Socks and the braid pattern

I've been meaning to feature some of the techniques I've used in Sweet Shawlettes and explain some more about them. One of my fave edgings is the braid pattern, often used in Scandinavian designs. In Sweet Shawlettes, I've showcased it in Frost, where it's used as a single plait at top and bottom. An easy technique if you're OK with working with two colours and very effective for getting colour and movement into your knits. 

Frost from Sweet Shawlettes

I love wacky socks and I've designed quite a few pairs over the years, and I've just realised that the braid pattern has cropped up quite a few times.

Kuba Socks from World Knits (women's)

Similar design for men -Yoruba from VK Socks

Although seen here edging colourful fairisle and intarsia socks, it's just as useful for adding an accent to a plain pair, in fact it brings the braid more into focus, plus you can play around with the colours and make a real feature of it. If you add three layers of braid, you could keep Colour A the same and change Colour B in every repeat, or just change it in the middle repeat, or experiment by changing both colours in every repeat.  You can imagine how this might look by combining the different coloured braids from my socks.

Hausa Socks from World Knits

One of the reasons I love this edging is its versatility.  Used instead of a rib at the hem and cuffs of a sweater, it's a easy way to jazz up a simple design and make it your own.  It can be put to another good use for making your own friendship bracelets.  Cast on enough stitches to go round your wrist, work six rows back and forth, add a crocheted chain at each end et voilà... fantastic way of using up odd bits of yarn.

Dajan Slipper Socks from World Knits

In The Round

Round 1           *k1A (Colour A), k1B (Colour B);  repeat from * around.

Round 2           Bring both colours to front of work.  Keep them in the same order as on previous round.  *p1A,  p1B, always bringing the next colour to be used OVER the top of the last colour used.  Repeat from * around.

Round 3           *p1A, p1B, always bringing the next colour to be used UNDER the last colour used.    

Repeat these three rounds one more time if a double braid is required.

Back & Forth

Row 1 *k1A (Colour A), k1B (Colour B);  repeat from * around.

Row 2  Take both colours to back of work.    *k1B,  k1A, always bringing the next colour to be used     OVER the top of the last colour used.  Repeat from * around.

Row 3  Bring both colours to front of work.  *p1A, p1B, always bringing the next colour to be used OVER the last colour used.  Repeat from * around.

Row 4  *p1B, p1A ;  repeat from * around.

Row 5  Bring both colours to front of work.  *p1A, p1B, always bringing the next colour to be used UNDER the last colour used.  Repeat from * around.

Row 6  *k1B, k1A, always bringing the next colour to be used UNDER the last colour used.  Repeat from * around.

If you haven't already, check out today's lovely review of Sweet Shawlettes. I feel privileged to have such an array of top class knit bloggers on the tour and in the isolated world of knit design, it's so good to know what other knitters think about my work - both the bloggers and their readers. Now and again when you read a review, it's obvious that the author understands every drop of blood, sweat and tears spilt in creating the book. Alison Barker's informative and detailed review made me feel like that today.

Wed 7 Mar Jen Arnall-Culliford Knitwear Jen Arnall-Culliford

Thurs 8 Mar Needled Kate Davies

Fri 9 Mar Rock and Purl Ruth Garcia-Alcantud

Sat 10 Mar Woolly Wormhead Woolly Wormhead

Mon 12 Mar Yarnscape Alison Barker

➤Tues 13 Mar Confessions of a Yarn Addict Anniken Allis

Wed 14 Mar Joli House Amanda France

Thurs 15 Mar This is Knit Lisa & Siobhan

Fri 16 Mar The Knitting Institute  Knitting Magazine

Sat 17 Mar  Life’n Knitting Carla Meijsen

Sun 18 Mar ConnieLene Connie

Mon 19 Mar  Just Call Me Ruby Susan Crawford

Tues 20 Mar Tiny Owl Knits Stephanie Dosen

Wed 21 Mar Ulla-Bella Anita Tørmoen

Thurs 22 Mar Heike Knits Heike Gittins