58382 The Knitters Bible6

ENTRELAC

Another way to work patchwork knitting is entrelac. In entrelac (a French word, which is pronounced on-tra-lak) the squares are knitted diagonally in rows; one row of sąuares being completed and the next row worked in the opposite direetion on top. The knitted piece is started at the bottom from a cast-on edge and finished at the top. The sąuares can be worked in stockinctte (stocking) stitch, as well as in lace, cable or textured stitches. If two colours are uscd, one for each altemate row, a woven effect is achieved. as shown here. In entrelac the stitches of all the sąuares in one row will be on the ncedles.

Each sąuare has twice as many rows as stitches. The written instructions for entrelac can appear to be confusing so to leam how easy this techniąue is, work the following sample. The sąuares are eight stitches widc and the piece is three sąuares wide.

To begin, a foundation row of base triangles is worked. These are built up by short rows from the cast on stitches (see page 44). There is no necd to work the wrapped stitch.

right sidc

To continue...

Leave these eight stitches on the nght-hand needle and work the second triangle over the next eight stitches The third triangle is then worked ovcr the following eight stitches.

There will be 24 stitches on the nght-hand needle. Tum at the end of this row of triangles to begm the return row of sąuares.

wrong sidc

Base row of triangles

Cast on 24 sts loosety using the knitting on method (see page 24).

First base triangle Rows I and 2 K2 and tum. p I. sl I purlwise (pwise) and tum. Rows 3 and 4 K3 and tum. p2. sl I pwise and tum.

Rows 5 and 6 K4 and tum. p3. sl I pwise and tum.

Rows 7 and 8 K5 and tum. p4. sl I pwise and tum.

Rows 9 and 10 K6 and tum. p5. sl I pwise and tum.

Rows 11 and 12 K7 and tum. p6. sl I pwise and tum.

Row 13 K8 and do not tum. The first tnangle is comoleted

Purl row of squares

To make the s»des of the piece straight. you need a side edge tnangle.

•* l_ert side edge triangle Rows I and 2 P2 and tum. k2 and tum.

Rows 3 and 4 P mto front and back of first st (to shape side edge). p2tog (last st of tnangle and next st on nght-hand needle to jom the pieces together) and tum. k3 and tum.

Rows 5 and 6 P mto front and back of first st (pl fb). p I. p2tog and tum. k4 and tum. Rows 7 and 8 Pl fb. p2. p2tog and turn. k5 and tum.

Rows 9 and 10 Pl fb. p3. p2tog and tum. k6 and tum.

Rows 11 and 12 Pl fb. p4. p2tog and tum. k7 and tum.

Row 13 PI fb. p5. p2tog and do not tum All 8 sts of the base tnangle have been used. Leave the 8 sts of the side tnangle on the nght-hand needle.

Square

With the nght-hand needle and wrong side of the work facmg. pick up and purl 8 sts evenly along the next edge of the base tnangle and tum.

Rows I and 2 K7. sl I pwise and tum. p7 (mcludmg sl st of previous row). p2tog (last st of sąuare and next st on nght-hand needle to jom pieces together) and tum Repeat these 2 rows 6 times morę.

Rows 15 and 16 K7. sl I pwise and tum. p7. p2tog and do not tum. All 8 sts of the base tnangle have been used. Leave the 8 sts of this sąuare on the right-hand needle. Work the second sąuare over the next 8 sts.

To make this side edge straight. you need to work a nght side edge tnangle.