The balaclava is a chic winter accessory with military origins. It was first created during the Crimean War to keep soldiers warm in freezing temperatures. Over time, it transitioned from a purely practical item into a fashionable wardrobe piece.
Today, we'll make one using our warm Sierra yarn, which contains Baby Alpaca wool.
The balaclava is adorned with a beautiful braid pattern, making it perfect for those who want to stand out in an elegant way.
MATERIALS
Sierra yarn col. Milk 75 g / 2.6 oz
Knitting needles size n° 6.5 EU / 10½ US
Knitting needle for making braids
Tapestry needle
GAUGE – GARTER STITCH AND BRAID PATTERN
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
18 sts and 24 rows
STITCHES USED
Knit
Purl
Twisted knit:
knit the stitch through the back loop of the stitch below.
Selvage stitch:
on the right side of the work, knit the stitch without working it. On the wrong side, purl the stitch.
Rib 1/1:
alternate 1 knit stitch and 1 purl stitch on both the right and wrong sides of the work.
Rib 2/2:
alternate 2 knit stitches and 2 purl stitches on both the right and wrong sides of the work.
Stockinette stitch:
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Reverse stockinette stitch:
row 1: purl
row 2: knit
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Braid stitch:
this stitch is worked over 6 stitches.
Row 1: knit all 6 stitches
row 2 (and all even rows up to row 8): purl all 6 stitches
row 3: work a 3-stitch right cross knitting needle: place 3 stitches on a knitting needle behind the work, knit the next 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from the knitting needle
row 5 and 7: knit all 6 stitches.
Repeat rows 1 to 8.
Simple decrease:
pass 1 stitch onto the right needle without knitting it, knit the next stitch from the left needle, and with the tip of the left needle, pass the first stitch over the second.
Increased knit:
lift the yarn between the last knitted stitch and the next one and knit it through the back loop.
SIZE
One size
MEASUREMENTS (before sewing)
24 cm x 74 cm / 9.4" x 29.1"
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
PROCEDURE
The balaclava is worked in one piece, rectangular, corresponding to the back and front. The edge of the opening is made after sewing the back and front neck together.
With needles size 6.5 EU / 10½ US, cast on 40 stitches.
Row 1: 1 selvage stitch, repeat (1 purl stitch, 1 knit stitch) until the last stitch, 1 selvage stitch
rows 2 to 18: work as row 1
row 19: 1 selvage stitch, knit to the last stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 20: 1 selvage stitch, purl to the last stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 21: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (6 right cross stitches for 2 times, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 6 right cross stitches, 1 purl stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 22: 1 selvage stitch, 1 knit stitch, 6 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 23: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 6 knit stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together on the last 2 stitches
row 24: 1 selvage stitch, 6 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 25: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 6 knit stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 26: work as row 24
row 27: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 5 knit stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together on the last 2 stitches
row 28: 1 selvage stitch, 5 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 29: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (6 right cross stitches for 2 times, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 4 right cross stitches (= place 2 stitches on a knitting needle at the back, knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the stitches from the knitting needle), decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together on the last 2 stitches
row 30: 1 selvage stitch, 4 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 31: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 4 knit stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 32: work as row 30
row 33: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 2 knit stitches, decrease 1 stitch by working 1 simple bind-off on the next 2 stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 34: 1 selvage stitch, 3 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 35: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 3 knit stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 36: work as row 34
row 37: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (6 right cross stitches for 2 times, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, decrease 1 stitch by working 1 simple bind-off on the next 2 stitches, 1 knit stitch
row 38: 3 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
rows 39, 41, and 43: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 3 knit stitches
rows 40, 42, and 44: work as row 38
row 45: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (6 right cross stitches for 2 times, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 3 knit stitches
row 46: work as row 38
rows 47 to 110: repeat rows 39 to 46 for another 8 times
row 111: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 2 knit stitches, 1 increased stitch by knitting through the back loop, 1 selvage stitch
row 112: 1 selvage stitch, 3 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 113: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 3 knit stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 114: work as row 112
row 115: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 3 knit stitches, 1 increased stitch by knitting through the back loop, 1 selvage stitch
row 116: 1 selvage stitch, 4 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 117: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (6 right cross stitches for 2 times, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 4 right cross stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 118: 1 selvage stitch, 4 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 119: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 4 knit stitches, 1 increased stitch by knitting through the back loop, 1 selvage stitch
row 120: 1 selvage stitch, 5 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 121: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 5 knit stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 122: work as row 120
row 123: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (12 knit stitches, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 5 knit stitches, 1 increased stitch by knitting through the back loop, 1 selvage stitch
row 124: 1 selvage stitch, 6 purl stitches, repeat (3 knit stitches, 12 purl stitches) for 2 times, 1 knit stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 125: 1 selvage stitch, 1 purl stitch, repeat (6 right cross stitches for 2 times, 3 purl stitches) for 2 times, 6 right cross stitches, 1 selvage stitch
row 126: work as row 124
row 127: 1 selvage stitch, knit until the last stitch, 1 increased stitch by knitting through the back loop, 1 selvage stitch
row 128: 1 selvage stitch, purl until the last stitch, 1 selvage stitch
row 129: 1 selvage stitch, repeat (1 purl stitch, 1 knit stitch) until the last stitch, 1 selvage stitch
rows 130 to 146: work as row 129.
Bind off the work.
Fold the resulting rectangle in half lengthwise and sew the two right-side edges (the ones with the selvage stitch and reverse stockinette stitch) together: this seam corresponds to the back center.
Sew the two left-side edges with reverse stockinette stitch for 14 cm / 5.5" from the bottom: this seam corresponds to the front neck center.
With knitting needles 6.5 EU / 10½ US, pick up stitches around the front opening: the final stitch count should be a multiple of 4. Work 2x2 rib for 4 rows, then bind off.
Fold the newly worked edge inward and secure it with small stitches.
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