Double Knit Belt
Double knitting is a fascinating and easy technique with lots of applications. Double knitting allows you to make flat-lying pieces that are stockinette stitch on both sides, wonderful for scarves and belts. It also produces a double layered fabric, great for cozy hats.
This simple belt is as easy as pie and so would be a perfect introduction to double knitting. Even if double knitting is old hat for you, this elegant belt knits up fast and is surprisingly useful. Wrap it around your waist to hold a cardigan closed, or around your neck to liven up a dull outfit, or around your head to save a bad hair day.
Knit with Blue Sky Alpaca’s Silk Alpaca blend, it has a soft drape and a beautiful shine. It also comes in tons of clean, pretty colors. Choose a couple and get started!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoDoubleKnitBelt. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 different colors of Blue Sky Alpaca’s Silk Alpaca, 50% superfine alpaca and 50% silk. I used Papaya #143 for the Main Color and Ruby#123 for the Contrast Color. Two skeins is enough to make at least two belts in opposite color ways.
- A set of US #4 needles (Any kind, but I prefer to use 2 double pointed needles because they are the least cumbersome.)
- A set of US #3 needles (Again, any kind. These needles are only used for the cast on in order to create a neater edge, so you may consider them optional.)
Pattern
Gauge
5 1/2 stitch = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
Finished Size
58 inches long x 1 inch wide, after blocking
To Make
With the smaller needles and the Contrast Color, cast on 14 stitches using a cable cast on.
Switch to the larger needles.
Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise through the back loop, *bring the yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise, bring the yarn back, knit 1, repeat from * to last stitch, purl 1.
Here is a break down of what that all means:
1. Slip 1 knitwise through the back loop
2. Bring the yarn forward
3. Slip 1 purlwise
4. Bring the yarn back
5. Knit 1
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures 12 inches from the cast on edge.
Change to the Main Color by purling the last stitch of the last Contrast Color row with the Main Color.
Continue to repeat Row 1 until the piece measures 50 inches from the cast on edge (or however long you want. One thing to keep in mind is that your belt will grow when you block it. This one grew about 8 inches.)
Bind Off Row: K2tog two times, *pass the first stitch over the second stitch (like a normal bind off), k2tog, repeat from * until one stitch remains. Cut the yarn and pass the tail through the last stitch.
Weave in the ends, block, and you’re done!
Thanks so much for taking the time to explain this technique. I’ve been knitting for years but never bothered with it for some reason.
Maybe now I will incorporate it into something. 🙂 Very nice photos.
For the first stitch of the row, why are you saying to slip knitwise through the back loop? Aren’t you actually just slipping pwise?
This is a great belt pattern. My only question is after Row 1 are you still doing the first slip one knit through the back then slip purlwise at the beginning of every row? I am adding a stitch on every row this way!! Help me please!!
Hi Farzana
Thanks for reaching out! I think you may be adding an extra step here. Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise through the back loop, *bring the yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise, bring the yarn back, knit 1, repeat from * to last stitch, purl 1. The Slip 1 knitwise, means you just slip the stitch, by inserting your right needle through the back leg of the stitch on your left needle as if you were going to knit it. Then just slide it to the right needle! The knitwise, or purlwise instruction is indicating which way to insert your right needle into the stitch as you slide it over to the right needle. These stitches will be worked on the following row, and is one of the ways the double knit fabric is created. I hope this explains it!
Happy knitting
Jessica
Thanks so much for this explanation. I plan to use it for the heels, soles, and toes of the socks I’m knitting. Should be warmer and more cushioned.
Update: It’s been fun making those socks, and they’ve turned out great. On the heel turns, I separated the layers and knitted them separately, then recombined the layers. After picking up the gusset stitches, I knit twice into each of the picked up stitches, then began the double knit pattern, joining with the heel double knit. I knitted the top of the foot completely, then knitted the double knit sole, attaching each edge to the foot top as I went. I did a short row toe, then used the Kirschner stitch to close up on top of the toe. Since the pattern for the leg and foot top is thick, I have a very warm pair of socks!
want to try making some clothes by using this tutorial. Have to learn basic then. thanks for writing this lesson
Hello, I am going to put in an order soon and would like to include yarn for this belt. Can you please suggest an alternative yarn and the number of skeins that would be required if I was so make it with one colour or if I make it with two colours as in the example. Thanks!
Hi Pastille,
Thanks for writing in! You could use Blue Sky Sport Weight (1 skein for 1 color and 1 skein of each color for 2 colors), or Cascade Ultra Pima (1 skein for 1 color and 1 skein of each color for 2 colors).
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I am puzzled with double knitting. The tutorial starts off in the middle of a sample. How do I, for the first row to knit after casting on, have one strand on one side of the sample and one strand on the opposite side as in the tutorial? After casting on, both strands are on the same side for me. Thank you. (I picked this project for making my comment, but have not started it. I’m just trying to do test knitting to get the hang of it.)
Hi Georgiane,
Thanks for reaching out! For this particular project, you will only be using one color at a time, so our tutorial isn’t entirely applicable. You will start the belt with your contrast color and will not add the second color until the belt measures 4 inches, and will then cut your contrast color and continue on with the main color until the belt is complete. If you would like to try two-color double knitting, I would instead recommend following the pattern for our Double Knit Blanket, which will tell you when and how to add your second color. You can cast on 54 stitches to knit a swatch in a smaller scale before trying the whole blanket!
Best,
Julianna