Entrelac Hat

Entrelac is a knitting technique that results in a fabric with pattern of tiled diamond shaped units. This is very different from normal knitting which progresses either back and forth in a series of rows in flat knitting or around and around in a series of rows in circular knitting. Entrelac uses a technique called short rows in which the direction of knitting is reversed in mid row. The easiest way to do this for the small diamonds of an Entrelac pattern is to learn to knit backwards so one is not constantly flipping the fabric over to reverse direction.

I used the hat pattern from the Cottage Creations pamphlet for my first Entrelac project. I had trouble figuring out how to knit backwards, but once Barbro Hardy and Lynda Cyr demonstrated the technique for me at our Uncultured Purls knitting group, here in Cincinnati, it turned out to be pretty easy.

I enjoy small knitting projects that allow me to try out and learn new techniques. I used Lion Brand Wool-ease yarn for this project. The color is called Wood. This yarn is a blend of mostly wool with synthetic fibers. It works well, although pure wool is the preferred medium!!!