how to … work an ESTONIAN BRAID aka VIKKEL BRAID …

Adding a braid between body and ribbing or any other kind of edging gives your knitting a very neat and professional look. And it is not that difficult.

I used it in my ‘Atropa‘ in a different color than the edging.

If you use a contrasting color for the braid – like I did – knit 1 round (supposing you are working in the round) with that color first before starting the braid.

THE FIRST STITCH

   
m1L (make 1 left), slip the   Knit the 2nd stitch on the      knit the first stitch through
just made stitch to the         left needle through back       front loop and drop both
left needle                             loop, (don’t drop any             stitches off the left needle.
…                                            stitch yet, leave the stitches
…                                            on the left needle),                                                                          

THE FOLLOWING STITCHES

   
Slip last stitch on the           Knit the 2nd stitch on the     knit the first stitch through
right needle to the               left needle through back       front loop and drop both
left needle.                           loop, (don’t drop any             stitches off the left needle.
…                                           stitch yet, leave the stitches
…                                           on the left needle),                                                                            

Repeat these 3 steps until all stitches have been worked. Pass the last stitch of the braid over the 1st stitch of the next round.
Now you have the same number of stitches as before you started the braid and you can start the ribbing or any other finishing at your liking.

. . . atropa . . .

In the same spirit as ’embossed alu’ (see previous post) but more oversized: Atropa

I  used Wollmeise Pure this time. That Tollkirsche is amazing. It changes color during he day. In morning light, shade, evening light, electric light. It really glows. Wow, love it. I combined it with ‘All inclusive’ for the stripes and a rest of the 13 Al from ’embossed alu’ with some ‘Natur’.

A new favorite pullover for any occasion. It is casual and chique at the same time. I am so happy with it.

Atropa: an oversized boxi-type pullover with fitted lace sleeves. A little bit of stripes, a little bit of lace. Worked top down seamlessly in one piece. Two finishes are proposed for bottom hem, neck and cuff: I-cord or a small folded hem.

Included in the pattern are:
a lot of illustrated tips on

• increases used,
• short rows,
• schematics for every section

And in a separate pdf
– richly illustrated photo tutorial on working an estonian braid (I wrote a separate blog post on how to make one) and a small folded hem with knit or sewn bind off.

Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL
finished measurements chest: 105, 125, 145 cm (54, 59, 64.5”)

Intended to be worn with lots of positive ease (20 to 40 cm / 8 to 16”)

What you’ll need
in fingering weight, 3 or 4 ply
MC (main color)
± 1050/1200/1400 m (1150/1320/1550 yards)
CC (contrasting color)
± 130/150/180 m (145/165/210 yards)

CC2 and CC3 (contrasting color2 and 3 for the neck, hem and cuff finishing) : small leftovers in fingering weight (50m/55 yards)

3.25 mm (US 3) circular ndl or dpns or size to obtain gauge
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle or dpns for the edgings
6 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
28 sts and 41 rows stockinette
= 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

. . . embossed alu . . .

I am so terribly behind … Never showed my latest ! patterns.

Embossed alu is a pullover with a large boatneck and some positive ease but with fitted sleeves. It has a lace mesh pattern on the sleeves and peplum.

That mesh pattern is a happy mistake. I found a pattern in an old knitting book. It had no picture and I was trying to work it in the round.
I have to admit that I definitely can’t make the difference between wrong from right side or knit and purl, haha … 🤣
This ‘wrong’ mesh stitch reminds me a lot of the embossed plates used in scale models. Combined with the name of the yarn I used : Wollmeise Twin, colorway 13 Al, it gave me the name of the pattern: embossed alu.

It is worked top down and seamlessly in the round. The neck and sleeves are finished with a special edging… a very small folded hem, but there is no sewing involved.

A A photo tutorial is included to work the edging.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL: finished measurements: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52 “ (82, 92, 102, 112, 122, 132 cm)

Intended to be worn with 7 to 13 cm / 3 to 5” of positive ease

What you’ll need
MC: ± 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400 m (990, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500 yards)
CC a few left overs ± 100 to 170 m (110 to 180 yards)

3,5 mm (US 4) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
3 mm (US 3) circular needle
4 markers

Gauge
25 sts and 37 rows stockinette with the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Find more examples here