The knitting technique we are going to teach you today is one of the coolest you’ve ever seen in the knitting world. It’s double knitting, which creates a piece of knitting with one color on each side, and no “wrong side”. We can create motifs and work using charts, and the resulting fabric is much thicker than when we knit as usual (since it is made up of two sides joined together).
What do you need to know about this technique? Well, it’s kind of hard to understand at first, but one you get started it’s almost automatic. Just keep in mind it’s not a fast knitting technique, and it requires concentration 😉
In this post we will teach you the basics to learn how to double knit, you’ll cast on with two colors and learn to knit and purl, although there won’t really be a wrong side, but rather another right side in a different color.
- While holding the two yarns together as if they were one, make a slip knit and place it on your needle. Cast on your stitches alternating one of each color. It’s best to cast on an even number of stitches.
- Now is the time to pay close attention so that the first row comes out perfectly.Odd rows: slip the first 2 stitches as if you were going to knit them to the right-hand needle.Knit the next stitch with color A, then purl the next stitch with color B, remember to bring your yarns to the front or back of your work, depending upon whether you are knitting or purling, bring them to the front or back together, although you will only knit or purl with one color. Repeat these two stitches across the row until there are 2 stitches left. Purl these 2 stitches together with both strands of yarn as if they were one.
- The next row would be the wrong side if we were knitting using the traditional method, but in double knitting there is no wrong side, both sides are in stockinette but one color should appear on each side.
Even rows: slip the first 2 stitches as if you were going to knit them to the right-hand needle. Knit 1 with color B, then purl the next stitch with color A. Repeat these two stitches across the row until there are 2 stitches left, purl 2 together with both strands of yarn.
Continue working in the same way and you will see how each side of your knitting is a different color in stockinette, that’s what double knitting is!
Always cast off stitches on an odd row. Knit the first 2 stitches together using both strands of yarn. *Knit the next stitch with color A, pass the stitch that is on your right-hand needle over the stitch you just knit, purl the next stitch with color B, and pass the stitch that is on your right-hand needle over the stitch that you just purled*. Repeat from * to * until there are two stitches left, knit 2 together using both strands of yarn.
If you want to work from a chart, you should count each square as if it were two stitches, keep in mind that for each knit stitch we purl one that will appear on the other side of your work. Otherwise, you can read double knitting charts the same as for any other knitting chart.
For this example we used Petite Wool in the colors natural and wine, but you can use your favorite colors, and if you don’t think you’re ready to tackle double knitting, we have tons of different stitches for you to practice with your needles.
