How to Entrelac Crochet

After I learned the Entrelac technique I came up with this pattern. I used 3 colors, made two sections and sewed them together. I then used the Amigurumi technique to make the Turkey head.

On your rows you will see Vertical stitches - You will insert the hook behind the vertical bar, YO [yarn over] and Pick up loop - Pull it through. [This is your stitch] *Please watch the video for more detailed instructions.

Here is my sketch of this stitch.

• skip first vertical stitch


• go behind the next vertical


• yarn over hook


• pull loop through to the front


• in the very last stitch go through both vertical loops for a more finished edge
  

Once you have your 31 chains, you will pick up 6 stitches for a total of 7 loops on your hook. [first pass]

Now you will, return to where you started. [forward pass + return pass = 1 row] To return you will YO [yarn over], draw through 1 loop and then YO draw through two loops until you get to the end. [on return rows the first stitch is always 1 loop and the rest are always 2 loops]

Instead of going through the two loops in the stitch to pick up your loop, you will be picking up a loop in the next available stitch. [see where I am pointing with my pencil]

After you make the first Tunisian Knit row you will make your diamonds in this manner:

• Pick up loops in next 5 stitches


• Now instead of going into the last stitch [where we usually pick up the last two loops for a clean edge] Pick up a loop in the next Available Chain.

To End Your Work you will slip stitch the last row. Visit Hook Yarn and Needles for a Clear explanation of this 'Binding Off' technique.

• Work Loosely


• Work in FIRST vertical stitch


• Put hook behind 1st vertical stitch, draw up a loop, and through the loops on your hook [slip stitch]


• repeat with each vertical stitch across


• in the last stitch, work through both of the vertical loops for a clean edge, slip stitch

Total stitches on hook 7. Work a return row and then continue your Entrelac Diamond. In this row you will end up with 2 diamonds.

Add yarn to the first stitch of Dark Blue [see photograph].

• Chain 6 [total 7 chains]


• Pick up 6 stitches


• Return Row


• Work diamond as before [working in open chain-in this case the stitch in dark blue]

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you get the width-length that you desire.

I got a couple of questions from readers who wanted to know how to make the squares for entrelac larger. It has taken me a while but I finally sat down to figure out the math last night. I figured it out and am working out the written stats to make sure I can repeat what I did.

Kim wants a larger square:


Fran Wants a 3" Square:


The squares in the above picture are 5" x 5" using an M afghan hook and 2ply worsted weight 100% Merino Wool Yarn. Each square is 10 rows high and 14 stitches across.

Here is a rough idea of what I did:
1. I chained 20 stitches per square I wanted plus 1 stitch for each square [3] so the total starting chain was 63 stitches [tip: leave a long tail just in case you need to add stitches at the end]
2. You will be picking up 13 stitches [total 14 stitches on hook]
3. In the third row of diagonal squares you will chain 14