This simple elephant cowl is a good beginner pattern to double knitting. Knit in a heavier weight yarn, it’s not as fiddly as fingering weight.

It’s not as intimidating as it looks! If you can do 1x1 rib, you can double knit in the round!

I wanted to make this pattern as simple as possible for a beginner in double knitting in the round. The yarn is Cascade 220, which I used because it’s more likely to be available and affordable. But you can use any type of worsted yarn you wish. DK weight would also be a good choice. You would just need to size your needles down.

Pattern includes links to videos (not mine, though I hope to do that some day!) on techniques like the basics of double knitting in the round and cast on/cast off types.

Size as knit (4 repeats of Cascade 220) is 36” in circumference and approximately 6.5” high.

2 contrasting colors of Cascade 220 are needed.

The pattern can be adjusted with more or less repeats to make a smaller or larger cowl, based on your preferences.

Double knitting in the round is simpler on my brain than standard flat double knit patterns. You don’t have to reverse the color pattern in your head as you flip from back to front or remember to do that selvedge edge! On the chart, the color that you see is always the color that you knit first.