HOW TO KNIT A FAKE LATVIAN BRAID

I like techniques that are straightforward and easy to remember. The Latvian (or Lateral) braid is very effective and decorative, but I didn’t like how the fabric looked underneath the braid. I played around with various solutions. This one looks like a real Latvian braid, but is certainly my own fake twist on the idea!

Let’s get started

The braid is worked with two strands of yarn. The braid lies on top of the existing fabric.

The yarn you’ve used throughout the project will be referred to as Y1; the yarn you will be using for the braid will be referred to as Y2. For the purpose of this tutorial, I’ve used two different colours. The green yarn is Y1 and the cream yarn is Y2.

Note that depending upon your project, the two strands may be of the same colour.

You will need a circular needle or use DPNs to work this fake braid.

1. With Right Side facing, cast on 1 stitch in Y2.  

2. Take the Y2 stitch off your needle and leave at front as you slip the first Y1 stitch purlwise off your left-hand needle on to your right-hand needle. Leave Y2 strand at back of work.  

3. Place the Y2 stitch on your left-hand needle and knit it using the Y2 strand of yarn hanging at the back of your work. You now have 1 Y1 stitch and 1 Y2 stitch on your right-hand needle, and one Y2 stitch lying on top of your fabric.

4. Take the Y2 stitch off your right-hand needle and leave stitch at front as you slip the next Y1 stitch purlwise off your left-hand needle and on to your right-hand needle. Leave Y2 strand at back.

5. Place Y2 stitch on your left-hand needle and knit it using the Y2 strand hanging at back. You will have added another Y1 stitch to your right-hand needle, another Y1 stitch to the braid, and see one Y2 stitch on your right-hand needle.

6. Continue to work steps 4 and 5 until you run out of Y1 stitches or your pattern tells you to stop.

7. Cut the Y2 strand and pull it through your Y2 stitch (casting it off). You have no Y2 stitches left.

Because you are using a circular needle (or DPN), you can now push all your Y1 stitches up on your working needle and start working in pattern from the Right Side.

Boom.Done.

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