Observations on Entrelac

We’re in the middle of Sock-A-Palooza at the Knitting Nest and our advanced sock class is made using entrelac. Entrelac (or interlace) is a wonderful technique that makes a basketweave type effect in knitting. It looks incredibly complicated but really only involves knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, and picking up stitches. It’s getting everything in the right order that makes the entrelac work!

I’m not going to try to do an entrelac tutorial for you – there are several good ones online. But, I did want to share a few things that I’ve learned over the years, and especially, more recently, as I’ve gotten things ready for our entrelac sock class!

1. I almost hate to admit it, but learning to knit backwards (knitting from the left needle to the right needle instead of turning the work) really does make entrelac go faster. Why do I hate to admit it? Because I used to just turn my work because I didn’t want to bother to learn to knit backward. I was lazy. And then Patrick went and learned backward knitting. “Curse you, Patrick the Knitter!!” Of course, I could not let it stand that my husband could do a knitting technique that I couldn’t do. So, I learned it and I have to admit that it’s faster. Blah.

2. Entrelac can be used successfully with solids, stripes, and patterned yarn. I did one of my early headbands making each row a different color, which was fun but required entirely too much work to deal with all the ends. I think my favorite is to use variegated yarn like what I’m using now (Cascade Heritage Paints). But, I might change my mind on my next project.

3. Entrelac is an art, not a science. Every entrelac pattern is different which can drive someone like me a little crazy. I’d like for them all to decide about whether or not to slip stitches and how to do the decreases, etc. But, designers have different ideas about what they like. Now that I understand what they’re doing, I’m feeling more comfortable deciding whether or not to slip the first stitch (which most patterns say) or not (which the book I like says). But, the pattern designer is not going to come and inspect my work and grade it!!

4. Don’t make socks with entrelac on the bottom of the sole. Yes, I have a book with a pattern for such socks. Yes, they were fun to make. No, they are not fun to wear. No matter how soft the yarn, you still end up with ridges all over the bottom of your foot and it’s just not comfortable. I wore them as sleeping socks for a while.

5. My gauge is different with knitting backwards than it was when I was turning my work. When these socks I’m making become useful socks and not shop models, I hope I can block them into the same size. The moral of the story for you is to not change technique dramatically between one sock and the other.

There are my observations for the day. What have you experienced with entrelac or other techniques? If you’re interested in learning entrelac, just let us know at The Knitting Nest. Our entrelac sock class is already in progress, but we’re happy to set up lessons or other classes if groups want to learn a technique!