Ribbed Edging Modification Notes

I’m so pleased with how this turned out. This is the Doodle infinity pattern, but instead of grafting the ends together, I knit double ribbing on each end and added five button holes to one end.

Ribbed Finishing
Needle size: 3.5mm, US 4

This isn’t difficult to knit, but it is a bit challenging to put into words. Please read all of the instructions before starting. I welcome feed back on how these notes can be improved. The instructions are the same for both ends, except rows except rows 9-10 are modified on one end to include button holes. The buttonhole modifications for these rows are given below the main instructions for the non-button hole ribbed band. Sub them in if you want them. This open cowl can also be closed with a shawl pin if you prefer not to add buttonholes.

Instructions

Setup: Starting at BOR, transfer 60 stitches to a separate needle. There should then be 60 stitches on the front needle (RS) and 60 on the back needle (WS).

This ribbed edging uses a 4 stitch i-Cord to bind the outer edges of the ribbing. To set up for the i-Cord edge, transfer 2 stitches from each side of the back needle to the front needle (4 stitches total). Now there should be 64 stitches on the front needle and 56 stitches on the back needle.

Row 1 (RS): K4 from front needle, M1LP, working through two stitches (one from the front needle and one from the back needle) P1 *K2, P2* to last 7 stitches, K2, P1, M1RP, K4. (2 stitches increased - 66 stitches total – all on one needle)
Row 2 (WS): s4 wyif, *K2, P2* across to last 6 stitches, K2, s4 wyif
Row 3 (RS): K4, *P2, K2* to last 6 stitches, P2, K4
Rows 4-18: Repeate rows 2 and 3 for a total of 18 rows
Row 19 (RS): ssk, k2 tog and bind off to finish i-Chord, bind off to last 4 stitches, k2tog, bind off, Ssk, complete bind off. In my opinion, this looks best with a snug bind off.

Alternate rows for button holes:
Row 9 (RS): K4, P2, K1, *SSK, yo twice, K2tog, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1* 5 times, P2, K4
Row 10 (WS): s4 wyif, *K2, P2, drop 1 yo, Kfb in remaining yo, p2, K2, P2*, 4 times, K2, P2, drop 1 yo, Kfb in remaining yo, p2, K2, s4 wyif

K- Knit
P – Purl
S – Slip (slip stitches in this variation are slipped purl wise)
BOR – Beginning of Round
RS – Right Side
LS – Left Side
M1LP – Make one left purl wise
M1RP – Make one right purl wise
Ssk – slip, slip, knit
K2tog – knit 2 together

Button Choice Notes

I chose some thin light weight wooden buttons that look a bit like candy! I sewed buttons on both sides of the button band so that I could easily button it in a ring or a mobius without having to button backwards. This ended up working very well because the buttons are so low profile. I put one button on each side and sewed them through each other. There is a shank on both sides to make sure the buttons don’t lay to close to the fabric.

These are the buttons I used:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FG2671T?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_p...

Initial Yarn weights (for calculating yardage)

Tweedy DK:
246 yards per 100g
Berry Cordial (dark pink): 107 - 78 = 29g
Thank you note (medium blue): 38 - 2 = 36g

Fingering (held double as same color or marled)
437 yards per 100g
Berry Cordial (dark pink): 37 - 24 = 13g
Thank you note (medium blue): 34 - 21 = 13g
Tu tu (medium pink): 36 - 0 = 36g
Tequila Sunrise (orange): 36 - 5 = 31g
Cryin’ Icicles (dark blue): 11 - 2 = 9g
Confetti (neutral): 61g + 16g, + 108g = 185 - 63 = 122g

Final Thoughts

This was such a fun project to test knit. It’s my fourth doodle. I’m definitely getting more comfortable with the three color charts, but I’m still awfully slow at juggling three strands.

I originally started this pattern with a different Plucky fingering (Rambouilllet) yarn. After just a couple of charts, it was apparent that my fabric (holding two strands together) was impractically heavy. I’ve used Plucky tweedy before with excellent success, so I fell back on this familiar yarn to get this project done by the test knit deadline. I did used this project to experiment with marling, so I would be better prepared for the original project. Now that this is done, I’m going back to my “Painted Desert” where I plan to swatch with a larger needle to see if I can achieve an acceptable fabric density before I launch into gorgeous (but slow to knit) 4 color scenery. If I can’t make this work as a cowl, I’ll make a bag, or a pillow, or something that is meant to be structurally sturdy.

I’ve lived in Oregon since 2006, but I’m from Utah. My heart will always belong in the Utah Deserts where I spent many happy hours hiking, exploring, rock hounding, and enjoying the painted cliffs, red sand, plants, and wildlife … except maybe the scorpions. It was a delight to knit scorpions, but I prefer not to interact with them in real life!