Double Knitting Demystified

• measured flat: 10.5″ wide, 9.5″ tall
• This hat stretches to fit most adult heads. For reference, my foam model has a head circumference of 22″.

Double knitting tips:

• When double knitting, you will be working with two yarns at all times. There are many methods for doing this, including holding one yarn in each hand, or holding both yarns the way you normally do (continental or English). Personally, I use a yarn guide on my left index finger for continental knitting and purling. This keeps the yarn from getting tangled and makes it easier to move between knitting and purling.
• Always move BOTH yarns to the front or back of your needles AT THE SAME TIME even though you will only be using one yarn to knit or purl. For example, move both yarns to back BEFORE knitting a stitch with one color; move both yarns to front BEFORE purling a stitch with the other color. This is what ensures that you are knitting two stockinette “right sides” and not just 1×1 ribbing.

Begin here:

• With A and circular needles, cast on 160 stitches (that’s 80 stitches for each side), place marker.
• Making sure stitches are not twisted, join for knitting in the round by knitting the first stitch.
• Now you’re ready to incorporate your second color! With both A and B to the front of your work, purl next stitch with B.
• Move both yarns to the back of your needles, knit the next stitch with A.
• Move both yarns to the front of your needles, purl the next stitch with B.

Repeat the previous two steps to end of round and for 35 additional rounds, for a total of 36 rounds of stockinette.
Decreasing:
(switch to using DPNS when stitches become too tight on circulars)

crown of main color; decreases are knit together

• Continue alternating knitting and purling for 16 stitches (8 knits and 8 purls).
• To begin decreasing, you must first rearrange stitches as you come to them so you can knit stitches together for one side of the hat and purl stitches together for the other. To do this, insert right needle purlwise into next three stitches to transfer them to right needle. Slip the third stitch (this should be a knit stitch) off the right needle so you can transfer the second stitch (this should be a purl stitch) from the right needle back to the left needle. Now pick the third stitch back up with right needle and transfer it back to the left needle along with the first stitch. You should now have two knit stitches followed by two purl stitches on your left needle.
• Knit the two knit stitches together; purl the two purl stitches together.
• *Continue alternating knitting and purling for 16 stitches (8 knits and 8 purls); rearrange next three stitches as instructed above; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (144 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *alternate knitting and purling for 14 stitches (7 knits and 7 purls); rearrange next three stitches; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (128 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *alternate knitting and purling for 12 stitches (6 knits and 6 purls); rearrange next three stitches; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (112 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *alternate knitting and purling for 10 stitches (5 knits and 5 purls); rearrange next three stitches; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (96 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *alternate knitting and purling for 8 stitches (4 knits and 4 purls); rearrange next three stitches; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (80 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches

  

  crown of second color; decreases are purled together

• next round: *alternate knitting and purling for 6 stitches (3 knits and 3 purls); rearrange next three stitches; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (64 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *alternate knitting and purling for 4 stitches (2 knits and 2 purls); rearrange next three stitches; knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (48 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *knit one stitch, purl one stitch; rearrange next three stitches, knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* Repeat from * to * until end of round (32 stitches remain)
• next round: alternate knitting and purling all stitches
• next round: *rearrange next three stitches, knit two knit stitches together and purl two purl stitches together* repeat from * to * until end of round (16 stitches remain)

Finishing:

• Cut both yarns and separate remaining knit stitches onto one needle and the purl stitches onto another.
• Use a yarn needle to thread tail of B through remaining purl stitches and pull tightly to close. Thread through stitches once again to secure.
• Use a yarn needle to thread tail of A through remaining knit stitches and pull tightly to close. Thread through stitches once again to secure.
• Use your yarn needle to tuck ends into the space between layers of fabric. You’re done!