Our pattern will be your armchair coach. You can work from the printed page to your knitting, and back again. This pattern uses a full page of step-by-step photographs to help you accomplish a helical hat. 

The technique uses two colors that form a double helix -- a double spiral. There are two balls of yarn attached to the knitting. Helical knitting uses a circular needle.

This beanie pattern is basic and guides you through the helical concept. Try a hat or two. Once you have learned the technique, you will find it easy to knit stripes that are artsy and creative.

Yarn: worsted weight, 150-200 yards total of two colors. The main color takes most of the yardage.

Needles: 16" circulars, US #5 (3.75 mm) for ribbing; US #7 (4.5 mm) for body; US #7 double pointed for crown.

Yarn suggestions: We knit samples using Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted, HiKoo Simpliworsted, HiKoo Simplinatural, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash (now discontinued) and other yarns. A multicolor yarn is delightful, but for your first foray into helical knitting, stick with two colors that have good contrast.

Brown Sheep Nature Spun worsted weight

HiKoo Simpliworsted

HiKoo Simplinatural

Download information: After ordering a download, you will receive two emails. One confirms your order. Shortly after receiving the order email, there’s a second email “Assets to download from your recent order.” The download link is in that email.