Learn to Knit Entrelac in This Free Virtual Class: Dream Weaver Pillow
If you’ve ever been stopped in your tracks by a piece of woven-looking knitting — the kind that makes people ask “Wait, is that actually woven fabric?” — then you’ve already met entrelac, even if you didn’t know its name. Entrelac is one of those techniques that sits in that irresistible sweet spot between “looks impossibly complex” and “is actually completely learnable with the right guidance.” And that’s exactly what the Dream Weaver Pillow free virtual class is designed to show you.
Whether you’re a confident beginner who’s mastered the knit and purl stitch and is hungry for something new, or an intermediate knitter who’s been putting off entrelac because it looked too intimidating, this class was built for you. By the time you finish your Dream Weaver Pillow, you’ll understand a technique that will fundamentally change what you think is possible with two sticks and a ball of yarn.
Let’s talk about everything you need to know before you register, including what entrelac is, why this project is such a perfect way to learn it, what you’ll cover in the class, and how to set yourself up for success.
What Is Entrelac Knitting?
The word “entrelac” comes from the French word meaning “interlaced” or “intertwined,” and once you see a finished entrelac piece, the name makes immediate sense. Entrelac fabric is made up of individual squares or rectangles — called tiles or blocks — that are knitted on the diagonal and joined to each other as they’re worked. The result is a richly textured, woven-looking surface that seems like it must require a loom or at least some kind of sewing-together step. But it doesn’t. Every block is knitted live, connecting directly to the ones before it, all in one continuous process.
What makes entrelac so magical is the geometry of it. Each row of blocks is oriented in the opposite direction from the row below it, and because you pick up stitches along the edges of completed blocks to begin new ones, the whole thing grows in a surprisingly intuitive way once you’ve done it a few times. The first block is always the trickiest. After that, a rhythm sets in that many knitters describe as almost meditative.
The technique has been around for centuries — there are examples of entrelac-like constructions in historical knitting from northern Europe and the Middle East — but it’s had a serious resurgence in the modern knitting community because it photographs beautifully, works in almost any yarn weight, and produces fabric that genuinely looks like you worked much harder than you did. That last part is everyone’s favorite.
Why Learn Entrelac with a Pillow Project?
When you’re learning a new technique, the project you choose matters enormously. Too small, and you don’t get enough practice to really internalize the method. Too large, and the learning curve can start to feel like a slog. A pillow sits right in the middle — it’s big enough to give you real repetition with the entrelac structure, and small enough to finish in a reasonable amount of time so you actually get that satisfying moment of completing something beautiful.
The Dream Weaver Pillow is designed specifically with this in mind. The finished pillow front — and optionally the back — is made up of a grid of entrelac blocks that, when assembled, create a piece you’d be proud to display in your home. It’s not a sampler that ends up in a drawer. It’s a functional, finished object you’ll actually use.
There’s also something particularly satisfying about seeing entrelac fabric at pillow scale. The woven texture has real dimension to it, and on a flat pillow surface, the light catches it from different angles throughout the day, making it look different at noon than it does in the evening lamplight. It’s the kind of thing guests pick up and examine up close, convinced it must be some kind of patchwork or weaving rather than a single piece of knitting.
What You’ll Learn in the Free Virtual Class
The Dream Weaver Pillow class is structured to take you from zero entrelac experience to a confident grasp of every step involved. Here’s a closer look at what the curriculum covers.
Understanding the Structure of Entrelac Fabric
Before you ever cast on a stitch, the class walks you through the underlying architecture of entrelac. You’ll learn how the individual blocks relate to each other, why they’re worked on a diagonal, and how picking up stitches along edges creates that seamless woven connection. A lot of knitters find that this visual overview — even a simple diagram — is the key to everything clicking once they’re actually working. Understanding the “why” before the “how” is a much gentler learning curve.
Casting On and Working the Foundation Triangles
Every entrelac piece begins with a row of triangles along the base, and these foundation triangles are your first real introduction to how blocks are built. You’ll learn how to cast on, increase to build the triangle’s width, and end with a set of live stitches waiting for the next step. The class demos this slowly, with multiple angles and close-up camera work so you can see exactly where the yarn goes at every turn.
Picking Up Stitches Along Edges
This is the step that trips up most entrelac newcomers, so it gets particular attention in the Dream Weaver class. Picking up stitches along the vertical edge of a completed block is a slightly different motion from what most knitters are used to, and knowing exactly where to insert the needle — and how many stitches to pick up per inch of edge — is the difference between neat joins and gaps or puckers. You’ll practice this technique repeatedly as you work your way through the pillow, and by the midpoint of the project, it will feel completely natural.
Knitting the Main Blocks
The full-size square blocks are the heart of entrelac, and you’ll spend most of the class here. You’ll learn how to pick up stitches from one adjacent block, work back and forth in rows while joining to the neighboring block on every right-side row, and finish each block cleanly. The class also covers how to manage tension consistently across blocks, which is one of the more nuanced skills and one that separates a beginner’s entrelac from a polished, professional-looking piece.
Changing Colors (Optional but Highly Recommended)
One of entrelac’s greatest strengths is how naturally it lends itself to color. Because each block is a discrete unit, you can change colors between blocks — or even within blocks — to create stripes, gradients, or checkerboard effects. The Dream Weaver Pillow looks particularly stunning in two or three complementary colors that let the woven structure really pop. The class covers how to join new yarn cleanly at the beginning of a block and how to carry colors up the side of your work when alternating colors in a regular pattern.
