Closer to a Better Pattern **

Here are 3 new half made models of seashells;
they just need to be sewn up and padded plus instructions need to be typed up!

The top left hand side one is a knitted version of the nice model in "A Proper Pattern" of post in 2012.

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Instructions for Knitting a Seashell Model

Continuing:-     5/6/2014

Here is Diagram,  Pattern  for increase or decrease rows to Knit this model:-

Knitting Pattern for Seashell---------- #1.

Rows 1 to 4;  begin with 3 ply white baby wool.

Cast on 13 stitches,   Knit one row,  knit next row,  knit next row,  purl 4^th row.

Row 5, 6;  tie on light blue wool. 

Knit one row;  turn, purl to last 2 stitches, tie on white,  snip off blue,  knit 2.

Rows 7,8;  with white baby wool ; plus indent LHS to increase at mouth of shell.

Knit all row;  turn, knit 3;  turn, knit 3;  turn purl 13 stitches.

Row 9; increase row in accordance with Fibonacci Series

 ie  13 to 21 stitches = As per Item 1.) in Diagram

Knit 3 white, tie on pink wool, knit x2 in the same stitch twice, (k1, kx2 in next 3 stitches) x2……..21 st

Row 10;  knit in pink  to last 3 stitches,  tie both pink ends together and snip off pink, leaving a short length of wool;  knit 3 last stitches in white 3 ply baby wool.

Rows 11,12 and indent;  knit all 21 stitches; turn, k 5;  turn, slip 1 stitch to avoid gap in work, knit 5;  turn, purl to end of row of 21 stitches.

Row 13;  increase row;  21 to 34 =  As per Item 2.)  in Diagram.

 Ie.   In white, K2, kx2 in next stitch; 

Tie on dk brown 8 ply wool, leaving ` 15 cm lengths to fix up later;

Kx2 in next stitch, k1, kx2 in next 3 st;

“k3, kx2 in next 2 st, then (k1, kx2 in next 3 st) x2” ….....34 st.

Row 14;  knit in dk brown to last 4 st,  snip leaving a 15 cm length, tie on white wool close to work,  k4 in white.

Rows  15, 16, and indent;  knit in white to end of row;  turn, k8; turn, k8;  turn purl 34 to end.

Row 17;  Increase row;  34 to 55 = As per Item 3.) in Diagram.

In white k2, kx2 in next 2 st, k1,  Tie on bright green 8 ply wool,  keeping ends to tidy up later….

Continue incr Pattern:-  in green, kx2 in next 3 st,

 then “k3, kx2 in next 2 st, and (k1, kx2 in next 3 st) x2”  ……….55 st.

Row 18;  Knit in green to last 13 st.  Tie on white, snip ends as prev.  purl 13.

Rows 19, 20 and indent;  knit 1 row, white,  turn, k21;  turn, slip 1, k20; turn, purl all 55 st to end.

Row 21  increase row  55 to 89  As per 4.) in Diagram.

In white, do 21  stitches in Increase Pattern (ie  13 to 21)

and then tie on Brown 8 ply wool and continue in Incr Pattern  (ie  13 to 21) :-

k1, kx2 in next 2 st, 


** 12/9/014   *I am sorry---- this is still not quite right.   a picture, colour coded, might be better.......

then do “Basic Pattern 13 to 21 as per Item 1.) at bottom of page,  Diagram,  all along the row,  4x.” ……….89 st.

Row 22;  Knit in brown to last 34 st, purl 14 in brown;  tie on white,  k20.

Row 23, 24 and indent;  knit 1 row white, turn; k21;  turn,  slip 1, k20;  turn, purl all 89 st to end.

Now repeat the brown and white 89 stitch rows;  do it 3 times more,  as follows:-

Rows 25 to 28,  then 29 to 32, then 33 to 37, 

--In white k34,  tie on brown, k55, turn….1 row

--in brown, k55,  purl 14,  tie on white,  k20…..1 row

--in white, k89,  turn,  k21,  turn slip 1, k20,  turn, purl 89…..2 rows plus indent.

Photo shows 5 rows of brown.

This is the last row for the lower part of seashell.

The next part includes work on incorporating the Half Fibonacci Series which is not yet published on this blog,  ie,  89 to 72,  then 72 to 55.  It is hoped that a bigger spiral might ensue at the top of the seashell
model!  One can only experiment.

Row 1  is last brown double row at base of top of shell:

Knit 21 in white,  Tie on brown, snip white leaving 10 to 15 cm end,  knit 13 plus 55 in brown.

