purlJam

# Pattern: Fibonacci Coil Felted Basket
**Designer:** Expert AI Editor
**Technique:** Machine Knit (Addi), Wet Felting, Coiled Assembly
**Difficulty:** Beginner
**Finished Dimensions:** 16" Diameter Base, 5" Deep Walls

## YARN WEIGHT & MATERIALS
**Yarn Weight:** Worsted / Aran (Weight 4).
**Crucial Fiber Requirement:** Must be **100% Non-Superwash Wool** (e.g., Fishermen's Wool, Peruvian Highland Wool).
*WARNING: Do not use "Superwash," Acrylic, or Cotton blends. They will NOT felt.*

**Yardage (Estimated):**
*   **Main Color (Brown):** ~250 yards
*   **Contrast Color (Beige):** ~150 yards

**Tools:**
*   **Machine:** Addi Express King Size (46 Needles) OR Addi Express Professional (22 Needles).
    *   *Note: The pattern below assumes the 46-needle machine, creating a wide, flat "tape" to coil. If using the 22-needle machine, double the row counts/lengths as your coil will be thinner.*
*   **Needles:** Tapestry needle (for ends), Heavy Duty Sewing Needle (for assembly).
*   **Thread:** Heavy duty upholstery thread or matching wool yarn for sewing coils.
*   **Other:** Washing machine (for felting), Measuring tape, Scissors.

## TERMINOLOGY & ABBREVIATIONS
*   **RC:** Row Counter
*   **Circular Setting:** Machine set to knit in the round (tube).
*   **Waste Yarn:** Scrap yarn of a contrasting color used to start/end the piece.
*   **Fibonacci Sequence:** A number series (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8...) used here for stripe widths.

## MACHINE-KNITTING REQUIREMENTS
*   **Setup:** Circular Setting (Switch down).
*   **Cast On:** Waste Yarn Cast On (allows for grafting ends or sewing shut cleanly).
*   **Tension:** No specific dial on Addi, but ensure yarn feeds smoothly. Do not hold yarn too tight; loose stitches felt better.

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### PART 1: The "Rope" (Knitting the Tube)
We will knit one extremely long tube. The first section creates the solid floor of the basket. The second section creates the striped walls.

*Total Target Length (Unfelted): Approx. 280-300 inches (approx. 24 feet).*

#### Section A: The Basket Base (Solid Color)
1.  **Cast On:** Using Waste Yarn, knit 5 rows. Cut waste yarn.
2.  **Start Main Yarn (Brown):** Insert Brown yarn. Reset RC to 000.
3.  **Knit Base Length:** Crank continuously until the tube measures approximately **120 inches (10 feet)** long.
    *   *Math Check:* [120 inches pre-felt $\approx$ 84 inches post-felt. Area coverage $\approx$ 210 sq inches $\approx$ 16" diameter circle].
4.  **Transition:** Do not cut yarn yet. Proceed immediately to Section B.

#### Section B: The Walls (Fibonacci Stripes)
We will now begin the striping pattern. The stripes will alternate between Beige and Brown using the Fibonacci sequence for the number of rows.
*Note: Because felting shrinks the rows, we multiply the standard Fibonacci numbers by 2 to make the stripes visible.*

**Pattern Repeat:**
*   **Change to Beige:** Knit **2 rows**.
*   **Change to Brown:** Knit **2 rows**.
*   **Change to Beige:** Knit **4 rows**.
*   **Change to Brown:** Knit **6 rows**.
*   **Change to Beige:** Knit **10 rows**.
*   **Change to Brown:** Knit **16 rows**.
*   **Change to Beige:** Knit **26 rows**.
*   **Change to Brown:** Knit **42 rows**.

*Repeat this sequence or reverse it (42, 26, 16...) until this striped section measures approximately **160 inches (13 feet)** long.*

#### Finishing the Tube
1.  **End:** Cut Main Yarn leaving a 12-inch tail.
2.  **Waste Yarn:** Switch to Waste Yarn and knit 5 rows.
3.  **Cast Off:** Release the work from the machine.

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### PART 2: Preparation & Felting
*This is the critical step. We will turn the loose knit tube into a sturdy felted rope.*

1.  **Close Ends:** Use the tails of your main yarn to sew the ends of the tube shut (removing the waste yarn as you go). You should have one giant "snake".
2.  **Washing:** Place the tube in a zippered pillowcase or laundry bag (to prevent it tangling around the agitator).
3.  **Settings:** Wash with **HOT water** and a small amount of detergent. Set to **Heavy Duty/Agitation**.
4.  **Check:** Check the tube after one cycle. It should have shrunk significantly, the stitches should be fuzzy and indistinct, and the fabric should feel thick and dense. If stitches are still visible, wash again.
5.  **Drying:** Remove from washer. Roll in a towel to squeeze out water. Lay flat to dry.
    *   *Tip:* While damp, stretch/flatten the tube so it is a flat ribbon (approx 2.5 - 3 inches wide), rather than a round cylinder. This makes sewing easier.

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### PART 3: Assembly (The Coil)
*Now you build the container to exact dimensions.*

#### Step 1: The Base (Solid Section)
1.  Take the **Solid Brown** end of your felted ribbon.
2.  Fold the tip over tightly to start a spiral.
3.  Using heavy-duty thread and a sharp needle, stitch the coil together. You can use a hidden whip stitch or a decorative zig-zag.
4.  Continue coiling the solid color flat on a table, sewing securely as you go.
5.  **Stop Coiling Flat** when the diameter measures exactly **16 inches**.
    *   *Math Check:* If you run out of solid color before 16", your base will be slightly two-tone. If you have extra solid color, your base will be slightly larger, or the solid color will start creeping up the wall. Both are acceptable design features.

#### Step 2: The Walls (Striped Section)
1.  Once the base is 16" wide, stop sewing "side-by-side" flat on the table.
2.  Position the next coil **on top** of the outer edge of the base (stacking vertically).
3.  Sew this coil to the top of the previous row.
4.  Continue coiling and sewing upwards, stacking the Fibonacci striped section to create the walls.
5.  The interior of the walls will show the same stripe pattern as the outside.
6.  Continue until you reach the end of the rope or achieve **5 inches** of depth.

#### Step 3: Finishing
1.  Taper the very end of the felted rope (you can cut felt with scissors without it unraveling) so it lays flat against the rim.
2.  Sew the end down securely.
3.  **Steam:** Use a steam iron to block the container into a perfect circle. The felt is moldable when hot and steamy.

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### QC & Troubleshooting
*   **Tube too short?** If your felted rope isn't long enough to finish the bowl, knit another shorter tube, felt it, and sew it onto the end of the existing rope. The join will be barely visible in the felt.
*   **Basket floppy?** If the walls don't stand up, you likely didn't felt the wool hard enough (it should be stiff), or you are using Superwash wool.
*   **Solid Inside?** If you strictly require a solid color inside, knit a second base-and-wall unit entirely in solid Brown, slightly smaller (15.5" diameter), and nest it inside the striped basket, sewing the rims together.