Humping Elephants take 2...3...and 4: Some notes on double knitting

Yes, you got that right. I've knitted and frogged 2 times since Monday and I'm on my 3rd iteration of the re-do now. This is what I get for being too excited about starting a new technique. I watched the video from KnittingHelp.com, but because the video was so long the free version online didn't show everything.

So here are some notes about double knitting and modifications I made to the original pattern.

Take 1: Seven rows in of 100 stitches I noticed that I was basically making a bag that wasn't seamed together. In other words the front and the back were not attached to each other except at the cast on. Part of the problem was that I wasn't switching colors in between stitches so one side was all red and the other was black. I thought by having alternating blocks as top and bottom borders, similar to the first pot holder, I could fix the problem. So Frog 1.

Take 2: Because I was modifying the top and bottom and would be adding a few more rows I decided to chart it out and see what I could do to the pattern to make it more appropriate for my use (See below).

The modifications are this (but check out the original at KnitWithIt to compare and pick what matches your project better):

1. Added a top and bottom border with a gauge of 5 stitches and 7 rows = 1 inch square
2. Defined the male elephant's ear
3. Made the male's front leg look more like he's gripping her
4. Made eyes for both elephants larger
5. Made the female body wider

But this still didn't fix the problem with the edges not connecting which I realized could only be fixed by twisting my working ends around each other before starting a new row like one would for intarsia. So Frog 2.

Now I'm on Take 3. I've only gotten 4 rows in but now the edges are bound to each other, and I'm getting more use to the continental style of knitting. So it's going faster. I'm just hoping I don't have to frog yet again.

p.s. if you want to make this pattern (basically do a knit-along-with me) let me know and I'll send you a pdf and then we can compare notes on if it works.