Inspiration
Pattern Scout: Doubled Helix
I was over at MDK World Headquarters briefly last week, really wishing our team could all be together. It just wants to be full of people! It’s like an amusement park in the off season, sad!
I had a tender reunion with our stock of Helix, the exquisite yarn from Aimée Gille at La Bien Aimée. It sent me on a reverie all over again—Helix is a masterpiece of dyeing, using a custom-milled base that is a blend of white Falkland and Gotland, a natural gray wool. The tonal shifts are subtle and beautiful.
A yarn like this can be so many things.
Helix comes in a light fingering weight that is delicious and versatile, especially when it’s held double. Here are designs that use Helix doubled. These are all treasure patterns—sweaters to wear forever.
Mood Cardigan
This dreamy thing by Jeanette Sloan has proved to be a highlight of Field Guide No. 15: Open. Moment of silent appreciation:
Mood Cardigan. Two rectangles meet and become a fantastic cocoon.
Helix Sweater
Two designs by Marianne Munier showcase what happens when you knit with Helix held double.
Helix Sweater is one of those perfectly timeless shapes that we reach for again and again. Sometimes we want a stranded brioche lace maxi coat; sometimes we want the exact opposite.
In 14 sizes, a simple top-down pullover in stockinette. Perfectly simple.
Helix Cardigan
Marianne’s Helix Cardigan is another perfect distillation, again with Helix held double. The designer models it here.
And Aimée shows us the V-neck version of the Helix Cardigan.
The pattern is super versatile—it includes instructions for both necklines, three body lengths from cropped to classic, and includes 14 sizes.
Note that the pattern calls for using Helix and another La Bien Aimée yarn, Kumo, held together. We don’t currently have Kumo in stock, but the pattern will work fine holding two strands of Helix together. The fabric will have less halo. And it will be twice as Helixy. In terms of quantity, you’ll order 4 to 6 skeins of Helix, depending on your size. (Check the pattern sizes and yarn requirements here.)
Old School
Veera Välimäki brings us a sweet, gentle pullover worked from the top down: Old School. It’s just gorgeous. Shown here in Helix held with Mohair Silk, another La Bien Aimée yarn. We think this would be lovely in Helix, held double. Again: less halo, and easier for those who are sensitive to mohair.
Where do I begin? Please let me know of any and all Helix-worthy patterns in your Ravelry favorites!
Love,
Ann
I recently purchased Helix to knit the Tumbling Blocks lace scarf in Master Guide: Open by Jeanette Sloan. It’s only 26 rows of lace! I love the drape of the yarn.
Yay! Tumbling Blocks is such a cool lace pattern.
I bet this would make a lovely Sequences scarf!
Oh wow yes—I’d use a light color so that the stitch patterns would shine. Dark colors aren’t great for sequence knitting. And I’d hold the yarn doubled for good drape.
I double-vouch for using a very pale color for the Sequence Shawl. Some of the patterns are very subtle, indeed. This has been Good Fun to knit because just when you start getting sick and tired of one pattern it ends, and a different one is mysteriously emerging from your needles.
Quick question: is the Winterfell color of Helix a dark blue or black? So dark, it’s hard to tell on my monitor.
It’s a deep midnight blue aka my favorite.
Doubled changes the game. Too bad I just started a Keynote Pullover in deep stash. It would be perfect!
Sounds like a fantastic marling opportunity, 4-6 colors, 10-21 combinations (I looked it up in Making Marls)