How to knit pleats for maximum effect

how to tutorial for beginner knitter on how to knit pleats

Tutorial on how to knit pleats

Today I have a tutorial for you on how to knit pleats. And not those easy ones that look like boxed pleats and that require no extra skill or any interesting technique like in this post here: https://patternduchess.com/how-to-knit-simple-basic-pleats-for-edging/, but a little bit different horizontal rolled pleats.

Knitted pleats are a fabulous decor to your knitting project making an unforgettable impression. You either like them or not. And there are endless ways to use them starting from knitted skirts and ending with knitted cowls and everything in between (item on the picture will be a cowl).

I must admit that I haven’t always been a fan of pleats. They felt…I don’t know…not mu thing at all. I believe the dislike came from my childhood – in grade school, we had an ugly blue school uniform and one part of that uniform was a skirt with pleats (I was a boyish girl and hated skirts. How on earth can you climb on trees and play war with boys when you have a skirt on? You can’t and you don’t! As a side note: I wish my kids had a school uniform. I like the idea now and I also like pleats.)

Knitted rolled pleats with variegated yarn
Yarn is from “Yarn Whisperer” 😉

Let’s knit some rolled pleats

Knitting rolled pleats back and forth

Pattern repeat 2 stitches + 1 stitches for balance + 1 stitch for both edges.

For example, if you want to knit this pattern over 10 stitches, you will add 1 stitch for balance and 2 stitches for edges – 13 stitches in total.

Abbreviations:

  • sl st – slip stitch;
  • k – knit;
  • p – purl;
  • sl st pwyf – slip stitch purlwise yarn in front;
  • sl st pwyb – slip stitch purlwise yarn in back;
  • rep – repeat;
  • st(s) – stitch(es);

Row 1: sl st, (k1, p1) rep to last 2 sts, k2;

Row 2: sl st, (p1, k1) rep to end;

Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: sl st, (k1, sl st pwyf) rep to last 2 sts, k2;

Rows 4, 6, 8, 10, 12: sl st, (p1, sl st pwyb) rep to last 2 sts, p1, k1;

Knitting rolled pleats in round

Pattern repeat 2 stitches.

Abbreviations:

  • k – knit;
  • p – purl;
  • sl st pwyf – slip stitch purl wise yarn in front;
  • rep – repeat;
  • st(s) – stitch(es);

Rounds 1 & 2: (k1, p1) rep to end of round;

Rounds 3 to 12: (k1, sl st pwyf) rep to end of round;

NOTE! You can do deeper pleats by increasing the number of rows or rounds starting from row/round 3.

The yarn I’m using

Knitting pleats with variegated yarn

I’ve been itching to tell you about the yarn I’m using for this knitting project. The choice surprised even myself, because I would never have thought to use variegated yarn to knit pleats. So how did it happen?

Although I would love to tell you about the complicated choosing methods and go in-depth with matching the yarn with the project, I really can’t say anything like this. Truth is, it was pure laziness. I was slouching on my bed not willing to stand up, suddenly felt like trying to knit pleats, and had this yarn and some random needles in my reach.

Fancy, isn’t it? 🙂

Even if the pre-story isn’t too glamorous, I feel the outcome is. I love how colours transition from one another. I did have to play with pleat rows and adjust them to the colour change, but it was well worth it.

Variegated self striping yarn
Pictures are from Echocraftings

The Yarn

This awesome variegated yarn was sent by Echocraftings aka “Yarn Wizard” aka Kaja. It is a sock yarn, so soft and “yummy” (if I may say so), containing 75% wool and 25% nylon and it’s hand dyed. Love it!

I’ll throw in a disclaimer, because I received the yarn for free as a gift, so this post is a sponsored post by law. But don’t let that bother you. It doesn’t lower the value of the yarn.

Let me introduce Kaja to you.

Kaja is a hard-working mom with an eye for color. Starting as a hobby, hand dyeing yarn has become her side business. Therapeutic side business at that.

Having a sense of fashion helps her to choose colours and keep up with trends. Not everyone can say that. I, for instance, happen to be far from grasping what colors are in at the moment…

Find her here:

If you happen to check out her Etsy shop, please read the reviews as well. They are so sweet. Like this one:

“So soft. Amazing colors. Very happy with purchase. 1 skein is a gift. Wish I could keep both!!!”

Patrice

Quick reminder! Due to the exclusivity, hand dyed yarns need you to plan ahead and order enough for your project because you can’t order the exact thing next time. Also, hand wash in lukewarm water 😉

Pattern recommendation

So where to try out this knitting technique?

You could knit a cowl as I do. But note that doing it my way your pleats will end up vertical not horizontal – like standing. I felt the cowl has a cool effect this way.

Pattern for a pleated cowl

Cast on 63 stitches.

Use a back and forth method and work until you have desired length (circumference of your head for example). Once you reached to end, cast off and sew cast on and cast off rows together. Done.

I’m using Kaja’s yarn and 4 mm / US 6 needles. 63 stitches equals 17 cm / 6.5 inches.

Let me know, what project would you use these pleats in?

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