Entrelac Tutorial
Entrelac (French for interlaced or interwoven) is a knitting technique that creates rows of textured diamonds. By working a series of rectangles in short rows, this technique creates an interesting pattern that resembles a basket weave. It can be worked in a single color yarn, different color yarns for each row of diamonds, or a yarn with long color changes- each creating a different look.
Below are the basic instructions to create diamonds made of six stitches. The instructions can be modified to create rectangles of any number of stitches.
ABBREVIATIONS:
k2tog: knit next two stitches together
kfb: knit into the front and back of the stitch.
m1: make one by inserting left ndl back to front into bar running between the stitch just worked and the next stitch on the needle and knit.
p2tog: purl next two stitches together
psso: pass the slipped st over the last st worked
RS: right side
ssk: slip next two stitches to right needle knitwise, then place back on left needle and knit together
sl: slip
WS: wrong side
PATTERN
CO a multiple of 6 sts. I prefer to use a long tail cast on, as it is more stable than a backward loop cast on.
Below are the basic instructions to create diamonds made of six stitches. The instructions can be modified to create rectangles of any number of stitches.
ABBREVIATIONS:
k2tog: knit next two stitches together
kfb: knit into the front and back of the stitch.
m1: make one by inserting left ndl back to front into bar running between the stitch just worked and the next stitch on the needle and knit.
p2tog: purl next two stitches together
psso: pass the slipped st over the last st worked
RS: right side
ssk: slip next two stitches to right needle knitwise, then place back on left needle and knit together
sl: slip
WS: wrong side
PATTERN
CO a multiple of 6 sts. I prefer to use a long tail cast on, as it is more stable than a backward loop cast on.
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Base Triangles:
Row 1: (RS) k1, turn work Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl all sts worked on previous row Row 3: sl 1, k1, turn work Row 5: sl 1, k2, turn work Row 7: sl 1, k3, turn work Row 9: sl 1, k4, turn work Row 11: sl 1, k5, do not turn Rep rows 1-11 for remaining sts. |
First Tier
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Left side triangle:
Row 1 (WS): k1, turn work Row 2: kfb, turn work Row 3: k1, p2tog, turn work Row 4: k1, m1, k1, turn work Row 5: k1, p1, p2tog, turn work Row 6 and all RS rows, k to last st, m1, k1 Row 7: k1, p2, p2tog, turn work Row 9: k1, p3, p2tog Row 11: k1, p4, p2tog |
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Right Slanting Diamonds
Row 1: (WS) With WS facing, pick up 6 sts along edge of triangle/rectangle below. Sl last st onto left ndl and p2tog, turn work Row 2: k6, turn work Row 3: sl 1, p4, p2tog, turn work Repeat the last 2 rows 4 more times. At the end of the last row, do not turn. Work the rest of the rectangles the same way, until all sts from right ndl have been consumed. |
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Right Side Triangle
Row 1: (WS) Pick up 6 sts along triangle/rectangle below, turn work Row 2 and all RS rows: Knit to end of sts in this section, turn work Row 3: sl1, p3, p2tog Row 5: sl1, p2, p2tog, turn work Row 7: sl1, p1, p2tog, turn work Row 9: sl1, p2tog, turn work Row 11: p2tog. The remaining st will count as the first st picked up for the first diamond in the next tier. Sl this st to the right ndl. |
Second Tier
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Left Slanting Diamonds Row 1: (RS) With RS facing, pick up 6 sts along edge of the triangle/rectangle below. Sl last st onto left ndl and ssk, turn work Row 2: p6, turn work Row 3: sl1, k4, ssk, turn work Repeat the last 2 rows 4 more times. At the end of the last row, do not turn. Work the rest of the rectangles the same way. |
Repeat the First and Second Tiers as long as desired, ending with the First Tier.
Final Triangles:
Row 1: (RS) With RS facing, pick up 6 sts from the rectangle below. For the first triangle only, the st remaing from the previous side triangle will be the first picked up st. . Sl last st onto L ndl and ssk, turn work
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl to end of sts in this section, turn work
Row 3: k2tog, k3, ssk
Row 5: k2tog, k2, ssk, turn work
Row 7: k2tog, k1, ssk, turn work
Row 9: k2tog, ssk, turn work
Row 11: sl1, ssk, psso, do not turn. The remaining st will count as the first st picked up picked up for the next triangle.
Work until one st remains and fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in all loose ends. Entrelac can be left unblocked to create a more rustic look or washed and blocked to have a flat appearance.
You can download this tutorial in pdf form below
Final Triangles:
Row 1: (RS) With RS facing, pick up 6 sts from the rectangle below. For the first triangle only, the st remaing from the previous side triangle will be the first picked up st. . Sl last st onto L ndl and ssk, turn work
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl to end of sts in this section, turn work
Row 3: k2tog, k3, ssk
Row 5: k2tog, k2, ssk, turn work
Row 7: k2tog, k1, ssk, turn work
Row 9: k2tog, ssk, turn work
Row 11: sl1, ssk, psso, do not turn. The remaining st will count as the first st picked up picked up for the next triangle.
Work until one st remains and fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in all loose ends. Entrelac can be left unblocked to create a more rustic look or washed and blocked to have a flat appearance.
You can download this tutorial in pdf form below
| basic_entrelac_instructions_rev.pdf |
If you enjoy knitting entrelac, check out these patterns:
Lavienne Scarf
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Valhalla
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