Braiding with five strands of yarn is as simple as making an ordinary three-strand braid, but the result is firmer and fatter. Once you’ve organized the strands of yarn, the braiding is quick and easy.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The scarf took 2 hours to make.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Sirdar Denim Ultra is a super-thick, soft, lightweight yarn. It’s a mix of 60% acrylic, 25% cotton, and 15% wool and has 82 yds. (75 m) to a 100 g (approx. 3½ oz.) ball.
SIZE
Length: 118 in. (approx. 3¼ yds. [300 cm])
YOU WILL NEED
• 5 x 100 g balls (approx. 17½ oz.) of Sirdar Denim Ultra in Ivory Cream, shade 508.
• a frame (see Notes below) on which to make the braid.
NOTES
• The back of a slatted wooden chair would make an ideal frame. Tie each strand of the braid to a different strut to keep them spaced evenly.
• The braid is made of 5 strands, and you’ve got only two hands. It will really speed up the work if you can get two friends to hold 2 of the strands each while you manipulate the fifth strand, exchanging strands as you complete each step.
TIPS
• Place a rubber band around each prepared ball of strands to prevent it from unwinding. Slip the band off as required to release more of the strand.
• If there’s no one handy to help with the braiding, keep the prepared balls of yarn separate by placing each one in a box or plastic bag, so they don’t roll around and get tangled.
• Use clothespins to hold the strands of yarn together as you braid.
PREPARATION
Cut 12 lengths of yarn, each 6½ yds. (6 m) long, from one ball of yarn. Line up strands, tie a short length of spare yarn firmly around them, a little way down from one end, and knot this end of the strands around frame or chair back. Comb down the length of the strands with your fingers to smooth them out; then wind them into a ball to keep them neat until needed. Repeat with each of the other 4 balls of yarn, knotting the tied ends to adjacent struts of the frame.
BRAIDING
Step 1 Take the far-right strand over the next 2 strands to the center.
Step 2 Take the far-left strand over the next 2 strands to the center.
Repeat these 2 steps, tensioning the strands each time to make a fat braid. Continue until almost all of the yarn has been braided. Using spare yarn, tie the yarn ends of each of the 5 strands together; then bind the 5 strands together with spare yarn, knotting it securely. Trim strand ends to make a tassel. Undo the strands from the frame, and finish the other end of the braid in the same way.
This must be the simplest scarf ever! It’s just a big fat braid of soft cotton-mix yarn.
