Thursday, August 27, 2009

About That Entrelac Hat...



This post is to answer Ruth's question, asked in the comments of the post Et Voila.

Use US #2 double points. Cast on 120 stitches. Work ribbing for about a half inch.
Set up base triangles: work the base triangles following your favorite entrelac tutorial. You will be making 15 base triangles, 8 stitches each.

When you get to the end, begin making squares, heading back over the round just completed, the opposite direction. Again, consult your favorite entrelac tutorial.

Note: it really helps to teach yourself to knit backwards, that is, with the right side always facing you. It will feel awkward for a short while, but save you a ton of time in the long run.

Make three full sets of squares.

Make a round of triangles to fill the gaps. When you finish with all this, you should still have 120 stitches.

I wanted the top of my hat to lie fairly flat. I knit 2 together, 12 times evenly around, every third or fourth round. I staggered the placement of the decreases to minimize the effect of spokes. When I got to 12 remaining stitches, k2tog around leaving 6 stitches. Break yarn, leaving a 12" tail and use tapestry needle to pass tail through last 6 sts twice. Draw tight and secure to inside.

I blocked by draping damp hat over a medium sized plate positioned over a small pitcher. The plate held the top flat and the entrelac section just hung dry.

Those with smaller heads could try making 13 eight-stitch squares instead of 15, casting on 104 sts.

Happy knitting!

7 comments:

Bezzie said...

I like the way the color repeats were perfect squares.

turtlegirl76 said...

Ooooh pretty!

ruth said...

Elizabeth, I am still overwhelmed that you so generously and immediately responded to my quest for the instructions to your hat. One million thanks!

I will be casting on tonight, and if mine turns out half as nice as you, I'll be soooo happy!

Yes, those knitting backwards skills will come in handy here...
Now on to mastering entrelac in the round.

Thanks again!

Ruth (aka Smoothie on Ravelry)

ruth said...

As a quick followup, for anyone else out there looking for an Entrelac tutorial that includes Entrelac in the round, Eunny Jang's tutorial that was originally published in Spring 07 Interweave Knits, is now available for free from Knitting Daily. It's called Entrelac, Beyond the Basics.
I followed this tutorial step by step for my flat entrelac trial and it really worked!

Batty said...

I haven't figured out flat entrelac yet, and I'm planning on making entrelac socks... I think I'm deranged. But this hat is amazing. I love it.

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

Hi.

Love, Werse

shandy said...

That is one lovely hat: did you have to fudge the colour changes or did it just fall right by itself?