Echinoid

This quick hat was inspired by a sea urchin shell in the Paris Museum of Natural History. Sea urchins are members of the order Echinoida, which are characterised, in part, by exhibiting five-fold symmetry. Under their spiny exteriors, sea urchin shells have a rough pebbly texture that reminds me of seed stitch, which makes up the body of this hat. Five equally spaced columns of ribbing mimic the symmetry of the adult urchin and provide the perfect vertical line for hiding the crown decreases. Pattern is charted. Sample shown was worked in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Pampas Heather.

Skills needed: Knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, and tubular cast on. Gauge: 20 sts/24 rounds over 4 in/10 cm in seed stitch on larger needles.