Swatching stitch patterns is a unique thrill. How does an extra yarn over completely change the look of a pattern? When you cast on an extra stitch, what happens? And in this case, what marvel takes place to create a fabric that so closely resembles a woven basket or a plaited braid?

Plaited Throw | Purl Soho

The marvel, it turns out, is simply a matter of “twisting” the stitches. You work the second stitch on the needle and then the first, so that one crosses over the other, much like weaving. It’s a simple two-row pattern that we walk you through step-by-step, so that you too will be marveling at your Plaited Blanket!

Plaited Throw | Purl Soho

For this project, we double our Linen Quill, a fingering weight blend of fine wool, alpaca and linen. Doubled and plaited, it has a beautiful weight and warmth, and in Rose Granite, enough personality to make a statement! -Kristy

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Kristina McGowan. Click here to see even more of Kristina’s designs!

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

Materials

Plaited Throw | Purl Soho
  • 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 2,500 yards required. We used Rose Granite.
  • US 11 (8mm), 32-inch circular needles
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We also tried this stitch in Heirloom White (left) and Trout Brown (right). Also pretty!

Gauge

22 stitches = 4 inches in the stitch pattern

Size

Finished Dimensions: Approximately 38 inches wide x 48 inches long

Notes

For this pattern you’ll use the Linen Quill doubled. To do that, just pull a strand from two balls of yarn!

Stitch Pattern

There are lots of variations on woven or plaited stitches. Here’s how we do this one…

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Row 1 (right side): *Insert the right needle through the back loop of the second stitch on the left needle. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the right needle and knit a stitch, but do not remove the second stitch from the left needle. Then, knit the first stitch on the needle as usual, and allow both stitches to fall off the left needle, repeat from * to end row.

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Row 2 (wrong side): Purl 1 stitch, then… *purl the second stitch on the left needle by inserting the right needle through the front loop and purling a stitch. Do not remove the second stitch from the left needle. Then, purl the first stitch on the needle as usual, and allow both stitches to fall off the left needle, repeat from * to end of row.

NOTE: If you want to change the sizing or use this stitch pattern for a different project, cast on a multiple of 2 stitches.

Pattern

Loosely cast on 210 stitches, with yarn held doubled (see Notes, above). We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1 (right side): *Knit second stitch on left needle through the back loop without removing stitch from needle, then knit the first stitch, slipping both stitches from needle, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2 (wrong side): P1, *purl second stitch on left needle without removing stitch from needle, then purl the first stitch, slipping both stitches from needle, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 48 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 2.

Bind off all stitches knitwise.

Weave in ends and block if desired!

Plaited Throw | Purl Soho