I’ve always knit EZ’s heart for my elbow patches, but I recently decided to go looking for something different, which doesn’t require paying as much attention on every row, and which covers a larger area of the elbow. The hearts certainly are wide enough, just not deep enough for how I wear out my elbows!
I found Purl Soho’s elbow patches (see Ravelry), but they use short rows at the beg and the end of the patches, when it seems to me that it would make more sense/be more ergonomic to put the short rows across the middle of the patch, where the elbow actually articulates.
The pattern follows! I’ll also be adding it to my blog and Ravelry, for those who prefer to save patterns to their library.
Shaped Elbow Patches
Size (very easily adjustable): 3.5” W x 5” L
Each patch weighs approx. 10 gr.
Yarn used for the samples. or other DK wt. yarn. The natural patches used 3 strands of lace weight merino held together.
(I tend to use baby alpaca or merino to knit patches for my sweaters, esp. the cashmere ones. As the sweater’s elbows wear out, the softer yarn patches won’t irritate my pointy elbows!)
US size 4 (3.5 mm) ndls (2 dpns are perfect)
Tapestry ndl
Gauge: 6 sts and 6 ridges (12 rows) = 1” in garter stitch
Long Tail CO 13 sts.
Knit 2 rows
Inc Row 1: K1, m1, k11, m1, k1 = 15 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Inc Row 2: K1, m1, k13, m1, k1 = 17 sts.
Knit 2 rows,
Inc Row 3: K1, m1, k15, m1, k1 = 19 sts.
Knit 2 rows,
Inc Row 4: K1, m1, k17, m1, k1 = 21 sts.
Knit 2 rows,
Inc Row 5: K1, m1, k19, m1, k1 = 23 sts.
Knit until piece measures 2” from CO edge.
Short Row 1: K up to last 2 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Short Row 2: K up to last 4 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Short Row 3: K up to last 6 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Short Row 4: K up to last 8 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Knit 2 rows. (In garter st, it isn’t necessary to knit the wraps with their sts – the fabric actually looks better if you don’t!)
Short Row 1: K up to last 8 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Short Row 2: K up to last 6 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Short Row 3: K up to last 4 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Short Row 4: K up to last 2 sts, W&T. Rep this row on the WS.
Knit until piece measures approx. 1.5” from the center of the short rows. Fold the piece in half, along the short rows, to measure. You will know when to stop, when folded, the active sts align with the last full row, before the shaping.
Dec Row 1: K1, ssk, k17, k2tog, k1 = 21 sts.
Dec Row 2: K1, ssk, k15, k2tog, k1 = 19 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Dec Row 3: K1, ssk, k13, k2tog, k1 = 17 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Dec Row 4: K1, ssk, k11, k2tog, k1 = 15 sts.
Knit 2 rows,
Dec Row 5: K1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1 = 13 sts.
Knit 2 rows. BO in knit. Break yarn, leaving a tail to seam the patch in place.
Happy Knitting!
Dawn
