It’s astounding how many sweaters my dear friend Taylor has with elbow holes. It wasn’t until I spotted her plinking away at a computer keyboard that I realized the cause… she’s a leaner, a focused leaner. The more she focuses, the more she leans, and the more she leans, the more worn her wares become. She most definitely puts her sweaters to work.

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

These Knit Elbow Patches were developed with Taylor in mind, out of love and necessity. To knit up these Patches I used two strands of Purl Soho’s brilliantly colored, 100% merino Line Weight, and to sew them onto the offending elbows, I used a single strand of the same. These super simple shapes feature little details that make them work: short row for a tailor-made shape and edges that perfectly hide sewn stitches.

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Are you or is someone you know a leaner? Help protect those elbows. Or maybe you didn’t score that sweet sweater you asked for from Santa? Revitalize your old, holey favorites! These Knit Elbow Patches are my solution (and my New Year’s resolution). Happy mending! -Laura

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoKnitElbowPatches, and #PurlSohoLineWeight. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

To make 1 pair of Elbow Patches…

Gauge

6½ stitches and 12 rows = 1 inch in garter stitch, with yarn doubled

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large)

Dimensions: 3 (3½, 4) inches wide by 4½ (5¼, 6) inches long

Notes

The curved ends of the patches are formed using Short Row shaping. For more information on Short Rows, see our tutorial here.

wrp-t (wrap and turn): Keeping the yarn in back, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle. Bring the yarn forward as if to purl. Return the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle. Turn the work. NOTE: Because the short rows are worked in garter stitch in this pattern, you do not have to pick up the wraps; simply ignore the wraps when you come to them.

Pattern

Begin

With yarn doubled, cast on 19 (23, 27) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1 (right side): Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Rows 3 and 4: Knit.

Shape the First Curve

NOTE: If a ” – ” appears in place of a number for your size, omit this row.

Starting with a right side row…

Next Two Rows: Knit to last – ( – , 10) stitches, wrap and turn (wrp-t).

Next Two Rows: Knit to last – (8 , 8) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Rows: Knit to last 6 (6, 6) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Rows: Knit to last 4 (4, 4) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Row: Knit to last 2 (2, 2) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Row: Knit to end of row.

Work Body of Patch

Work in garter stitch, knitting each row, until piece measures 3½ (4, 4½) inches from center of rolled cast on edge (or when you have approximately 21 [24, 27] “ridges” [1 ridge = 2 rows]), ending with a wrong side row.

Shape the Second Curve

NOTE: If a ” – ” appears in place of a number for your size, omit this row.

Starting with a right side row…

Next Two Rows: Knit to last 2 (2, 2) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Rows: Knit to last 4 (4, 4) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Rows: Knit to last 6 (6, 6) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Rows: Knit to last – (8 , 8) stitches, wrp-t.

Next Two Rows: Knit to last – ( – , 10) stitches, wrp-t.

Finish

Next Three Rows: Knit.

Next Row (wrong side): Purl

Next Row: Knit.

Bind off knitwise.

Weave in you ends and block as desired.

Sew On the Elbow Patch 

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Place the patch over the hole-ridden elbow area of your sweater.

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Use straight pins to secure patch in place.

With a ball point needle or tapestry needle threaded with single strand of yarn, sew the patch to your sweater. Here’s how…

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Along the vertical edges, use a whip-stitch, bringing the needle from the back of the garment to the front of the patch, coming out between two garter stitch ridges. Take one stitch between each ridge.

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Along the curved edges, use a running stitch. Bring the needle from the front of the patch through to the back of the garment, then bring the needle up through the garment and patch approximately 1 knit stitch from where you last went in.

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho

Continue to bring the needle from front to back and back to front at 1-knit-stitch increments all along the stockinette stitches. Once you’ve completed the curved edge, the edge will roll back up, hiding the stitches.

Knit Elbow Patches | Purl Soho