How to work Vikkel braids

Get monthly inspiration to your door with our knitting and crochet magazines – subscribe and save 40% today

Also known as Estonian or lateral braids, this technique can add an interesting texture to your knits, as Helen Spedding explains

Vikkel braids, also known as Estonian or lateral braids, are decorative, chain-like braids which run across the knitted fabric. They lie relatively flat – unlike the more elaborate Latvian braid – and can be worked in a single colour to add texture, or in a contrasting colour to the main fabric.

Model wearing pale blue knitted mittens — ‘December Blizzard’ from Issue 50 used Vikkel braids to separate bands of texture

Vikkel braids are a lovely way to frame a section of stranded colourwork, or to separate a ribbed sock or mitten cuff from the main fabric. They can be worked in the round, or across a flat piece of knitting.

Be aware that the row of stitches immediately above the braid will be elongated as a result of working the braid in a single colour (see Swatch 1); this is much less noticeable when the braid is in a different colour (see Swatch 2).

Grey knitted swatch with Vikkel braid — Swatch 1

How to work Vikkel braids: step-by-step instructions

We’ll need one extra stitch at the start to work a Vikkel braid, so start by casting on one extra stitch using the cable cast-on method as follows:

Step 1

Put your right needle between the first and second stitches on the left needle…

Step 2

…pull the yarn through…

Step 3

…and place this new stitch on the left needle.

Step 4

*Knit into the second stitch on the left needle through the back loop.

Step 5

Do not drop this stitch off the needle yet.

Step 6

Now knit into the front of the first stitch on the left needle.

Step 7

Drop both stitches off the left needle.

Step 8

Pass the second stitch just worked back to the left needle.

Step 9

If you’re working flat, repeat from * to the last stitch.

Step 10

Knit the last stitch normally.

Step 11

Then pass the last Vikkel braid stitch over this one.

Step 12

This will return you to your original stitch count.

How to work a two-color Vikkel braid

There are two options for working a two-colour Vikkel braid – either working the braid in the same colour as the fabric immediately preceding it, or in a different colour to the fabric before it. To determine which colour the braid will be in, you should remember that the stitch that you work through the back loop of will be the stitch that stays on the needle for the next row/round, and the stitch that you work into the front of will be the one that forms the braid.

So, to work the braid in the same colour (MC) as the preceding fabric, you would work into the back loop of the second stitch on the left needle using CC, and work into the front of the first stitch on the left needle using MC.

Cast on 1 stitch in MC using the cable cast-on method.

Step 1

Now start working the braid as before, using the contrast colour CC to work the second stitch on the needle through the back loop…

Step 2

…and using the main colour MC to work the front stitch on the needle through the front loop.

Work to 1 stitch before the end, but don’t slip the last braid stitch you worked back to left needle. Knit the last stitch on the left needle in CC, then slip the final (MC) braid stitch over this one.

To work the braid in a different colour (CC) to the preceding fabric (MC), you would work into the back loop of the second stitch on the left needle using MC, and work into the front of the first stitch on the left needle using CC.

Start by knitting the first stitch on the left needle in CC (otherwise the first stitch of the braid will be in MC). Pass this stitch back to the left needle. Cable cast-on 1 stitch in CC.

Now continue working the braid as before, working into the back loop of the second stitch on the left needle using MC, and work into the front of the first stitch on the left needle using CC.

Knit to 1 stitch before the end, but don’t slip the last braid stitch you worked back to left needle. Knit the last stitch on the left needle in MC, then slip the final (CC) braid stitch over this one.