Fibonacci and Knitting

Some time ago I learned that Fibonacci can be applied to knitting. If you are not familiar with Fibonacci, he was a mathematician from the middle ages. He figured out the relationship of proportions, now known as the golden ratio (or number), Fibonacci sequence or 1.618 or Phi.

This sequence is seen in practically everything. I’ll link to several articles if you wish to learn more. From reproducing animals, to sea shells and galaxies, the human form and sunflowers. (Mona Lisa, Parthenon, and the pyramids of Egypt, just to name a few). This ratio is present in many, many more surprising things.
The first time I used this was in my felted bag. I loved the random look of it.

This pattern is The Big  Bag Pattern (free on Ravelry) by Maia Discoe (link)

Below are a couple of links if you wish to learn more..

Fibonacci Numbers and Nature

The Wiki and Fibonacci

Mona Lisa -- Da Vinci's Use of Sacred Geometry (you tube link)

In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers or Fibonacci series or Fibonacci sequence are the numbers in the following integer sequence:

 

By definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 0 and 1, and each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two.
OK, Back to knitting, I’m getting ready to cast on a sweater, and I want to use up an assortment of hand painted yarns with similar colors. (all green/blue in different tones). I came upon the idea of using the above Fibonacci series to makes my stripes. I didn’t want them to look, hummm, generic stripes, all the same. So I’m hoping that this will make a pleasant appearing mix of colors. More soon. I’m casting on tomorrow. I got all of my skeins wound today before I left for work! Yay!!
If you search on Ravelry for Fibonacci you get a good assortment of patterns (rav link)
I love this striped sweater from Lismi Knits, check out her article on Fibonacci sequence, plus she has some free patterns on her blog.

This sequence can be used in all kinds of knitterly nerdy ways, not just stripes. Below are a few ideas.
Fibonacci Ribbing
CO a multiple of 20
Row 1: *K1, P1, K2, P3, K5,P8*, repeat * to * until end of row
Row 2: *K8, P5, K3, P2, K1, P1*, repeat * to * until end of row Repeat Rows 1 and 2 as desired
Fibonacci Texture 1
CO a multiple of 20
*K1, P1, K2, P3, K5,P8*, repeat * to * until end of row
Repeat row as desired
Fibonacci Texture 2
CO a multiple of 20
Row 1 *K1, P1, K2, P3, K5,P8*, repeat * to * until end of row
Row 2 : *P8, K5, P3, K2, P1, K1*, repeat * to * until end of row Repeat Rows 1 and 2 as desired
Fibonacci Gradient Ribbing
CO a multiple of 53
Row 1: *K1, P1, K2, P3, K5,P8, K13, P8, K5, P3, K2, P1, K1* repeat * to * until
end of row
Row 1: *P1, K1, P2, K3, P5,K8, P13, K8, P5, K3, P2, K1, P1* repeat * to * until
end of row Repeat Rows 1 and 2 as desired
Used any Fibonacci inspired knitting? I’d love to hear about it!
May you knitting needles fly as fast as dragonflies…..