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Two Freebies! Entrelac Tutorial and Easy Entrelac Scarf Pattern

Jan 30, 2009 by KD Sandi

One of the best entrelac tutorials I've ever seen is the Beyond the Basics article written by Eunny Jang in the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Since entrelac can be a bit tough to explain, here's an excerpt from that article:

Entrelac fabric's series of tilted blocks are worked one at a time in tiers. Individual blocks may be worked over any number of stitches, and a piece may have any number of individual blocks.

In all cases, each block contains twice as many rows as it does stitches. Though the basic entrelac technique has several variations, the method described in this article produces tidy results.

When you practice entrelac for the first time, try working every other tier of blocks in a different color to emphasize the basketweave effect and make it easier to identify the block and live stitches of each tier.

Note: When you work the first stitch of every row, you can slip it for a tidy pickup edge, but be aware that you will lose some elasticity in the knitted piece.

 

In fact, that whole article is so good that here it is as a free Friday treat for all you nice Knitting Daily members:

Free download! Eunny Jang's Beyond the Basics: Entrelac Knitting Block by Block

 

Free pattern: Entrelac Scarf for Beginners
from Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene

If you’re new to entrelac and need a basic pattern to get started, you’re in luck! I just started an easy scarf and thought it would make a great beginner entrelac project. I made up the instructions based on Eunny Jang’s Beyond the Basics article on entrelac, so if you have that article, following the pattern will be a good exercise.

You’ll see I haven’t finished the scarf, but it’s such a quick knit I should be able to complete it before the weather changes here in the Northeast. Enjoy!

Download Lisa's Easy Entrelac Scarf Pattern
.

And a final entrelac tip from Lisa:

When picking up stitches along the selvedge of a block, try to pick up the first and last stitches as close to the ends of the block as possible—i.e., pick up stitches in the “corners” as much as possible, to avoid holes in those corners between blocks.


Look for another lovely beginner-level entrelac pattern in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene--the Orchid Wrap, by Cecily Glowik Macdonald.

For those already in love with entrelac, you can purchase Eunny’s Entrelac Socks and Sandy Beadle’s Annetrelac Socks from the  Interweave Pattern Store.

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

 Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

 


Have a knitting or crochet question? Ask the experts!


One of our favorite features on the Knitting Daily TV show is the segment called "You Asked It" where hosts Eunny Jang, Kim Werker, Liz Gipson, and Shay Pendray answer questions from our viewers. (That's YOU!)

So get your questions ready, because we're getting ready to tape the all-new third season of Knitting Daily TV!

Do you wonder how to work the Kitchener stitch in a cabled pattern? Do you want to know how to weave in ends properly? Want to know which yarn is best for the longest-wearing mittens? Ask Knitting Daily TV!

Send us your questions, and our producers might just choose yours to answer on the air!

Questions can be emailed to YouAskedIt@knittingdailytv.com.




Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. You can find her blogging here on Knitting Daily every Thursday. Want more? Visit Sandi's personal blog, wiseheart knits. Or, if you're on Twitter, follow her tweets: alpacasandi.
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Comments

 
Marny wrote
on Nov 19, 2010 5:59 AM

Thought you'd enjoy knowing that I actually was able to do my first entrelac!! -- made into a baby blanket.

However, falling asleep while knitting entrelac proved to produce a very strange mess, which I realized AFTER waking up and beginning to knit again.

Too bad I didn't take pictures -- but I did wind up frogging a lot!!!

Thanks for the help on learning entrelac.

LindaPDX wrote
on Jan 25, 2010 11:25 AM

I took entrelac classes at my LYS about 8 years ago.  Made a vest and socks.  We were taught to knit back backwards so there was no turning every row.  (The purl rows are knit from the front). Why is this method not being taught now?  It is so much simpler.  There are tutorials online and on YouTube.

