Question about casting on with 2 strands of yarn

#1

I am working on a scarf that has ruffles on the ends. The beginning of the pattern reads like this:

With larger needles and 2 strands of yarn, cast on 50 sts.

Rows 1-9 knit
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: Change to smaller needles and only one strand of yarn, k2tog across row (25 sts)

Here is my questions:

  1. When I cast on, do I just hold one strand of yarn from two different balls of yarn and cast on as I normally do? If I do that, am I casting on 25 times to get a total of 50 sts from both balls or yarn or do I cast on 50 times, leaving a total of 100 sts on the needle.

  2. On row 11 when I switch to only one strand of yarn, what do I do with the other strand? Will I eventually just cut it and weave it into the scarf?

Thanks. This is my first time working with 2 strands of yarn.

#2
  1. Cast on 50 stitches as directed (not 25, thinking each strand counts as two cast ons).
  2. Yes, pull one strand from 2 different balls of yarn
  3. On Row 11: I would knit the first K2T before dropping one of the strands…and then continue the K2T’s with the one strand as the working yarn. You could cut away the dropped yarn, but leave a 6" tail for weaving it in securely later.
  4. Casting on 50 st with double yarn does not equal 100 st. On Row 1 you will knit every double-strand cast on as ONE STITCH. Push your needle under both strands and knit them as if they are ONE STITCH.

The ruffle will pop because: a) you’re using double strands for the first 10 rows b) you’re using a bigger needle, and c) the decreases (K2T) across row 11.

Sounds like an interesting little formula! Simple, too! I’ll try it on my next scarf!

#3

Each stitch is only one stitch, even though you have two strands in it, so you only have 50 sts, not 100. Treat it as you do a single stranded stitch. Cut the 2nd strand after you start knitting with the single strand.

#4

So, which of these two is correct?

1.) Doing 25 strokes with 2 strands of yarn = 50 stitches.

Or*

2.) Do 50 strokes with 2 strands = 50 stitches with each stitch consisting of two strands of yarn

#5

So, which of these two is correct?

1.) Doing 25 strokes with 2 strands of yarn = 50 stitches.

Or*

2.) Do 50 strokes with 2 strands = 50 stitches with each stitch consisting of two strands of yarn

Based on the directions you’ve provided, option #2 is what you want!

So that means rows 1-10 are knit with two strands held together as one.

#6

You have 50 sts with 2 strands per stitch.

#7

And then on the 2nd row, you drop one strand of yarn—and each new stitch (using only one strand of yarn) goes into two strands of yarn from the first row, and the you have 50 single strand stitches? Is that correct?

Thank you… I’m a real beginner.

#8

You do [B]10 rows[/B] with both strands then on the row after that, drop the one strand and working just with it, knit [B]2tog[/B] into the 2 strands of the 50 sts. So you’ll really be knitting into 4 strands, 2 from each stitch.

#9

You’re a gem!! Thank you so much!!!