When I first got back to knitting after a long hiatus, I was looking for a simple yet elegant stitch (sans cables and lace) to knit myself a vest. After hours of Google searching, I came across the King Charles Brocade stitch and liked the texture. The stitch is a simple combination of knits and purls that create a set of interlocking diamonds that add a touch of elegance to any design. I haven’t found many patterns that use this stitch and I think it deserves some recognition.
My first design–a cowl–incorporates this stitch. This is a unisex pattern written in four sizes so you can make it for all your loved ones.
Size
Four sizes
Toddler 16” [40.6 cm] circumference and 7” [17.8 cm] tall
Child 21” [53.3 cm] circumference and 7” [17.8 cm] tall
Small Adult 26” [66 cm] circumference and 7” [17.8 cm] tall
Adult 26” [66 cm] circumference and 9” [22.9 cm] tall
Yarn
Pradhan Embroidery Stores (acrylic; 218 yards [200 meters]/100 grams): Shade 92y, 1 ball
The Child size sample used 160 yds [146 m]/73 g of yarn.
Toddler 144 yds [132 m]/66 g.
Child 160 yds [146 m]/73 g.
Small Adult 175 yds [160 m]/80 g.
Adult 197 yds [180 m]/90 g.
Needles
Size US 6 (4 mm): straight
Notions
Tapestry needle; sewing thread; three 1/2” buttons, stitch marker (optional).
Gauge
20 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stitch patt and in St st.
King Charles Brocade Chart
King Charles Brocade Written Directions
Row 1 (RS): K1, *p1, k9, p1, k1; rep from *.
Row 2 (WS): K1, *p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1; rep from *.
Row 3: K1, *p1, k1, p1, k5, (p1, k1) twice; rep from *.
Row 4: P1, *(p1, k1) twice, p3, (k1, p1) twice, p1; rep from *.
Row 5: K1, *k2, (p1, k1) 4 times, k2; rep from *.
Row 6: P1, *p3, (k1, p1) 3 times, p3; rep from *.
Row 7: K1, *k4, (p1, k1) twice, k4; rep from *.
Row 8: Rep row 6.
Row 9: Rep row 5.
Row 10: Rep row 4.
Row 11: Rep row 3.
Row 12: Rep row 2.
Pattern Notes
The cowl is knit on straight needles and fastened off using buttons.
Each row includes two or more repeats of the patt and four garter stitches at either end. You can optionally place a marker to separate the patt reps.
The borders are knit in garter stitch.
Cowl
CO 33 (33, 33, 45) sts using any preferred cast on.
Knit 6 rows in garter stitch (knit every row).
For every row, K4, work a row of King Charles Brocade (either written or charted), k4.
Cont in this way until you reach Row 12 of the patt, maintaining the first and last 4 sts in garter stitch (knit every stitch).
Repeat the 12 rows 11 (13, 15, 15) times. You may choose to knit more reps of the patt if you want a larger circumference cowl – just be sure to end just having worked Row 12. If your row gauge is correct, each rep of the patt is approx 1.5” [3.8 cm].
When you have knit to the desired length, knit Row 1 once more so you will end just having worked a RS row, and then knit the garter border with buttonholes as follows.
Border and Buttonholes
Row 1 (WS): P all sts.
Row 2 (RS – buttonhole row): K5 (5, 5, 8), k2tog, yo, k8 (8, 8, 11), k2tog, yo, k8 (8, 8, 11), k2tog, yo, k6 (6, 6, 9).
Row 3: P all sts.
Row 4: K all sts.
Row 5: P all sts.
Row 6: BO all sts.
Finishing
Weave in ends, sew on buttons on the end opposite from the buttonholes and block (if necessary).
Jayalakshmi (aka Jaya) is a full time mom to twin girls. In the little precious “me time” that she gets, she packs in some knitting.
Her personal design philosophy is to create quick, simple, preferably seamless, yet elegant knits that are as fun to knit as they are comfortable to wear. Her Ravelry ID is: jayashankar
need your help, please, Jaya
I cast on 45 sts plus 8 stitches 4for each side = 53 sts.
i wanted to make the adult size 26 inches.
I measured after several rows and it did not measure 26 inches.
can you please tell me how I miscalculated? I am using Cascade yarns
220 superwash and size 7 needles.
your king charles brocade cowl is lovely.
Hi!
The cowl is not in the round – it’s knit side-to-side. So your knitting should measure the height of the cowl (not the circumference). For your size, it should measure 9″. (I suspect your knitting measures bigger than this though – read on)
But you should just CO 45 sts – the pattern already has the 4 sts on each side. Your cast on number will make the cowl taller, but it’s not a number that’s going to make the King Charles Brocade even.
If you want the cowl taller, I can give you that number. But I suspect you weren’t trying to do that anyway.
Let me know. But unfortunately, I do think you’ll need to frog this work 🙁