Knitted Kitchen #46 – Latvian Braid

The Latvian Braid Washcloth is pattern #46 in the 2017 Knitted Kitchen Blog Hop. This stitch is a variant of fair isle / stranded colorwork, alternating between 2 colors. The raised “braids” are created by intentionally carrying the unused color across the right side of the work in a specific way. The pattern includes photos and instructions for the technique, plus a more in depth video tutorial.

The Knitted Kitchen Blog Hop is a knit-along event hosted by the Underground Crafter, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it. Together with a great team of designers and will be bringing you 48 washcloth patterns throughout the year. Each pattern will include a photo and/or video tutorial, so it’s a fun way to learn new stitches and techniques.

Lion Brand has generously provided us with yarn for our designs. I’ve chosen their 24/7 Cotton for all my washcloths and am really enjoying working with it. For more information about the event and links to the patterns, be sure to visit the main #KnittedKitchen post. I hope you’ll join in the fun!

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Latvian Braid Washcloth

 
Add this to your Ravelry Queue

Materials:

• Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn
  • 50-90 yds #172 Grass (A)
  • 40-75 yds #143 Lilac (B)
• Size 6 (4mm) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle

 

Abbreviations used:

• k = knit
• p = purl
• sl = slip stitch knitwise with yarn in back
• RS = Right Side
• WS = Wrong Side

Recommended Resources:

• The German Twisted Cast On by New Stitch a Day
• The Decrease Bind Off by New Stitch a Day

Stitch multiples:

• The pattern can be worked over any odd number of stitches, and is a multiple of 5 rows plus 3.
• The seed stitch border adds 4 stitches on each side, and 5 rows on the top and bottom

Latvian Braid Technique:

Jump ahead to video tutorial

While alternating between 2 colors of stitches, carry the yarn on the right side of the fabric. With each stitch, drop the old color yarn over the top of the new color yarn, and bring the new color up from underneath. The old color should cross over the top of the new color. This is true whether purling or knitting.

Note: Twisting the yarns in the opposite direction will reverse the direction of the braid – that is often done in Latvian braid patterns, but is not done in this specific pattern.

Instructions:

Jump ahead to video tutorial

Cast on 45 [61] with A

Seed stitch bottom border:

Row 1 (RS): K 1, (k 1, p 1) across.

Row 2-5: Sl 1, (k 1, p 1) across.

Main section of square – (click any image to enlarge)

 Row 6 (WS – set up row): With A, (sl 1, k 1, p 1, k 1); Carrying the unused yarns on the wrong side of the work as normal, p 1 with B, (p 1 with A, p 1 with B) across to last 4 stitches, drop B on right side of work; With A (k 1, p 1) twice.

Row 7 (RS – braid row 1): With A, (sl 1, k 1, p 1, k 1); Using the Latvian braid technique, p 1 with B, (p 1 with A, p 1 with B) across to last 4 stitches, drop B on right side of work, over the top of A, and pick up A from underneath it; With A (k1, p1) twice.

Row 8 (WS – braid row 2): With A, (sl 1, k 1, p 1, k 1); Using the Latvian braid technique, k 1 with B, (k 1 with A, k 1 with B) across to last 4 stitches, drop B on wrong side of work; With A (k1, p1) twice.

Row 9: With A, sl 1, k 1, p 1, k1, k across to last 4 sts, (k1, p1) twice. Carry B up at the wrong side of work when you come to it.

Row 10:  With A, sl 1, k 1, p 1, k1, p across to last 4 sts, (k1, p1) twice. Carry B up at the wrong side of work when you come to it.

Row 11 (RS – set up row): With A, (sl 1, k 1, p 1, k 1); Carrying the unused yarns on the wrong side of the work as normal, k 1 with B, (k 1 with A, k 1 with B) across to last 4 stitches, drop B on right side of work; With A (k 1, p 1) twice.

Row 12 (WS – braid row 1): With A, (sl 1, k 1, p 1, k 1); Using the Latvian braid technique, k 1 with B, (k 1 with A, k 1 with B) across to last 4 stitches, drop B on right side of work, over the top of A, and pick up A from underneath it; With A (k1, p1) twice.

Row 13 (RS – braid row 2):With A, (sl 1, k 1, p 1, k 1); Using the Latvian braid technique, p 1 with B, (p 1 with A, p 1 with B) across to last 4 stitches, drop B on wrong side of work; With A (k1, p1) twice.

Row 14: Repeat row 10.

Row 15: Repeat row 9

Rows 16-63: Repeat rows 6-15 four more times, then repeat rows 6-13 once more. Cut B, leaving a tail to weave in later.

Row 64: Repeat row 10, but do not carry B up.

Seed stitch top border:

Rows 65-69 [89-93]: Repeat row 2.

Bind off all stitches and weave in ends.

Video Tutorial:

Go back to written instructions

 

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I hope you enjoy the pattern. Thanks to Lion Brand for providing the yarn!

A downloadable pdf of this pattern is also available in my Craftsy store or on Ravelry, for a small fee. The fee for the pdf format is to offset the advertising revenue lost when you print or download the pattern rather than viewing it online.

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