Easy Neckwarmer

Skills needed: knit, purl, knitting in the round, twisted german cast-on, sewn bind-off

Size: will fit teens/adults comfortably, it's more loose than tight

2 yarn options:

1) WORSTED suggestion: Lion Brand Wool-Ease worsted (held doubled), 2 skeins (3 ounces/85 grams, 197yds/180m per skein) -- note: two neckwarmers can easily be made from three skeins

OR

2) BULKY suggestion: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride bulky (single strand), 1 skein (4 ounces/113 grams, 125yds/114m) -- note: you'll want to use every inch so keep the cast-on tail to a minimum

Needles: US 10.5 (dpns or 16"-20" circular) OR size you need to obtain gauge

Gauge: 3 sts/inch over stockinette

Note: For worsted yarn hold it doubled throughout, starting with the CO sts. If using bulky yarn then don't double the yarn.

Instructions: Cast on 72 sts (or any multiple of 6 that you think would work best for the size you need) using the twisted german cast-on, or your favorite stretchy cast-on. Place marker and join circle.

All rounds: K3P3, repeat to end of round, ending with P3

Work K3P3 rib until tube measures approx. 10"-11" in height. If you're using 1 skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky then work until the yarn runs out but leave enough for the bind-off.

Bind off using sewn bind-off, or your favorite stretchy bind-off. Weave in all ends on the side that will not show when neckwarmer is folded over in half.

Comments:

1) The neckwarmer folds over for a double layer of warmth and it can be unfolded to cover your face if you're walking in the bitter cold. If your ears are cold and you don't care how silly it looks then wear it on your head like a ventilated hat.

2) Option: I imagine you could use a provisional cast-on and then graft (or 3 needle bind-off) the final round to the first round for a neckwarmer that doesn't unfold.

3) You can do K2P2 rib instead of K3P3, just pick a likely multiple of four (CO 72 will still work) instead of a multiple of six.

4) I'm not in love with Lion Brand Wool-Ease but it had been sitting in my stash for over four years and I knew it wouldn't itch the recipients so that's what I used.

5) This is so basic a pattern and it has surely been done a million times before, I don't care where my wording of it is posted. Just don't pass it off as your own by slapping your name on it, though I don't see why anyone would want to.

http://www.az.com/~andrade/knit