Gator Gaiter by Lisa McFetridge

Gator Gaiter

Knitting
January 2022
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in stranded stockinette stitch, blocked
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
210 - 260 yards (192 - 238 m)
Small, Medium, Large
English
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A Neck Gaiter is useful for skiers, snowshoers, hikers, workers & walkers or anyone outside in winter cold. A Gaiter needs to be a bit tighter than a cowl as it needs to stay up snug to the skin, like a sock! As for the motif, well nothing screams winter like an alligator. I know, right??? I like to think the Gator helps a skier “tear up the mountain”! Or at least stay uber warm. An interesting factoid, in all of Ravelry, there are only one or two other patterns that have alligators on a knit background. There are stuffed toys, or scarves where the whole item is one alligator. The alligator needs a little love from the knitting community. Knit in Malabrigo Rios and Rios Solidos. Random purl stitches in the Gator body adds a little realism to the alligator skin. Optional applied Icord on the edge gives a little more structure and stiffness to keep it standing up on a cold day. Should I have called it a GREATER GATOR GAITER? I think not.

NOTES:
Charts are slightly different to accommodate stitch counts. Large size shown in photos.
Want a much wider gaiter? Add one more chart repeat and add yardage.
Tight for a gaiter is best. While I might like a looser cowl, I would do a much tighter gaiter.
Knitter can go down a needle size if desired to tighten it up further. Be sure to swatch.

Materials: Malabrigo RIOS Superwash Merino
MC: Casapueblo ( or desired MC ) 140 155, 170 yds / 129, 146, 158 m
CC: Lettuce ( or desired CC ) 70, 80, 90 yds / 63, 72, 82 m
Add 25 yds /23 m of desired CC2 if doing optional Icord trim & duplicate stitching eyes.

US Size 6/4.5mm OR 7/5 mm 26 inch Circ needles OR size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch Markers Sharp Darning Needle

Gauge: 20 sts X 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm
Finished Circumference: ( 21.5, 23, 24 ) in / ( 54.6, 58.5, 61 ) cm
Finished Height: 10.5 in / 26.5 cm