Cynthia Christie Peven wrote
on Feb 3, 2009 12:07 PM
"Who'll take this woman with the skinny legs and all??!!" Let's talk about those Eunny Socks--I started my pair when the magazine was published, but was soon outpaced by a fellow knitter when i put them aside for Christmas knitting-- a common fate of socks at my house, alas! My speed-knitter friend brought to my attention that the calf area of this kilt/kneehigh sock is VERY NARROW, making it too tight for many people who had tried it on (or tried to try it on?). I had been all focused on the height and foot length of my pair, and sure enough, when I tried my 3/4 done sock on, it was stretched and distorted in the calf, so i am ripping back to the ankle and undertaking some (GASP!) entrelac shaping, both by going up a needle size or more, and by adding stitches to the squares. I have about a 15" calf, and I am not inordinately big. This fits better at my 9" ankle. Anybody out there already worked out the shaping to increase the size, or do I just have to wing it?
Lucille Reilly wrote
on Feb 3, 2009 9:49 AM
Thank you SO much for making this information availalble! Entrelac and steeks are my personal stretches for 2009, and I am looking forward to giving this pattern a try! (Oh, and a PS to CarolD: It's pronounced ON-treh-LOCK. Nice French work that, I guess, means "between lace"?)
Danielle wrote
on Feb 2, 2009 8:40 AM
For those having problems downloading Adobe files: you can try a couple different things. 1. Try opening Knitting Daily in a different browser (i.e. if you're using Explorer, try Firefox). 2. You can try right clicking on the pdf and saving it to your computer, then opening it from there. 3. If you have recently uploaded the current version of Adobe Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader/), you may want to try clearing your cache then try again (see Tools, Internet Options, Browsing History Delete, Temporary Internet Files Delete). Hopefully one of those options helps!
Pam@13 wrote
on Feb 1, 2009 5:31 AM
No problem downloading with AOL. Hello fellow worriers. Have knitted two cowl necks jumpers. Entrelac front and back, straight up the front and down the back. One six stitches per square and the of 10. Can't read patterns so all help welcome for a left handed knitter.Bless all from Pam in UK
Laurelena wrote
on Jan 31, 2009 4:20 PM
I checked the FAQ and did not find my answer, nor did I find a link or email that I could use to ask for help. I suddenly stopped received Knitting Daily emails. They are not in my spam folder either. I checked my account and the YES box is clicked for receiving emails. I have not changed a thing Can I please get my emails back and why is there no one to ask for help with this stuff???????
McKennaO wrote
on Jan 31, 2009 10:42 AM
Oooooh, yum. It's been years since I've dabbled in entrelac, long before hand painted wools were en vogue. I distinctly recall being irked at being required to changing colours while also learning a new technique. Just to freshen my skills, I've started Lisa Shroyer's Easy Entrelac Scarf - although I'm working it on 5mm needles and in Jojoland's Rhythm (50g/100m), colour M05, just because I had a few spare skeins to hand. The colourway is not as pronounced as Lisa's choice of the Noro, but the subtle shadow effect is quite lovely, and I'm seriously considering incorporating entrelac into the front panel of a 'faux" aran that's been in the back of my mind...
CarolF@2 wrote
on Jan 31, 2009 8:53 AM
I cannot download the patterns via Adobe. Are others having problems that you are aware of? The document starts to download and immediately stops. I get a message that says there's an error opening the document. I use Adobe frequently. Carol F.
AnnieR wrote
on Jan 31, 2009 7:45 AM
Help I am one of those knit wits that can't download entrelac scarf pattern..I even updated adobe acro- to see if that would help ..just keeps bouncing back to download button where it wants us to get subcription..I love love your patterns and up to date information your site gives us.. help "Agent Annie"
JudithR@2 wrote
on Jan 31, 2009 1:02 AM
I would love to download the free scarf pattern and learn entrelac. However, I cannot get it to download - a dialog box tells me the file is corrupted or is not an acrobat file. I get this with all patterns from your site, but usually if I go up and sign in, then go to the pattern I can open it. This one won't even do that. It's really not fair to your readers to tantalize us like this. I have a brand new computer, so don't think it's the problem. Please take pity on my and let me download this pattern. asharame
Liz@7 wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 8:33 PM
Like the other commenters, I am thrilled to have a chance to try Entrelac. You do a wonderful job at Knittingdaily. I so look forward to your daily postings to my email. Thanks for everything. You keep me inspired!
ElizabethS wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 5:56 PM
i liked using entrelac but cant understand why it is not used more often for a triangler shawl if I could send you a photo i would show you the one I have made and it easy and a much nicer view I think of enterlac than all the straight shawls elizabeth
CarolD@9 wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 5:12 PM
Okay, I feel like a total idiot because I know how to work it, but what I want to know is how the heck to you say 'Entrelac'? Is it like 'lace' or 'lack' or none of the above? I'll check back later to see if anyone has had pity on me. Thanks!
Susie wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 5:07 PM
Susie R.-Love the color work that comes out in the scarf, but it's pricy yarn! Can you suggest an alternate changing colors yarn to use? no trouble downloading at least.
ElizabethC@4 wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 4:07 PM
Hi - Cannot open the Tutorial - the my Adobe reader says that the file is corrupted. I've tried to download it four different times, but each time it won't open.
Dr.M wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 2:48 PM
Thanks much for both - a new "to-do" for me for 2009!
LeslieB wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 1:55 PM
Love the scarf, thanks for sharing it. Entrelac and Magic Loop, two of my knitting goals for 2009.
GerryC wrote
on Jan 30, 2009 1:31 PM
Hey All, THANKS MUCH for the great tutorial on Entrelac Knitting, AND tjhe beautiful Scarf pattern. Knitting Daily is a site I check DAILY and appreciate your afticles, offerings, freebie patterns, and general encouragement. I;m a male knitter with very few resources, and am very appreciative. For some weird reason my LYS doesn't like guys. Don't know what there problem is.... LOL Gerry
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