This experiment alternates one pattern repetition "worked every row" with another in which the WS is simply purled. In Rows 3, 5, 9 and 11 work ssk / k2tog, if preferred.
Shown with a cast-on count of 21 stitches.
1 2 3 4 5 Horizontal repeats
1 2 3 4 5 Vertical repeats
Swatch photo uploaded by Emex