Designer’s Note: Helical knitting is easy to learn and a clever tool to have in your knitting knowledge bag.

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 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.

Pattern variations: Included in the pattern are suggestions and directions for an I-cord loop at the top, twisted ribbing, and 2x2 ribbing. All variations include photographs.

More about Helical knitting: How did I get interested in learning the helical technique? Several summers ago I knit a cardigan using hand dyed yarn. When I got to the second sleeve, the skein I was about to knit appeared a tinge darker than the first skeins. I realized that if I could mix the yarn, row by row, the darker color would blend in with the more medium yarn. So I used helical knitting to alternate skeins. The sweater has begun my favorite cardigan.

Helical knitting allows you to mix dye lots. You will see that you can use a tweed yarn in opposition to a solid yarn. Helical knitting gives you a striping and shading option that can be playful or artful, or an be used to solve a color dilemma.