Yep, plaid x plaid equals Plaid Squared (click the link to get to the Ravelry pattern page)!!
This concept has been simmering around in my brain for years: could you knit entrelac in such a way as to make it look like Buffalo Plaid? The primary key is to start with colors where A + B = C. But, I always got stuck when I started on the math of it all! I forced my way through that hurdle and the rest was easy 😉 . Uh, not really!
The Flat Bag (shades of gray), The Deeper Bag (red & black), The Small Notions Bag (red & black, with zipper closure)
The fun part of doing this was figuring out the puzzle. I came up with a new approach to doing entrelac that eliminates the “pick up as to purl” step when doing right leaning squares, as well as the need to do decreases as you work each square. This makes the knitting a little faster. I also designed the bags so that the entrelac wraps around the bottom in a continuous way which looks better, versus starting with triangles.
Anyway, THAT is over with! I am hoping the market for felted entrelac bag patterns is HUGE!! 😉
PS to Diana — the link at the top of the post will take you right to Ravelry!
PPS to Mary: I did think about holding two strands of yarn together (AA, AB, BB). For the pattern, I wanted to keep it simple. I would worry that the area where the two colors were held together might felt in a blotchy way (the colors not looking even throughout). There are some marled yarns out there but the color choices are limited.
PPS to KMKAT: The pictures were taken around the Gaviidae skyways. One or two were in Gaviidae itself because that’s where my model works!! 🙂
Ooo, I love these bags! How clever! I can see one in my future made up in green and black. When do you think you’ll have a pattern ready?
Comment by Diana — January 7, 2017 @ 12:45 pm
I like entrelac & I really love this! It’s already in my shopping cart & I’ll download it later this afternoon when I have more time to play with it. I’m looking forward to your twist on the technique, but I already see the big bag as my new knitting tote.
Comment by Samina — January 7, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
Beautiful bags, Susan!
Comment by Bonnie — January 7, 2017 @ 2:56 pm
Brilliant!
Comment by Gretchen (aka stashdragon) — January 7, 2017 @ 3:32 pm
I just printed my pattern! I have to go look at my stash next.
Comment by Mary Jo — January 7, 2017 @ 10:22 pm
Love it! Thinking about two-stranding it – black squares in two stands of black, red squares in two strands of red and the intersecting squares, one strand of each.
Comment by Mary — January 7, 2017 @ 11:07 pm
Love these! Great design. Perfect styles and sizes.
Comment by annie — January 8, 2017 @ 9:37 am
Only the small bag looks like plaid. The larger totes look just like entrelac to me. But never mind, they’re all gorgeous. Well done.
Comment by Purrlie — January 9, 2017 @ 7:11 pm
Genius!!
Comment by Mary Lou — January 10, 2017 @ 12:03 pm
You seem to have both components of success in your pattern – a great technique and a modern, polished and stylish design. I would love that small red and black (is it zippered?) bag myself. You may have found a new career, Susan. Good luck!
Comment by Chloe — January 11, 2017 @ 8:01 am
Photos taken in Gaviidae?
Comment by kmkat — January 11, 2017 @ 9:17 pm