
CC - contrast color
k - knit
m1 -make one (using backward loop method)
MC - main color
p - purl
p2tog - purl 2 together
RS - right side
Sl - slip
ssk - slip, slip, knit
st - stitch
WS - wrong side
Pattern
This Entrelac pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 stitches. This pattern is broken down into sections, beginning on the right side of your work with the Bottom Triangle Forming, then moving into Block Forming, and finally ending with Top Triangle Forming.
Bottom Triangle Forming
CO a multiple of 6 stitches with MC
Beginning on RS: * k2, turn work; p1, sl 1, turn work; k3, turn work; p2, sl 1, turn work; k4, turn work; p3, sl 1, turn work; k5, turn work; p4, sl 1, turn work; k6 (first triangle complete); repeat from * to end
WS Block Forming
Step 1: Using CC on WS, make a triangle similar to above - * p2, turn work; k1, m1, k1, turn work; p2, p2tog, turn work; k2, m1, k1, turn work; p3, p2tog, turn work; K3, m1, k1, turn work; p4, p2tog, turn work; K4, m1, k1, turn work; p5, p2tog (triangle complete)
Step 2: Pick up 6 st through the sl st edge of the first triangle using left hand needle; * turn work; k5, sl 1, turn work: repeat from * five more times
Step 3: Repeat Step 2 across row
Step 4: Make left edge triangle by picking up and purling 6 st in edge of setup triangle, turn work; k5, sl 1, turn work; p4, p2tog, turn work; k4, sl 1, turn work; p3, p2tog, turn work; k 3, sl 1, turn work; p2, p2tog, turn work; k2, sl 1, turn work; p1, p2tog, turn work; k1, sl 1, turn work; p2tog
RS Block Forming
Step 1: Using MC on RS, sl 1, pick up 5 st, turn work; * p5, sl 1 turn work; k5, ssk, turn work; repeat from * five more times but do not turn work (triangle complete)
Step 2: * pick up 6 along CC block edge and repeat Step 1 to form second rectangle; repeat from * to end of row
Repeat WS and RS Block Forming until piece reaches desired length, ending after a RS Block Forming row.
Top Triangle Forming
Step 1: * sl 1, pick up 5 st, turn work; p6, turn work; k5, ssk, turn work; p4, p2tog, turn work; k4, ssk, turn work; p3, p2tog, turn work; k3, ssk, turn work; p2, p2tog, turn work; k2, ssk, turn work; p1, p2tog, turn work; ssk, do not turn work; repeat from * to end of row; tie off last st
The video above shows just the main body of an Entrelac project. For an excellent and extensive 6-part video series on Entrelac, be sure to check out Planet Purl:
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