Latvian Braids

Latvian Braids

(Right & Left Leaning Latvian Braids)

Latvian braids are a beautiful way to integrate texture and color into your knitting. This technique is used in the Till Death MKAL mitten pattern. Below you will find instructions for working both the RIGHT & LEFT Leaning braids.

ROUND 1 (SETUP): * KNIT 1 COLOR A (SHOWN AS PINK), KNIT 1 COLOR B (SHOWN AS ORANGE), REPEAT FROM * TO END OF THE ROUND

ROUND 2: BRING BOTH YARNS TO THE FRONT

*PURL 1 COLOR A. BRING COLOR B UNDER COLOR A, PURL 1 COLOR B. BRING COLOR A UNDER COLOR B, REPEAT FROM * UNTIL THE END OF THE ROUND.

NOTE: YOU WILL ALWAYS USE COLOR A TO PURL A COLOR A STITCH. YOU WILL ALWAYS USE COLOR B TO PURL A COLOR B STITCH.

YOUR YARN WILL BE TWISTED. DO NOT BOTHER UNTWISTING YOUR YARN. IT WILL UNTWIST ON ITS OWN IN ROUND 3.

ROUND 3: *PURL 1 COLOR A. BRING COLOR B OVER COLOR A, PURL 1 COLOR B. BRING COLOR A OVER COLOR B, REPEAT FROM * UNTIL THE END OF THE ROUND.

WHEN YOU COMPLETE YOUR RIGHT LEANING BRAID, IT WILL LOOK LIKE THIS:

FOR A LEFT LEAING LATVIAN BRAID, YOU WILL WORK THE SAME STEPS, BUT IN A DIFFERENT ORDER, AS FOLLOWS:

ROUND 1 (SETUP): * KNIT 1 COLOR A, KNIT 1 COLOR B, REPEAT FROM * TO END OF THE ROUND

ROUND 2: BRING BOTH YARNS TO THE FRONT. *PURL 1 COLOR A. BRING COLOR B OVER COLOR A, PURL 1 COLOR B. BRING COLOR A OVER COLOR B, REPEAT FROM * UNTIL THE END OF THE ROUND.

ROUND 3: *PURL 1 COLOR A. BRING COLOR B UNDER COLOR A, PURL 1 COLOR B. BRING COLOR A UNDER COLOR B, REPEAT FROM * UNTIL THE END OF THE ROUND.