Wavelet is a classic knit hat with a slip stitch technique and a two-color Latvian Braid. Using the mosaic colorwork technique, the hat is knit in the round from the brim up. The simple technique means the knitter only needs to use one color every two rounds. The hat comes in three sizes; child, adult small, and adult large. Written and chart instructions are provided for the mosaic motif.
What is Mosaic Knitting?
Mosaic knitting is an all-over colorwork method that uses slipped stitches rather than carrying yarn across the back of the work with floats. With a mosaic pattern, you knit the entire row with one color, slipping stitches of the other color to form the pattern.
Because the colorwork is archived by slipping stitches the motif is typically elongated with each bit of color being two stitches high. This lends mosaic patterns to be very geometrical in design.
Since you only work with one color per row, mosaic knitting is relatively straightforward compared to other colorwork techniques that require managing multiple strands of yarn simultaneously. With less tangling and weaving-in of ends, mosaic knitting is a great way to experiment with color and pattern without the complexity of more intimidating methods like stranded or intarsia knitting.
Making a Latvian Braid
An example of a Latvian Braid is used in the Wavelet Hat, it's the alternating arrows of color you see between the brim and the body of the hat.
To make a Latvian Braid you'll be working over three rounds, the process will first twist your yarn but don't fret, the last round will un-twist your working yarn so you can carry one with the pattern and not get tangled.
Here's a basic Latvian Braid pattern in the round after working a setup row in one color:
Rnd 1: (K1 with color B, K1 with color A) repeat to beginning of round (BOR).
Rnd 2: With both strands in front of the work, (P1 with color B, bring color A under color B and P1 with color A, bring color B under color A) repeat to BOR.
Rnd 3: With both strands in front of the work (P1 with color B, bring color A over color B and P1 with color A, bring color B over color A) repeat to BOR.
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