So a few days ago I posted the Barrington Braid pattern to do it over 24 rows (it’s actually 48 to see the full spectrum of the braid, but the pattern repeats over 24 rows) and told you that there was a more relaxed version as well. It’s just like your mother told you, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. In this instance though, it’s a different version of the braid for those that want a longer look to it. What I discovered in doing it though, is that it looks really cool when you combine the different repeats in the same panel. Even when you know where the different repeats start, it’s a really subtle difference and you have to really concentrate to notice it. You definitely notice the overall difference, but it seems more gradual and then BAM – you’re looking at a tighter cable. If you were doing a blanket you would have dozens of options. You could have both braids side by side, stagger the starting rows so they fit into each other like a jigsaw puzzle, have combined panels, all sorts of stuff. I’ll have to play around with a 10 and 12 row braid now and then incorporate them into a heritage blanket I plan on making.
The relaxed BB with the tighter one in the same panel
The above image is the BB with both the relaxed and tighter version done in the same panel. This was only a test panel, the real one would be a little neater – my apologies. Can you find where the braids change? Since you already have the pattern for the regular one, here’s the pattern for the relaxed BB. Remember, even though it’s a 36 row repeat, you should do it twice to get the full effect of the pattern.
Stitch Glossary
C4F: Take 2 stitches and place them on a cable needle, holding at front of work. Knit 2 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle.
C4B: Take 2 stitches and place them on a cable needle, holding at back of work. Knit 2 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle.
T3F: Take 2 stitches and place them on a cable needle, holding them at front of your work. Purl 1 stitch from left hand needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle.
T3B: Take 1 stitch and place it on a cable needle, holding it at the back of your work. Knit 2 stitches from left hand needle, then purl 1 stitch from cable needle.
As with the BB, this is done over 34 stitches and shows up best on a reverse stocking stitch background. All even rows (I don’t like to call them wrong side because the pattern there is pretty nice too) are done by working the stitches as they appear. If you see a knit stitch, knit it, and likewise with the purl stitches.
Row 1: (K2, P3) 3x, C4B, (P3, K2) 3x
Row 3: (K2, P3) 2x, K2, P2, T3B, T3F, P2, K2, (P3, K2) 2x
Row 5: (K2, P3) 2x, T3F, T3B, P2, T3F, T3B, (P3, K2) 2x
Row 7: (K2, P3) 2x, P1, C4F, P4, C4F, P1, (P3, K2) 2x
Row 9: K2, P3, (T3F, P2, T3B) 3x, P3, K2
Row 11: K2, P4, (T3F, T3B, P2) 3x, P2, K2
Row 13: T3F, P4, (C4B, P4) 3x, T3B
Row 15: P1, (T3F, P2, T3B) 4x, P1
Row 17: P2, (T3F, T3B, P2) 4x
Row 19: P3, (C4F, P4) 3x, C4F, P3
Row 21: P2, (T3B, T3F, P2) 4x
Row 23: P1, (T3B, P2, T3F) 4x, P1
Row 25: P1, T3B, (P4, C4B) 3x, P4, T3F, P1
Row 27: K2, P4, (T3B, T3F, P2) 3x, P2, K2
Row 29: K2, P3, (T3b, P2, T2F) 3x, P3, K2
Row 31: K2, P3, K2, P4, (C4F, P4) 2x, K2, P3, K2
Row 33: (K2, P3) 2x, (T3B, T3F, P2) 2x, P1, K2, P3, K2
Row 35: (K2, P3) 2x, K2, P2, T3F, T3B, P2, K2, (P3, K2) 2x
That’s it. If you’re staggering the start rows with this braid I would recommend doing it with rows 1 and 17. I’d really love to see what combinations you come up with.
Hugzzz 😎