This lovely stitch is perfect for spring knitting. It contains pretty braids that almost look woven in appearance. This technique is created by using slipped stitches combined with 1 over 2 cables. Don’t let those cables cause you any dismay, because they are super simple to work with the help of that elongated slipped stitch. Repeated throughout a project, this stitch makes me think of baby knits, socks, or even a lovely hat (anything that the back isn’t going to necessarily be a feature). Change the color every two rows and the look goes from delicate to Wow!
We have changed the format just a little bit for our Stitchology Column. Each of the featured stitches will be explained row by row via both written and video instructions. We will be focusing on highlighting the repeating stitch pattern itself, so that you can enjoy the freedom of putting these new stitch patterns to use in your own projects as creativity strikes. We hope you will enjoy this new way of learning new stitches with us! 🙂
Find all the previous Stitchology Columns at this link here.
Special Stitch Instructions
To work this pattern in the round, such as for a hat, use the Repeating Pattern Rows chart, and make sure to read it from right to left for each row, rather than alternating sides each time. Also, cast onto your loom in a clockwise direction, using a number of pegs that is divisible by 5—the number of stitches required for each pattern repeat.
When the pattern uses the term “knit” or “k”, please use the true knit stitch or the u-stitch, not the e-wrap.
**The stitch pattern does call for e-wrapping particular stitches. Wrap them, but do not knit them off until it is time to work these e-wraps into a row. When it is time, knit off the stitch and then make sure to untwist the loop before working.
The cables in this pattern involve trading the loops of 3 pegs in the correct order. They consist of a 1 over 2 Right Cross [1/2RC] (a cable with the sts running to the right), and a 1 over 2 Left Cross [1/2LC] (a twist with the sts running to the left). They are worked as follows:
[1/2RC]: Worked over 3 pegs: Lift the 2 loops from the pegs on the right and place on a cable needle. Lift the loop on the left and move it to the farthest peg on the right. Place the 2 held loops onto the 2 pegs on the left. With the working yarn, knit the 3 pegs.
[1/2LC]: Worked over 3 pegs: Lift the 2 loops from the pegs on the left and place on a cable needle. Lift the loop on the right and move it to the farthest peg on the left. Place the 2 held loops onto the 2 pegs on the right. With the working yarn, knit the 3 pegs.
*An easy way to remember which direction to go is to remember to hold the stitches onto a cable needle on the side of the directional slant. So…for a right cable, hold the loops on the right. For a left cable, hold the loops on the left.
*Note: The squares in the chart that are bordered with a pink square are the repeating pattern rows. The squares outside the pink border are set-up rows to be worked only once, before the repeating rows. The chart on the right shows where to change colors, if an alternating color stitch is desired.
Repeating Pattern Rows for working as a flat panel (Begin 1st Row from right to left/clockwise):
Set-Up Rows
Row 1: k all sts.
Row 2: *EW1, k4, rep from * to end.
Row 3: *k4, S1, rep from * to end.
Repeating Pattern Rows
Row 4: *S1, k2, EW1, k1, rep from * to end.
Row 5: *k1, S1, 1/2RC, rep from * to end.
Row 6: *EW1, k2, S1, k1, rep from * to end.
Row 7: *k1, 1/2LC, S1.
Repeat Rows 4-7 until desired length.
**Note: When finishing the stitch pattern, omit the EW in the 2nd to last row and the S1 in the final row.
Repeating Pattern for working in the round (Begin from right to left/clockwise):
Set-Up Rounds
Round 1: k all sts.
Round 2: *k4, EW1, rep from * to end.
Round 3: *k4, S1, rep from * to end.
Repeating Pattern Rounds
Round 4: *k1, Ew1, k2, S1, rep from * to end.
Round 5: *k1, S1, 1/2RC, rep from * to end.
Round 6: *k1, S1, k2, EW1, rep from * to end.
Round 7: *k1, 1/2LC, S1, rep from * to end.
Repeat Rounds 4-7 until desired length.
**Note: When finishing the stitch pattern, omit the EW in the 2nd to last round and the S1 in the final round.
Which cast on method would you use for this pattern?
Hi Margo 🙂
You can use whichever cast on you prefer. My personal favorite and the one that I pretty much use every time is the Chain Cast On. I like this one because I feel it most closely matches the Basic Bind Off, which is my go-to bind off method. 😉
Bethany~