Finishing Triangles and Edge Work
Just as the piece begins with foundation triangles, it ends with finishing triangles that fill in the jagged diagonal edge and give you a clean, straight border all the way around. The class walks you through these carefully, because they’re worked a bit differently from the main blocks — you’ll be decreasing instead of growing — and it’s important to get them right so your pillow front has crisp, even edges that seam nicely.
Assembling the Pillow
Once your knitted piece is complete, you’ll need to block it, seam the front and back together (or attach a fabric backing, which the class also covers as an option), and insert your pillow form. Blocking entrelac is particularly rewarding because it opens up the fabric and makes the geometric tiles look even more defined and crisp. The class covers wet blocking and pin blocking so you can choose the method that works best for your yarn fiber.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Before your first class session, it’s helpful to gather your materials so you’re ready to follow along with the hands-on portions from the very beginning.
For yarn, you’ll want something with good stitch definition that will show off the entrelac texture clearly. Wool and wool blends are ideal because they block beautifully and have enough elasticity to keep your tension even. A smooth, plied yarn in a worsted weight is the easiest starting point — avoid anything too fuzzy or textured, since you’ll be picking up stitches along edges and need to be able to see your work clearly. If you want to use multiple colors, choose two or three that have enough contrast to highlight the geometric pattern.
Needle size will depend on your yarn choice and the class pattern recommendations, but most worsted-weight entrelac projects use US size 7 or 8 needles. Circular needles are recommended even though you’ll be working flat, because the cord accommodates the stitches comfortably as the piece grows and you won’t need to worry about stitches falling off the ends.
You’ll also want a set of stitch markers to help track block boundaries during your foundation row, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, and a pillow form in your finished size — a 16-by-16-inch or 18-by-18-inch form works well for this project.
Tips for Success Before You Begin
Entrelac has a reputation that’s slightly scarier than it deserves, and a lot of that comes from knitters who tried to learn it from written instructions alone before video instruction was as accessible as it is today. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will make your experience in the Dream Weaver class as smooth as possible.
Don’t skip the swatch. Swatching feels like a chore, but with entrelac, getting your block size right makes a real difference to the finished dimensions of your pillow. Work one block at the recommended gauge before jumping into the project, and check that your block comes out the right size. Adjust your needle size up or down as needed.
Work slowly through the first block. Your first foundation triangle will feel unfamiliar, and that’s completely normal. Go slowly, refer back to the video demo as many times as you need, and resist the urge to rush. Everything you learn in that first block gets applied — and reinforced — in every block that follows, so it’s worth doing it carefully.
Use stitch markers generously. Entrelac has a lot of “how many stitches should I have right now?” moments, and a marker at each end of your active block can help you quickly check your count without having to carefully count back from the beginning.
Keep track of your color changes if you’re using multiple colors. Make a small note of which color you used for each row of blocks, or photograph your work at the end of each row before you set it down. It’s easy to lose track when you return to the project after a break, and consistent color placement is what makes those chevron or checkerboard patterns look intentional rather than accidental.
Don’t be too hard on yourself about tension consistency in your first project. Even experienced knitters find that their first entrelac piece has slightly uneven tension at the joins between blocks. Blocking solves a lot of this, and the more you work in the technique, the more naturally even your joins become.
Why Free Matters
Quality knitting instruction has historically been expensive to access — think in-person classes at local yarn shops, paid workshops at fiber festivals, or subscription platforms with monthly fees. The Dream Weaver Pillow virtual class being offered free of charge is genuinely significant. It means that knitters who live far from yarn shops with robust class programs, knitters who are working within a tight budget, and knitters who simply prefer to learn on their own schedule at home all have equal access to a well-structured, clearly produced learning experience.
Free virtual classes have transformed the fiber arts community over the last several years, bringing techniques that once felt exclusive or regionally specific to knitters all over the world. Entrelac is a perfect example of a technique that benefits enormously from this kind of access — it’s something many knitters have admired for years without ever attempting, simply because they didn’t have access to good instruction. A free class removes that barrier completely.
Who Is This Class For?
If you can cast on, knit, purl, and pick up a dropped stitch without panicking, you have everything you need to take this class. Entrelac looks advanced, but its building blocks are genuinely basic. What makes it feel complex is the logic of how those basics are applied — and that’s exactly what the Dream Weaver class unpacks in a step-by-step, follow-along format.
The class is also appropriate for confident knitters who want to expand their technique library without committing to a massive project like a full entrelac blanket or sweater. A pillow is achievable in a few weeks of casual knitting, and the skills you’ll gain transfer directly to larger and more complex entrelac projects whenever you’re ready for them.
If you’ve started entrelac before and gotten confused or frustrated, this class is also a great opportunity for a reset. Watching someone work through the technique from the beginning, with clear explanations at each step, often resolves the conceptual confusion that caused the earlier attempt to stall.
Join the Class and Make Your Dream Weaver Pillow
Entrelac is one of those techniques that genuinely changes how you see knitting. Once you understand how the blocks connect, you start looking at woven-looking fabrics differently, noticing the geometry in basket-weave stitch patterns and window pane textures, imagining all the color combinations you could use to make your own version pop. It’s the kind of skill that, once learned, tends to stay in rotation — you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again because the results are so reliably satisfying and the process is so enjoyably rhythmic.
The Dream Weaver Pillow free virtual class gives you all of that in a format that’s accessible, well-paced, and — maybe most importantly — completely free. You have nothing to lose by signing up and a truly beautiful new skill to gain.
Register today, gather your yarn, and get ready to weave a little magic with your knitting needles. Your Dream Weaver Pillow is waiting to be made.
