Vertical stripes bangles

Recently I have discovered the joys of simple one-stitch vertical stripe knitting, but with a crochet hook! Came across this technique totally by chance in my friend's ‘Stitch ’n Bitch’ pattern book.

Knitting single-stitch vertical stripes can be a real nuisance, if you use fairisle techniques the stitch will pucker, if you use intarsia you will have loads of spools of yarn getting in the way, not to mention the ends to weave in. So here comes the genius of this technique!

You knit the piece as normal, but in place of where the one-stitch stripe should be you work those stitches in reverse stocking stitch. So you will end up with a column of purl stitches running up your fabric. When the item is done, holding your contrasting yarn at the back, insert your crochet hook from front to back and slip stitch the contrasting thread through the purl stitches, working under every purl stitch continue slip stitching until the whole column is done! Brilliant!

Knit your piece as normal, but work a purl column where you want your stripe to be.

With contrasting color at the back, insert your hook from front to back under the bump of your first purl stitch (in this picture I have worked few stitches already), yarn around hook and pull the loop through.  Make sure you use the correct hook for your yarn.

Insert your hook into next stitch (under the bump of next purl stitch), yarn around the hook, and pull loop through, you should have two stitches on your hook, slip the first stitch through the second stitch and hey presto! Continue repeating until the every stitch in the column has been worked.

I have designed some funky bangles to try out this technique. It’s so simple! Have a go

I'm sure you will love it!

Materials

Range of different coloured yarn in worsted weight (light aran). I have used one of my all-time favourite yarn, Rowan Creative Focus Worsted. 

4mm (US 6/ UK8) needles

4mm (US G/6) crochet hook

Two-stripe bangle (pictured grey)

With your main colour, cast on 12sts.

Row 1: K4, p1, k2, p1, k4.

Row 2: P4, k1, p2, k1, p4.

Those two rows form the pattern.

Continue repeating the pattern until work measures 28cm, or your desired length.

Cast off

Now using the technique described above work two stripes in contrasting colours in the purl columns.

Three-stripe bangle (pictured pink)

With your main colour, cast on 13 sts.

Row 1: K4, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k4.

Row 2: P4, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p4.

Those two rows form the pattern.

Continue repeating the pattern until work measures 28cm, or your desired length.

Cast off

Now using the technique described above work three stripes in contrasting colours in the purl columns.

Making up

Weave in ends. Fold the side edges of bangle at the back and stitch together to form a tube, join two ends together and wrap a length of yarn around the joint to cover it, weave in yarn to secure.

Happy knitting with a bit of crocheting!

Anna x