echinoid

This quick hat was inspired by a sea urchin shell at the Paris Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. Sea urchins are members of the order Echinoida, and are characterised by five-fold symmetry. Underneath their very prickly exteriors, the shells have a nubbly texture that immediately reminded me of seed stitch. This hat is worked from the bottom up, starting with a tubular cast on. The body of the hat is worked in seed stitch with five equally spaced columns of knit stitches and yarn overs that mimic the symmetry of the urchin shell. Crown decreases are concealed along these vertical columns.

Skills needed: Knitting, purling, increasing and decreasing, tubular cast on (pattern includes links to a video tutorial, but not extensive directions for the cast on).

Sizes: Small (medium, large, extra large), to fit head circumference of up to 18 (20, 22, 24) in/45.5 (51, 56, 61) cm. Actual hat circumference is 16 (18, 20, 22) in/40.5 (45.5, 51, 56) cm.

Yarn: Pattern requires approximately 95 (115, 135, 165) yds/87 (105, 123, 151) m worsted weight yarn. Shown worked in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in "Pampas Heather".

Needles: US 5/3.75 mm and US 6/4.0 mm double pointed needles or 16 in/40 cm circular needle.