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Double knitting is a process that makes two pieces of stockinette stitch fabric at the same time. You can work it with a single color (see also my double knitting washcloth pattern) or with two or more colors at a time.
When working with two colors the design will have the opposite color on the other side of the project, which is fun for making reversible designs.
Here I wanted to show some of the basic options for double knitting projects so you can get comfortable with the technique before taking on a bigger project.
Materials
To make these coasters you will need two colors of medium weight cotton yarn. I used two shades of blue Lily Sugar ‘n Cream cotton.
Each of my coasters weighs 12 grams, which is about 20.5 yards per coaster, or a little more than 82 yards total if you do the set of four as shown.
You’ll also need a pair of size 5US/3.75 mm knitting needles, a pair of scissors and a yarn needle.
Gauge
Gauge isn’t critical but I got about 14.5 stitches and 23.5 rows per 4 inches/10 cm in double knitting fabric.
Size
The coasters are each a little more than 4 by 4 inches/ 10 by 10 cm.
Solid Color Coaster
The first double knitting coaster pattern uses the same color on both sides, and is slightly different from the two color designs.
Cast on 30 stitches. I used long tail cast on.
*Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front as if to purl. Repeat from * across.
Repeat this row on the other side.
Continue until your piece is about square. I have 21 vs on each side. My two-color ones are slightly bigger in height if you want to work another row or two on each side.
Bind off. I used the knit through the back loop bind off on this one.
Solid Two Color Coaster
The next trick for double knitting is to work a different color on each side of the project.
For this one I cast on 32 stitches, doing a long tail cast on holding both colors together. Make sure the colors alternate across the cast on, and adjust if needed.
Starting with whatever color is showing as the first stitch, *knit 1 in that color. Bring both yarns to the front and purl 1 in that color. Take both yarns to the back and repeat from * across.
The other side is the same but you are starting with the opposite color and knitting with that color and purling with the one you used on the opposite row. Make sure you twist the yarns at the beginning or the row or your pieces won’t join.
Continue in this manner until the piece is about square. I have 24 vs on each side.
For the bind off on this and all the two color ones, I worked as if it were a normal row (keeping the color and stitch as if it were a regular row) and bound off stitches as I went.
To say that another way, knit the first stitch in the color it should be, take both yarns to the front and purl the next stitch in the color it should be. Pass the first stitch over the second and off the needle to bind off that stitch. Take the yarns to the back, knit the next stitch, bind off the purl stitch and so on.
Striped Coaster
Now that we can do double knitting in two colors, we can change the colors from row to row. Let’s knit some double knitting stripes, with the opposite color on the other side.
As before I cast on long tail holding both colors. Cast on 32. Starting with whatever color the first stitch is, work as established in the solid color coaster above.
Work 4 rows this way (you’ll see 4 vs on each side). Again you need two twist the colors at the beginning of each row.
Then switch colors. Whatever side you are on, knit the first stitch with the other color. Bring the yarns to the front and purl the next stitch with the other color. Repeat across.
Work 4 rows in this way, then switch again.
I worked six sets of stripes, for 24 rows/vs total.
Bind off in two colors as above.
Block in a Block Double Knitting Coaster
Now it’s time to get into what double knitting is really known for: making a design that is in the opposite colors on the other side.
To keep it simple I just made mine a block.
This is the same as the stripe pattern: cast on 32 in two colors, making sure the colors alternate across. Start your first row with the color that the first stitch is, and work six rows in that color, remembering to twist the yarn at the beginning of the row as you go. .
On the next row work 6 stitches (3 for each side) in the same color as established. Then swap colors (so if you were doing knit stitches with the light color, switch to the dark color) for 20 stitches total (10 on each side), then swap back to the original colors for 6 stitches. This effectively gives you a border of 3 stitches in the same color as the bottom of the coaster and makes the center 10 stitches in the opposite color.
Repeat that color sequence (keeping the original color on the sides and the contrast in the center) for 12 rows. Then switch back to the original color across the full row for 6 rows, and bind off as established in the other two color patterns.
Once you’ve worked through these basic double knitting coaster patterns you’ll be ready to take on a more complex double knitting project.
