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Three cheers for my anonymous but willing photographer! I finally got my pics, my precious pics, of this Fibonacci scarf-like object and now I can publish a pattern. But you never doubted that I would, right? Right.
So a little back story: I was going to knit a shawl. The plan, half-formed at the time I first cast-on, was a short-row, crescent-shaped base in the Raspberry color with a knitted on border in the Coriander. That would have been nice (probably). Nice and ordinary.
Then I wrote a little post about Fibonacci numbers, about how I love them, and about how you should love them too. Fibonacci numbers, and the sequence they create, are the basis of beautiful geometry. Fibonacci is the math of Mother Nature and the proportions that those numbers make when used in combinations are naturally beautiful.
I don’t know if I convinced any readers but I convinced myself. So I ripped out my would-be crescent shawl and started on a Fibonacci creation. I’m very happy that I did. This scarf-like object is simple to knit, it only takes 60 or so grams of fingering weight yarn, and (best of all) its long enough to wrap, wrap, wrap. I always like accessories that you can artfully wrap around yourself. Knitting that wraps and wraps is great for hiding all sorts of things from the coffee that you dribbled all over yourself to a less than perky bust line.
Fibonacci Fashionable
All you need to knit your way to Fibonacci fashion is:
- 50g of fingering weight one in one color (I used Raspberry Heather in Knit Picks Palette)
- 10 g of fingering weight yarn in a second color (I used Coriander Heather in Knit Picks Palette)
- size 6 (4mm) needles with a long cord (Mine was 38 inches long and the stitches were scrunched up)
- 12 stitch markers
- and these numbers: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8,13, 21, 34, 55, 89,144, 233, 377. Those are the first thirteen numbers in the Fibonacci numerical sequence. If you’re interested in where those numbers come from and how fantastically cool they are, jump over to this post. If not, then just get ready to cast-on.
Getting set up
With your contrast color, cast on 377 stitches total. Its very helpful, and will save you much counting later on, if you set stitch markers after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 13th, 21st, 34th, 55th, 89th, 144th, 233rd stitches.
Then knit one set up row. Cut the contrast color.
The Fibonacci short row repeat
With main color…
Row 1: k to first marker (1 st). Stop and turn.
Row 2 and all other even-numbered rows: k to the end
Row 3: k to second marker (2 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 5: k to third marker (3 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 7: k to fourth marker (5 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 9: k to fifth marker (8 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 11: k to sixth marker (13 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 13: k to seventh marker (21 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 15: k to eighth marker (34 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 17: k to ninth marker (55 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 19: k to tenth marker (89 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 21: k to eleventh marker (144 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 23: k to twelfth marker (233 sts). Stop and turn.
Row 25: k to the end (377 sts).
(Be sure to work a Row 26!)
Drop main color, but do not cut, and join in contrast color
Row 27 & 28: k to end
Cut the contrast color and pull up the main color for the next repeat.
Repeat Rows 1 – 28 five times. Or more! If you have more yarn, keep going. Do eight repeats or thirteen, or twenty-one. The overall geometry will hold. You’ll have a long wrap that is wide and flaring at one end and skinny on the other.
She takes good pictures doesn’t she? Yeah. I should probably knit her something. And get her to take pictures of it.
"There is no failure. Only feedback." - Robert Allen
27 Comments on "Fibonacci Fashion… finally"
Thank you Jenn for your wonderful pattern. And I must admit, the picture today does display your project better. But the picture yesterday wasn’t a failure. Have a great day Jenn. 🙂
Thanks!
I’m happy to just have nice pictures. Honestly, the photography is a big part of publishing knitwear designs. If you can’t show the knit thingy off properly in a picture, most people won’t take a chance on it.
And I ‘m busy playing with my blue handspun so I had a pretty nice day. Hope you did too!
Wow! Really interesting pattern with something going on all the time. I will add this to my “must knit” list. Love the colors you chose. I love Palette yarn. Thanks for sharing the pattern.
Love Palette yarn too. Its good stuff and its dirt cheap. This scarf thingy only took one ball for the MC and just a bit form a second ball of the contrast color. So I feel like I ended up with a very nice wrap for just… $7? Maybe less.
Question: It seems like this would work if I dared to use sightly heavier handspun, too? I love the pattern, but have this irrational dislike of fine, thin yarn. Heck, even my socks are dk weight
Thank you so very much for sharing the pattern!
Have to have tick socks and lots of them.The thicker, the better.
I hate cold feet.
Same here. I suffer permanently chilly toes. I’m all about the socks.
Oh yes. Certainly! It would work in any weight yarn. If you see a project worthy of your handspun then jump at it! That’s what I do. 🙂
Ah! It came out just beautiful! And your photographer did an excellent job. Maybe this person needs a lovely, knitted camera strap?
No she does not need a camera strap. She doesn’t own a camera, lol. The camera is mine.
She may need a shawl though. Or a winter hat. Or a nice set of spa washcloths.
Ahh. Another great idea…..shoot through the heart! Lol! Fudge. Fudge AND a winter hat!
Fabulous scarf. Love the colors, too. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I’m happy to! I love designing for the knitting community. Its very rewarding.
And I love those colors too. I think I bought them becasue they were on sale at the time. And I have more…
Thank you very much for the pattern. Learned to knit in England 50 years ago so want to give your scarf a try. Thank you again very much. Laura
You are most welcome! Please let me know how it goes. I’d love to see pics!