Spirals

Designs in knitting are often inspired by designs in nature. I love the spiral of the sundial shells I found on the beach, so it was only natural that I knit a preemie hat that would imitate that design.



I used a pattern I came up with last year, but this time I tried to extend the spiral stitch through the decreases. It didn't work as well as I had hoped. The stitches are muddled together, so I don't think I'll be adding the spiral decreases to the pattern. I like it better as originally designed.

Pattern: Preemie Spiral Hat
Yarn: Cotton Ease (worsted weight)
Needles: US 7 DPNs
Size: 3-5 lbs (worked on 48 stitches)

What I really wanted was for the spiral to clearly and neatly converge together on the top of the hat, like it does in this hat (scroll down for top view of hat), so I gave it a try.



Pattern: Odessa with modifications
Yarn: Cotton-Ease (worsted weight)
Needles: US7 DPNs
Size: 3-5 lbs
Modifications:
CO 50 stitches.
Work pattern as written until hat measures 4" from cast on edge.
Begin decreases as written through line #8 (30 stitches remain).
K2tog around.
Cut yarn and draw through remaining 15 stitches.

This is more like I had in mind.





Here are more spiral designs you might like to try:
Striped Hat
Spiral Preemie Cap
Spiral Rib Hat
Baby Swirls (this one is crocheted)

I'm donating my hats to The Preemie Project. Be sure to click the link to see the newly designed website. It's looks great and is easy to navigate.