Eight's Almost Enough -- Octagons

Mary Thomas gives us three ways to knit an octagon -- two geometric and one swirl.

The Geometric Octagon Take One

The first geometric features two different increase rounds with single increases rather than the usual double increases. These rounds are separated by a non-increase or rest round.
Cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth needle. Place markers after every 2 stitches.
Round 1: knit

Round 2: increase into every stitch (2 per virtual needle 16 total)

Round 3 & all odd Rounds: Knit

Round 4: (Increase 1, knit to marker, move marker, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x (3 per virtual needle 24 total)

Round 6: (Knit 2, increase 1, move marker, knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x

Round 8: Repeat Round 4

Round 10: (Knit 4, increase 1, move marker, knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x

Round 12: Repeat Round 4

Round 14: (Knit 6, increase 1, move marker, knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x

Continue as established, with every other increase row, having 2 additional knit stitches before the initial increase.

The Geometric Octagon Take Two

The second geometric is described as having four plain rows between increase round thus:
Cast on 16 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth needle. Place markers after every 2 stitches.
Round 1: knit

Round 2: increase into every other stitch (3 per virtual needle 24 total)

Round 3: knit

Round 4: (Increase 1, knit to within 1 stitch of marker, increase 1, knit 1, move marker, increase 1 knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit 1, knit to end of needle)4x

Round 5: Knit

Round 6: Knit

Round 7: Knit

Round 8: Knit

Repeat from Round 4

The Swirl Octagon

Finally, the swirl octagon. Mary Thomas suggests solid (make 1, bar increase or knit into stitch below) increases be used but I've found the yarn over with no difficulty.

Cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth needle. Place markers after every 2 stitches.
Round 1: Knit

Round 2: increase into every stitch (2 per virtual needle 16 total)

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: (Increase 1, knit to marker, move marker, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x (3 per virtual needle 24 total)

Round 5: and all odd Rounds: Knit

Repeat from Round 4

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The Geometric Octagon Take One
	The first geometric features two different increase rounds with single increases rather than the usual double increases. These rounds are separated by a non-increase or rest round. Cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth needle. Place markers after every 2 stitches. Round 1: knit Round 2: increase into every stitch (2 per virtual needle 16 total) Round 3 & all odd Rounds: Knit Round 4: (Increase 1, knit to marker, move marker, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x (3 per virtual needle 24 total) Round 6: (Knit 2, increase 1, move marker, knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x Round 8: Repeat Round 4 Round 10: (Knit 4, increase 1, move marker, knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x Round 12: Repeat Round 4 Round 14: (Knit 6, increase 1, move marker, knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x Continue as established, with every other increase row, having 2 additional knit stitches before the initial increase.
The Geometric Octagon Take Two
The second geometric is described as having four plain rows between increase round thus: Cast on 16 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth needle. Place markers after every 2 stitches. Round 1: knit Round 2: increase into every other stitch (3 per virtual needle 24 total) Round 3: knit Round 4: (Increase 1, knit to within 1 stitch of marker, increase 1, knit 1, move marker, increase 1 knit to within 1 stitch of end of needle, increase 1, knit 1, knit to end of needle)4x Round 5: Knit Round 6: Knit Round 7: Knit Round 8: Knit Repeat from Round 4
The Swirl Octagon
	Finally, the swirl octagon. Mary Thomas suggests solid (make 1, bar increase or knit into stitch below) increases be used but I've found the yarn over with no difficulty.
Cast on 8 stitches, divide evenly onto four needles, join, do not twist, knit with a fifth needle. Place markers after every 2 stitches. Round 1: Knit Round 2: increase into every stitch (2 per virtual needle 16 total) Round 3: Knit Round 4: (Increase 1, knit to marker, move marker, increase 1, knit to end of needle)4x (3 per virtual needle 24 total) Round 5: and all odd Rounds: Knit Repeat from Round 4