The next step to making this lovely bobble and
braid pattern is learning to both twist and cross
stitches at the same time. The easiest way is to
twist the stitches as you’ve already tried above,
and to use a cable needle to assist with the
crossed stitches, but it's possible to do this without
a cable needle.
Twisting and crossing stitches to the left.
When you want to cross the stitches so the front
braid leans left you work up to the 2 stitches
that will be crossed. Then you follow the 5 steps
pictured above:
1. Bring yarn forward, insert the right needle from
behind between the next 2 sts.
2. Insert the needle into the front leg of the 2nd
stitch as if to knit and tug it out into plain view.
3. Pinch the base of the loop and remove the
needle.
4. Re-insert the needle from the back of the loop
you're pinching.
5. Purl into this loop.
When you want to cross the stitches so that the
front braid leans to the right, you work up to the 2
stitches that will be crossed. In this pattern the first
one will be a purl stitch. Then proceed as follows
(not pictured):
Chart for bobble and braid pattern stitch
1. Take yarn to the back, insert the right needle
from the front between the next 2 sts.
2. Insert the needle into the front leg of the 2nd
stitch as if to purl and tug it out into plain view.
3. Pinch the base of the loop and remove the
needle.
4. Re-insert the needle into the front of the
pinched loop.
5. Knit this loop.
So now you will be able to complete the braid
and bobble swatch pictured at the top of this post.
The chart and text instructions are available below
including the instructions to make a scarf.
I just thought of one last thing to suggest for you
to try next time you work on a project with 1x1
ribbing. On the right side of the work, twist only
the knit stitches, but not the purls, and on the
wrong side of the work, twist only the purl stitches
and not the knit. You'll really like how the right
side of the ribbing looks and it gives the ribbing a
little extra springiness.
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KNITmuch | issue 2