Entrelac Scarf

Entrelac is just little squares and triangles of knitting attached to each other by both picking up stitches and by knitting stitches together with ones from the previous tier. When finished, it almost looks like the tiers of blocks are woven.

Helpful Hints

The technique used in this scarf is short rowing. When it says “Turn,” turn your work around completely and head back the way you came.

You’ll notice an SSK or P2tog at the end of many of the rows. This is where you are attaching the side of the square you are making to the top of the square (or triangle) from the tier below. To do this on the pickup row, you have to slip your last picked-up stitch back to the left needle. It’s weird, but it works.

Instructions

Materials: Noro Kureyon or Silk Garden, 4 skeins (200 g, approx. 400 yds)

Needles: US #9

Gauge: 4sts/1"

Cast on 24sts

SET-UP TIER (3 triangles)

Row 1: Sl 1, P 1, turn*.

Row 2: Sl 1, K 1, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, P2, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, K2, turn.

Row 5: Sl 1, P 3, turn.

Row 6: Sl 1, K3, turn.

Row 7: Sl 1, P 4, turn.

Row 8: Sl 1, K 4, turn.

Row 9: Sl 1, P5, turn.

Row 10: Sl 1, K5, turn.

Row 11: Sl 1, P6, turn.

Row 12: Sl 1, K6, turn.

Row 13: Sl 1, P 7. DO NOT TURN.

You have now completed the first triangle. Repeat Rows 1–13 two more times.

TIER 1 (1 triangle, 2 squares, 1 triangle)

First Triangle

Row 1: Sl 1, M 1, slip the new stitch back to the left needle and SSK with the first stitch on the left needle, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, P 1, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, M 1, SSK, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, P2, turn.

Row 5: Sl 1, M 1, K 1, SSK, turn.

Row 6: Sl 1, P3, turn.

Row 7: Sl 1, M 1, K 2, SSK, turn.

Row 8: Sl 1, P4, turn.

Row 9: Sl 1, M 1, K 3, SSK, turn.

Row 10: Sl 1, P5, turn.

Row 11: Sl 1, M1, K4, SSK, turn.

Row 12: Sl 1, P 6, turn.

Row 13: Sl 1, M1, K5, SSK, DO NOT TURN.

First Square

Along the left edge of the first tier triangle, pick up and knit TBL a total of 8 stitches. Slip the last stitch you picked up back to the left needle and SSK with the first stitch on the previous needle.

Row 1: Sl 1, P 7, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, K 6, SSK, turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six more times. When you repeat Row 2 for the last time, DO NOT TURN. You should be at the next corner, ready to pick up stitches again.

Repeat First Square directions once more to make the second square.

Second Triangle

Along the left edge of the first tier triangle, pick up and knit TBL a total of 8 stitches.

Row 1: P 2tog, P 6, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, K 4, K2tog, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, P5, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, K3, K2tog, turn.

Row 5: Sl 1, P 4, turn.

Row 6: Sl 1, K2, K2tog, turn.

Row 7: Sl 1, P 3, turn.

Row 8: Sl 1, K 1, K2tog, turn.

Row 9: Sl 1, P2, turn.

Row 10: Sl 1, K2tog, turn.

Row 11: Sl 1, P1, turn.

Row 12: K2tog, DO NOT TURN.

Now you are headed back the other way ready to do Tier 2.

TIER 2 (3 squares)

Along the left edge of the first tier triangle, pick up and purl TBL a total of 8 stitches.

Slip the last stitch you picked up back to the left needle and P2tog with the first stitch on the left needle.

Row 1: Sl 1, K 7, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, P 6, P2tog, turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 six more times. When you repeat Row 2 for the last time, DO NOT TURN. You should be at the next corner ready to pick up stitches again. Repeat these directions twice more to complete the tier.

Repeat Tiers 1 and 2 until your scarf reaches the desired length. Complete Tier 1 once more.

BIND-OFF TIER

Along the left edge of the first tier triangle, pick up and purl TBL a total of 8 stitches. Slip the last stitch you picked up back to the left needle and P2tog with the first stitch on the left needle.

Row 1: Sl 1, K 5, K2tog, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, P5, P2tog, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, K 4, K2tog, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, P 4, P2tog, turn.

Row 5: Sl 1, K 3, K2tog, turn.

Row 6: Sl 1, P 3, P2tog, turn.

Row 7: Sl 1, K 2, K2tog, turn.

Row 8: Sl 1, P 2, P2tog, turn.

Row 9: Sl 1, K 1, K2tog, turn.

Row 10: Sl 1, P1, P2tog, turn.

Row 11: Sl 1, K2 tog, turn.

Row 12: Sl 1, P2tog, turn.

Row 13: K2tog, turn.

Row 14: P2tog, DO NOT TURN.

When you get to the end of the tier, break the yarn and slip it through the last stitch to secure it. Sew in your ends and gently steam the scarf to flatten it a bit.