purlJam

# Coastal Fibonacci Felted Container

**Pattern Description**
A beginner-friendly, sturdy rectangular storage container knitted with 100% feltable wool. The container features a flat bottom and integrated handles. The visual design utilizes the mathematical Fibonacci sequence to create organic, diminishing stripes in a soothing "Coastal Calm" colour palette.

**Designer's Note on Felting**: This pattern is knitted much larger than the finished object to account for shrinkage during the felting (fulling) process. You will knit with two strands of worsted weight yarn held together throughout to ensure a thick, structural fabric that stands up on its own.

### Pattern Information

**Difficulty Level:** Beginner

**Finished Dimensions (Approximate)**
*   **Circumference:** 101.5 cm (40 inches)
*   **Depth:** 40.5 cm (16 inches)
*   *Note: Final size depends heavily on the felting process.*

**Pre-Felt Dimensions (While Knitting)**
*   **Circumference:** 143 cm (56 inches)
*   **Depth:** 58 cm (23 inches)

**Tension (Gauge)**
*   12 stitches and 16 rows = 10 cm (4 inches) in Stocking Stitch using 8.0 mm needles and **yarn held double**.
*   *Check your tension carefully. If your tension is too loose, the container may be floppy.*

**Materials Needed**
*   **Yarn:** Worsted Weight 100% Non-Superwash Wool (Roving style preferred for best felting).
    *   Total Yardage approx: 800 meters (875 yards).
*   **Colour Palette (Coastal Calm):**
    *   **Colour A (Sand/Beige):** 400m (Base + Stripes)
    *   **Colour B (Slate Blue):** 200m
    *   **Colour C (Sage Green):** 150m
    *   **Colour D (Cream/White):** 50m
*   **Needles:**
    *   8.0 mm (US 11) Circular Knitting Needle, 80 cm (32 inch) length or longer.
*   **Notions:** Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors.

**Terminology & Abbreviations (UK Terms)**
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **RS:** right side
*   **WS:** wrong side
*   **Stocking Stitch:** Knit on RS, Purl on WS (flat); Knit every round (in the round).
*   **Garter Stitch:** Knit every row.

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### Instructions

#### Part 1: The Rectangular Base
*Work flat in Garter Stitch using Colour A (Sand) held double.*

**Cast on** 32 sts.

**Rows 1–80:** Knit every row (Garter Stitch).
*   *Technical Check: 32 sts width ≈ 27 cm pre-felt. 80 rows length ≈ 50 cm pre-felt.*

**Do not cast off.** You will now transition to working in the round.

#### Part 2: The Body Setup
*Change to Stocking Stitch (Knit every round).*

**Pickup Round:**
1.  **Short Side 1:** Knit across the 32 sts currently on your needle. Place marker (PM) to denote the start of the round.
2.  **Long Side 1:** Rotate work. Pick up and knit 54 sts evenly along the long edge of the rectangle (approx 2 sts for every 3 rows).
3.  **Short Side 2:** Pick up and knit 32 sts across the cast-on edge.
4.  **Long Side 2:** Pick up and knit 54 sts evenly along the second long edge.

*   *Stitch Count Check: 32 + 54 + 32 + 54 = 172 sts total.*

#### Part 3: The Fibonacci Walls
*Work in the round (Spiral). Knit all stitches.*

**Section 1: Solid Base (Colour A - Sand)**
**Rounds 1–39:** Knit all sts.
*   *Note:* This builds the main body height before the stripes begin.

**Section 2: Fibonacci Stripes**
Follow the colour changes below. The number of rounds corresponds to the Fibonacci sequence (21, 13, 8, 5, 3, 2, 1, 1).

1.  **Change to Colour B (Slate Blue):** Knit 21 rounds.
2.  **Change to Colour C (Sage Green):** Knit 13 rounds.
3.  **Change to Colour D (Cream):** Knit 8 rounds.
4.  **Change to Colour A (Sand):** Knit 5 rounds.
5.  **Change to Colour B (Slate Blue):** Knit 3 rounds.
6.  **Change to Colour C (Sage Green):** Knit 2 rounds.
    *   *Note: We will begin the handles in the next stripe.*

#### Part 4: Integrated Handles
*The handles are created within the 1-round stripes at the top.*

**Handle Setup (Colour D - Cream - 1 Round Stripe):**
**Next Round:**
1.  Knit 32 (Short Side).
2.  Knit 20, Cast off 14 sts (loosely), Knit 20 (Long Side 1).
    *   *Math: 20 + 14 + 20 = 54 sts.*
3.  Knit 32 (Short Side).
4.  Knit 20, Cast off 14 sts (loosely), Knit 20 (Long Side 2).

**Handle Completion (Colour A - Sand - 1 Round Stripe):**
**Next Round:**
1.  Knit 32.
2.  Knit 20, Cast on 14 sts (using the backward loop method) over the gap, Knit 20.
3.  Knit 32.
4.  Knit 20, Cast on 14 sts over the gap, Knit 20.

*   *Stitch Count Check: Back to 172 sts.*

**Finishing Rim (Colour A - Sand):**
**Next Round:** Purl all sts (this creates a turning ridge for a neat edge).
**Next Round:** Knit all sts.
**Cast off** all stitches loosely.

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### Felting Instructions (The Magic Part)

1.  **Preparation:** Weave in all loose ends securely. The bag will look huge and loose—this is normal.
2.  **Machine Wash:** Place the container in a zipped pillowcase (to catch fuzz) and put it in the washing machine.
    *   Add a small amount of detergent.
    *   Add an old pair of jeans or tennis balls to increase agitation.
    *   Set to a **hot wash** with a **cold rinse** (agitation and temperature shock cause felting).
3.  **Check Progress:** Check the container after 10–15 minutes. It should be shrinking and the stitches should be disappearing into a solid fabric.
    *   *Warning:* Do not let it spin dry if you can avoid it, or use a low spin.
4.  **Shaping:** Remove from the machine when it reaches the desired dimensions (approx 40.5 cm deep).
5.  **Blocking:** While wet, stretch the bottom vigorously to flatten it. You can place a cardboard box inside wrapped in plastic bags that matches the target size (approx 25cm x 48cm base) to force the sharp rectangular shape while it dries.
6.  **Drying:** Allow to air dry completely (this may take 24–48 hours).