It develops math skills. A knitting project is geometric.
[Maggie DeCuir]
The edges look a bit ragged on this sample (this is one potholder—the top photo is the reverse side to the bottom photo). This is knit out of dish cloth cotton, a fiber not nearly as forgiving as wool. I know that the cast-on and bind-off rows would look better in wool, but I have yet to find a tidy way to work the side edges.
I designed this for a knitting class during which I mainly want to introduce the technique. It is handy to know the theory to use when starting and finishing any piece of knitting even if the rest isn’t double knit.
I’ve ordered Double Knitting: Reversible Two-Color Designs by M’Lou Baber. Years ago, I knit a double knit coat then I met M’Lou and was drawn to her designs. Her work is the most stunning double knitting that I’ve ever seen. I am looking forward to seeing her book.
Teaching knitting classes is not only great fun for me, but it also introduces me to how other people think in reference to their knitting. That helps when writing out pattern instructions. I am now aware that some folks may interpret what I write differently than what I intended. There are times when I know I need to present the same thing several different ways.
Knitting, writing and other joys 
I like the way you start every entry with a quote 🙂
Good quotes too 🙂
I think I would add an i-cord to the edges or something like that… as I haven’t found a way to create neat edges either 😀
I am so thankful that you sent this to me. Almost 20 years ago, I lived in relative isolation and near to no knitters nor library. I saw a stranded knitted sweater (from Norway I think). Then I saw a Shetland vest. I wanted to knit with two colors like that but I had no idea what the wrong side looked like. I fiddled around for weeks and wore out two colors of yarn. When I had something that looked decent to me, I bought wool and knit a coat (a very heavy coat). By the time I finished the coat, I was invited to a knitting gathering so I took it for show-and-tell. That is when I was told that it was double knit. I later learned how to do stranded knitting. Your double knitting series is wonderful and I’ll look up the double knitting on ravelry. I’ll also try my hand at a tidier edge.
for something simple like a potholder (i’ve made dozens and dozens!) i just twist the yarn
for something special–there are some other techniques for the edge..
a single color simple double knit (with a single color simple cast on and a few R’s of simple double knitting, and the same (single color simple double knitting (kitchner/grafted) bind off
is the most work (and the most elegant) edging
Garter (not double knit) with both strand is another choice.. but you have to add a few extra rows (short rows) to you garter
I like to work pattern to the edge (i have a slew of pattern ideas (stitch pattern/oversized swatches/potholder) on my blog.
There is also a ravelry group–and some of the knitters there? OUT of This World double knitting! (3 color/3 different pattens (one on side A, one on side B!)
Looks warm!
My mother tried to teach me to knit but I was too impatient as a young’un. Now she’s gone and I want to learn but live in a rural area and the few knit shops we had a few yrs ago closed. I envy the woman who comes to a meeting and can take out her knitting while she participates. I find it soothing to watch the process which seems steady and steadfast.
This will show how computer-un-savvy I am. In most of your older posts, the pictures show up just fine, but in recent posts there’s just a little square with a red “x” in it. Do you know what I’m/my computer (is) doing wrong?
Like Mary Ann, I am encouraged by your posts and your patterns. Although I’ve been a knitter for a good many years, I’ve only begun to tackle lace, socks, etc. in the last few years and consider myself just past the beginning stage in knitting-experience.
I do want to try this. I love to knit. Actually, I just love to handle the yarn and love the colors with my eyes. Due to physical problems with arthritis and almost loosing my sight 3 years ago, I have done very little knitting in a long time. I finished a scarf about a month ago, the sum total of production from my knitting basket this winter. But you encourage me to try new things, and I am interested. Thank you!
I’ve never tried double knitting. It looks intriguing.