A double knitting tutorial
The ideal small-scale project to learn double-knitting is a coaster.
Below you will find patterns for three coasters: one in single-colour double knitting, one with a different colour on each side and one in colourwork. The coasters measure 9 x 9cm.
I have used DK yarn and my tension is 21 sts/10cm. If you want to use another weight of yarn or have a different gauge, you can easily adapt the pattern by changing the number of stitches and rows. That being said, double knitting works best with a tight gauge.
Coaster I (Single-coloured coaster)
Instructions:
Using Italian cast on, cast on 34 sts, i.e. 17 pairs of sts. Cast on as follows: begin with a single twist of the yarn (your first stitch), continue with a purl st (your second stitch), continue alternating k and p sts. Use the long tail cast on for your last st (which would otherwise have been a p st), to secure the stitches.
Make sure not to twist the stitches on the needle.
First and all following rows: K1, sl1p wyif.
Notice that in the first row the knit stitches have the wrong leg in front, so you should knit them through the back loop, i.e. through the right leg.
In single-coloured double knitting, you only work the stitches on the front of the work, since the stitches of the back are merely slipped. So, to complete one row, you need to work both sides.
When you have worked 27 rows or coaster has desired length, bind off using Italian bind off.
Italian bind off
Cut the yarn leaving a tail of at least 4x the width of the coaster. Use a darning needle. Enter the first st (a knit st) purlwise and the second st (a purl st) knitwise leaving them on the knitting needle. Enter the first st knitwise and slip it off the needle. *Enter the second st (a knit st) purlwise. Enter the first st purlwise and slip it off the needle. Pass the needle back to front between the first and second sts. Enter the second st (a purl st) knitwise. Enter the first st knitwise (a knit st) and slip it off the needle.* Repeat from * to *. Think: “purl(wise), purl(wise) off, (pass needle through), knit(wise), knit(wise) off”.
Coaster II (Two-coloured double knitting)
In two-coloured double knitting you should think in pairs of stitches. The first stitch of every pair (the front stitch) is knitted, while the second (the back stitch) is purled. When knitting the front stitch, the other colour should be held in the back. When purling the back stitch, the other colour should be held in front.
I hold both yarns on the index finger of the left hand with the “knit” colour to the right. That way, I do not need to move the yarns between stitches.
Instructions:
Cast on as for Coaster I using MC yarn
Pick up the contrast colour. In the first row, this will be your “knit” colour, so it should be on the right.
Row 1: *k1 with the CC, p1 with the MC* Repeat from * to * to end of row.
Turn the work, twist the yarns and switch their positions. placing the MC to the right, since that will be the “knit” colour. Make sure the yarns are twisted, otherwise the two layers will not be joined to each other at the sides.
Row 2: Slip the first stitch knitwise, slip the second stitch purlwise with the yarn in front, *k1 with the MC, p1 with the CC* to end of row.
Turn the work, twist the yarns and switch their positions, placing the CC to the right
Row 3: Slip the first stitch knitwise, slip the second stitch purlwise with the yarn in front, *k1 with the CC, p1 with the MC* to end of row.
Turn the work, twist the yarns and switch their positions.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have worked 27 rows. Bind off using Italian bind off with the MC as described under Coaster I
Coaster III (Double knitting colourwork)
Instructions:
Knit as Coaster II, following the chart below.
Each square represents a pair of stitches. The first of these stitches is knitted with one colour and the second is purled with the other colour as in Coaster II.
When you get to the purple squares in row 11, reverse the order of the colours, i.e. knit 1 with the yarn on the left, and purl 1 with the yarn on the right. When purling, you need to hold the other yarn in front of the needles.
Coaster IV (Your own design 🙂)
I have included an empty chart, so you can make your own coaster pattern.
You are welcome to share your work on social media and to tag me (@annaplexis.knits on Facebook, Instagram and Threads, @annaplexis on TikTok, X, Mastodon, tumblr and YouTube). I’d love to see your work 🙂
Hashtags: #AnnaplexisCoaster #Annaplexis
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