What colorwork options does entrelac offer and how should entrelac Patreon creators structure tiers?

Entrelac's block-by-block construction is ideally suited to colorwork where each block is a distinct yarn color or colorway, because color changes happen naturally at the start of each new block rather than mid-row — eliminating the need for intarsia color management or float control. A gradient entrelac shawl, for example, steps through five to eight colors by assigning each horizontal row of blocks a new yarn, producing a smooth gradient across the piece. Striped entrelac uses alternating color assignments for neighboring blocks in the same row, creating a checked or plaid visual pattern from the diagonal block arrangement. Variegated yarns produce organic color pooling within each block, with different blocks showing different colorway sections depending on the starting point in the yarn repeat. The self-framing nature of each block — a rectangular unit with clear boundaries at every edge — also makes entrelac a natural fit for colorwork where the block boundaries become a design element (dark background blocks alternating with light patterned blocks, for example). Patreon tier structure for entrelac creators: Tier 1 — Block ($15–18/month): monthly pattern for a single-color or two-color entrelac project — a scarf, dishcloth, or small bag — with written instructions for base triangles, rectangles in both lean directions, and corner triangles. Tier 2 — Gradient ($28–35/month): monthly pattern plus video demonstrating the pick-up sequence and join mechanics for both block orientations, with a color planning module showing how to calculate block count for a target gradient. Tier 3 — Design ($50–65/month): monthly pattern plus video plus a design system module covering entrelac stitch pattern variation (working the rectangles in seed stitch, moss stitch, or a simple cable within the block unit), entrelac in the round (circular entrelac for hats and bags), or reversible entrelac where both sides are worked to produce a double-sided fabric. Apple Tax impact: at $28/month, 71% iOS reach (knitting audiences on YouTube run 65–75% iOS), 40 subscribers: $28 × 0.71 × 0.30 = $5.96 per subscriber/month × 40 = $238.56/month ($2,862.72/year) permanently lost to Apple IAP after November 2026.

Patreon for entrelac knitting creators: diagonal block construction, short-row pick-up, ssk and k2tog self-assembling joins, base triangle, corner triangle, block colorwork, and Apple Tax impact in 2026

2026-07-30 · KeepTier

Entrelac is a system for knitting diagonal rectangular blocks in sequence, each block picking up stitches from the edge of the adjacent completed block and joining to its other neighbor on every right-side row. The result is a fabric that looks woven but is made entirely by knitting, with blocks self-assembling into the structure without sewing. For Patreon creators, entrelac offers a naturally modular curriculum: the base triangle, the rectangle in each lean direction, the corner triangle, and block colorwork are discrete teachable units that build sequentially into complex completed pieces.

Base triangle, rectangle, and self-assembling join mechanics

The base triangle grows one stitch per row by casting on at the start of each right-side row until the full block width is reached. This establishes the diagonal direction of the fabric. Subsequent rectangles pick up live stitches from the side edges of the completed adjacent block (one pick-up per two-row ridge), then join to the block on the opposite side on each right-side row: the last stitch of the rectangle is worked together with the first live stitch of the neighboring block via ssk (for right-leaning rectangles) or k2tog (for left-leaning rectangles). This join consumes the neighboring block one stitch per row until both the pick-up source and the join target are used up simultaneously, completing the rectangle and linking it permanently to both surrounding blocks.

The self-assembling quality of entrelac — each block grows directly into its neighbors — is the structural feature that makes entrelac construction feel different from other modular knitting. There is no assembly step: the fabric is complete when the last corner triangle is bound off.

Colorwork and tier structure

Color changes in entrelac happen at block boundaries rather than mid-row, making gradient colorwork and checked color patterns easier to manage than in intarsia or fair isle. Each block can be a new color without yarn management across the row. Patreon tiers for entrelac creators: foundation block construction at $15–18/month, video demonstration with gradient color planning at $28–35/month, and design systems including in-the-round entrelac and stitch pattern variation within blocks at $50–65/month.

Apple Tax: what entrelac knitting Patreon creators lose from November 2026

At $28/month, 71% iOS reach, and 40 subscribers: $28 × 0.71 × 0.30 = $5.96 per subscriber per month lost to Apple IAP — $238.56/month ($2,862.72/year) permanently after November 1, 2026. KeepTier provides web checkout that routes new subscriptions outside Apple’s IAP system.

See the KeepTier blog for Apple Tax analysis across all knitting and fiber arts creator categories.