Row 2;   in brown continue to knit 3,  then purl 52.  Snip brown, leaving end.  Put all stitches on to left hand needle.

Row 3;  Tie on white.  This is a decrease row-   89 to 72 stitches.

ie.  Knit 3, knit 2 together;  repeat this 17x (correction made 12/9/2014)  times until 4 stitches remain,  knit them.

Indent 17    k3 purl 14, turn, slip 1, k13;   turn

Row 4;  k3, p41,  put 11 stitches on to left hand needle,  leave the 17 on right hand needle. 

Row 5;  Begin with orange 8 ply wool or cotton.  K55 st to end of row

Row 6;  k3, p41;  this is end of orange band.  Put all 11 +17 stitches on to left hand needle.

Row 7;  Tie on white.  This is decrease row.  ie 72 to 55. 

ie.  Knit 3,  k2 together;  repeat 12 times until 12 stitches remain;  decrease these to 7 as follows (eg in diagram on this page) -  k1, k2 tog x 2, k1, k2tog x 3.

Row 8;  white -  k3 purl 29;  put 9 stitches on to left hand needle,  leave 14 on right hand needle.

Row 9;  Begin with green 8 ply.  Knit 9 + 32 to end of row.

Row 10;  K3, p29;  this is the end of green.  Put all stitches on to left hand needle.

Row 11;  Tie on white baby wool.  Knit 55,  turn.

Indent.   K3 p14 ( or whatever number you consider appropriate),  turn,  slip 1. P 16, turn.

Row 12;  k3, purl 29,  snip off white leaving a thread to tie off later.  Put all stitches on to left hand needle.

Row 13;  Tie on white.  This is final cast off row knitwise.  Cast off 55.

 

Then make a crochet chain of 21 in case it is needed when shaping the tip of the shell.  This has to be on the inner corner.  I actually cast off purlwise and continued to make the chain.  I changed the pattern to cast off knitwise thinking that the work might curl better for the stitching up.

Finish off by tying any loose ends behind the work but first use a half 8ply strand of the coloured wools at inner  edge to embroider a line continuing the horizontal stripe.  You don’t have to do this as it is all inside;  but it follows the lines of a real seashell inside….Stitch the ends inside to secure the yarn then snip off.

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Congratulations if you have made it so far!  It is quite a task to get it right---- and it might still be not yet perfect.  I have made it as close as I can to this model in the photo.  You might decide to do it all in stocking stitch instead of garter stitch of body.  I keep changing the work as I go,  with each new idea  to try to improve.  I thought the garter stitch might make nice ridges on the surface.  I hope this Pattern is ok.  I will try to make better models as I go on.  This Project, blog, is a work in progress-  showing mistakes and all-  so that others might not make the same mistakes.   I often forget what I did first so it has to be done again....

In the beginning I thought I had discovered the real shape of seashells.  See page 1,  2010,  and photo here.

  However, when I looked more closely,  it was evident that the structure was more complex,  as you see when you stitch up this model.  Photos try to help describe making the tip spiral.  Wind the chain around a chopstick or skewer or pencil or knitting needle, anticlockwise.  Secure with sticky tape.   Fold the top edge of right hand side to inside opposite the central column to which it will be stitched.  Use a kind of back stitch,  going 1 to 1;   or 1 to 2 for a gathered look.

I will try to describe it  visually for you.  The wide end is almost to the middle of the model…..

This might change if higher numbers are used eg 1597 stitches!

Pad the model as you go,  with cotton wool, wool fleece etc.  I have been using pieces cut from quilting padding sheet material.

 You can display models and real seashells on a little “bean bag” so that they won’t topple over.  I used buckwheat hulls from a Japanese pillow,  inside calico pillowslips.

As you can see,  I have been trying many ways to get the top of seashell right!

This way the result of one way of stitching it up!

(I like the one at top of this page where the 55 row has each  loop sewn to 2 loops in row above the brown, to give a gathered effect.)

The very last task is to take off the sticky tape and remove chopstick or pencil or satay stick.  Continue the spiral to the very tip with sewing thread over the yarn;  or embroider a knob on top to finish it off.

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To print off this Pattern,  please highlight the section, then press Control  and c  together, to copy.

Bring up a New Word document page.  place cursor at top of page,  and press Control and v together, to paste.   You can edit to delete unwanted text,  and enlarge the font if needed. etc.  Save and print!

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The Mathematics --includes to 144 stitches, as in the yellow and white model.

Please click on images to enlarge them.

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