Knitting Technique: Double Knitting

There are two different types of something called 'Double Knitting'. This was immediately interesting to me, because, once you want to mess with colors and certain patterns there becomes a 'Right Side' and a well, ugly side. I don't really want to work hard on a blanket and then have it only attractive from one side. It would drive me crazy. I can totally see myself telling the boys they could only wear their blanket a certain way... nope, not for me. It doesn't really matter for socks, IMO, but blankets should be reversible.

Double knitting, in the first method, is also a great way to make a pillow case or something you want to open (bag, ipod case, lots of options!) The second method is awesome for completely reversible color work.

Method One of Double knitting is simply this: with one ball of yarn, cast on your stitches. knit one stitch, then, pretend you are going to purl and then (psyche!) instead of creating a new stitch you are just going to pull the old stitch onto your other needle. Make sure you do this placing your needle as you would to purl. This is called Slip Stitch Purl or SSP. Finish the row that way.

Now, you just do the opposite of what you just did: Knit into the stitches you moved over last time and slip stitch purl the stitches you knit last time.

To Cast Off you will want to out every other stitch onto a different needle and then cast off, so you don't seal off your bag.

Need to see it?

See? You are working two sides of a 3D object at once! Neat, isn't it?

Honestly, I didn't touch this one. It was, well, too boring. I wanted to play with color! Reversible knitting, here I come!

Method Two of Double knitting is much easier than it seems at first. The first thing you should know, to prevent any issues, is that 1) It doesn't matter what the last row had on it and 2) Forget color names, you will be working with Background Color vs. pattern color. As you turn your work it will get confusing if you are thinking colors vs. background/pattern.

Scared? Don't be. (Yes, I realize that 'first thing' was two things!)

You will need 2 balls of yarn, different colors.

There are different cast on methods for this technique. I ignore them. I simply cast on as I normally would, but with strands from both balls of yarn. I then ignore the colors of the stitches on the needle. If you are a stickler, you can do this.

Holding both colors, you simply knit one color, then purl the other color. This is just like the first method, but with two different yarns. Using a chart (you will need one!) you simply keep up the knit for the front of the piece and purl for the back. When you get to the pattern, just switch yarns, but keep up with the knit/purl pattern.

Yeah, you want to watch the video. Also view the other ones by this person-- so helpful!

At bind off, I simply did the normal bind off, but putting one stitch of each color together before doing the knit stitch.


I jumped in way over my head with this technique, but that's a story for another day.

Knit Knacks: Fish's Blanket

 Fish's blanket is done in what you would call a 'moss stitch'. Again, it's one pound of yarn, worsted weight. Size 11 needles.

Cast On 120

*Knit 1, purl 1 repeat pattern all the way across the row.

Purl 1, knit 1 repeat pattern all the way across.

(Pay attention to your stitches from the previous row, you want the opposite stitch of the one in the previous row, or you will end up with Boy's blanket.)

Repeat from * all the way through until desired length.

I finished the outside of this blanket with a border of Double Crochet stitches. Just double crochet into every stitch all the way around. Double crochet three times into the same stitch at every corner.

Knit Knacks: Cookie's Blanket

It's hard to tell in this picture, but Cookie's blanket is pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Again, it's pretty simple, but it creates a basket-weave like texture.

This was done in worsted weight yarn with size 11 needles.

Cast On 110 stitches.

*Knit 5, Purl 5 repeated all the way across.

Repeat for 5 rows.

Now Purl 10, Knit 10 repeated all the way across.

Repeat for 5 rows.

Back to * and repeat until desired length. Cast Off.

Knit Knacks: Jellybean's Blanket

Jellybean's blanket is the pale blue one on the left. Again, this is a pretty easy pattern, that will need about 1 lb of yarn.

I should note that this is baby yarn and I used size 11 knitting needles, I believe. Smaller needles will make tighter weave, and also a smaller blanket. Larger needles will make a looser, larger blanket.

Cast On 112 stitches.

Knit 8 stitches. Purl 8 stitches. Repeat to the end of the row.

Repeat this pattern for the next 8 rows.

Then...

Purl 8 stitches. Knit 8 stitches. and repeat, again for 8 rows.

Repeat the whole process until the blanket is your desired length, then, Cast Off.

Knit Knacks: Boy's Blanket

I am really bad at reading and following directions.

In general i am a fast reader. Maybe that's the problem. I start reading knitting (or other) directions and my brain, lazily, just proclaims, "Blah blah blah blah."

So, my brain doesn't like traditional instructions for knitting patterns, so I have sort of reinvented everything as I go along and try to teach myself to knit. YouTube videos are also an awesome way for me to learn new stitches and techniques.

Surely I'm not the only one who gets bogged down with CO 35 k2 p2 (k2 p2 *)? Not to mention kfb or ssk?

I also stink at keeping count and, as I only may have five minutes (if that!) at a time for any project, I either have to keep it really simple or chart things out.

I love knitting, despite my inability to approach it in the traditional way or follow patterns, so I just play around with learning things my way. It's a great thing for me-- I can see progress instantly, I'm making something usable (so no crafting guilt), it keeps my hands and mind busy, and my hands are so strong now that jar lids are easy prey!

These were the first three things I ever really knitted. They are actually pretty easy.

Boy's Blanket

I used 1 pound of worsted weight yarn on this one blanket.

Cast On 120 stitches.

Knit two stitches. Purl two stitches. Repeat until end of the row.

Continue pattern until you have the desired length for your blanket. (I had Boy lie down on the floor and measured it to his height.)

Bind off.

This is a great project for a beginner. It really requires no counting and it really helps get the basic stitches and skills ingrained in the brain and body.

Boy loves his blanket. He picked out his yarn, and the pattern, and now he sleeps with it every night.