Tips and Tricks

Today, I decided to learn how to double knit. I'm making my boyfriend a snowboard hat for Christmas, and would like to put a colored pattern on it. After doing some research, it seems like double knitting is the way to go! If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should check out the website below! It has great how-to videos for advanced knitting techniques :)

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques

Saxon Double Braided Scarf

Here's the pattern for one of my all-time favorite projects! This is a pattern that I designed based off of a saxon braid pattern that I found in "99 Knit Stitches". Don't be intimidated by it...it's really not that challenging! I wrote this pattern 6 months after learning how to knit so it's a good one for newer cablers but probably not as a first cabled project)

Saxon Double Braided Scarf
Materials:
Size 7 Knitting Needles
Cabling Hook
300-400yds of worsted weight yarn, depending on desired length
Gauge:
16 stitches and 14 rows= 2 inch square in Saxon Braid
Directions:
Cast on 48 stitches on size 7 needles
*[…] indicates a cable/braid to help you keep track of where you are in the pattern
Row 1: P2, K2, [P6], K2, [K2, P4, (K4, P4)twice, K2], K2, [P6], K2, P2
Row 2 (right side): K2, P2, [K6], P2, [P2, C4B, (P4, C4B)twice, P2], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 3: P2, K2, [PCB, P2], K2, [K2, P4, (K4, P4)twice, K2], K2, [PCB, P2], K2, P2
Row 4: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [P1, T3B, (T4F, T4B)twice, T3F, P1], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 5: P2, K2, [P6], K2, [K1, P2, K3, P4, K4, P4, K3, P2, K1], K2, [P6], K2, P2
Row 6: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [T3B, P3, C4F, P4, C4B, P3, T3F], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 7: P2, K2, [P2, PCF], K2, [P2, K4, (P4, K4)twice, P2], K2, [P2, PCF], K2, P2
Row 8: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [K2, P3, T3B, T4F, T4B, T3F, P3, K2], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 9: P2, K2, [P6], K2, [(P2, K3)twice, P4, (K3, P2)twice], K2, [P6], K2, P2
Row 10: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [(K2, P3)twice, C4B, (P3, K2)twice], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 11: P2, K2, [PCB, P2], K2, [(P2, K3)twice, P4, (K3, P2)twice], K2, [PCB, P2], K2, P2
Row 12: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [K2, P3, T3F, T4B, T4F, T3B, P3, K2], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 13: P2, K2, [P6], K2, [P2, K4, (P4, K4)twice, P2], K2, [P6], K2, P2
Row 14: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [T3F, P3, C4F, P4, C4B, P3, T3B], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Row 15: P2, K2, [P2, PCF], K2, [K1, P2, K3, P4, K4, P4, K3, P2, K1], K2, [P2, PCF], K2, P2
Row 16: K2, P2, [K6], P2, [P1, T3F, (T4B, T4F)twice, T3B, P1], P2, [K6], P2, K2
Repeat rows 1-16 until scarf reaches desired length. Add fringe if desired.

KEY:
PCB: Purl cable back (my own abbreviation): Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work. P2 from left needle, P2 from cable needle
PCF: Purl cable forward (my own abbreviation): Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, P2 from left needle, P2 from cable needle
C4B: Cable four back: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work, K2 from left needle, K2 from cable needle
C4F: Cable four front: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, K2 from left needle, K2 from cable needle
T3F: Twist 3 front: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, P1 from left needle, K2 from cable needle
T3B: Twist 3 back: Slip next st onto cable needle and hold in back of work, K2 from left needle, P1 from cable needle
T4F: Twist 4 front: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, P2 from left needle, K2 from cable needle
T4B: Twist 4 back: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work, K2 from left needle, P2 from cable needle