I must say I'm pretty happy with the results!
Thank you Katherine for allowing me to share this.
Cast on 15 using left thumb loop method
Row 1 (and all ws rows) knit
Row 2: k3, yo, k11 (one stitch remains unworked)
Row 4: k3, yo, k11 (two stitches remain unworked)
Row 6: k3, yo, k11 (three stitches remain unworked)
Row 8: co 3, k10 (continue leaving one more stitch unworked each rs row)
Rows 10, 12, 14: k3, yo, k7
Row 16: co 3, k6
Rows 18, 20, 22: k3, yo, k3
Row 24: co 3, knit all stitches previously left unworked (will look like stockinette row after first three knitted stitches)
Repeat rows 1-24 6 more times for seven repeats. Co all stitches loosely and sew together edges, picking up and sewing closed the middle circle as well.
When casting off the three stitches on rows 8, 16, & 24 the process I used was knit 2, pass first stitch over and off needle, knit 1, pass first stitch over and off needle, knit 1, pass first stitch over and off needle again. Three stitches will have been cast off and remaining worked stitch will now be first stitch of the row.
