The Prismatic Spiral Snood: A Mosaic Knit Free Pattern

Wrap Yourself in a Rainbow: The Prismatic Spiral Snood

Imagine a snood that isn't just a circle of fabric, but a dynamic, twisting ribbon of color. The Prismatic Spiral Snood achieves this mesmerizing effect using a clever mosaic knitting technique that requires no complicated colorwork or stranding. By working simple short rows in a repeating sequence of seven rainbow colors, you create a fabric that naturally spirals into a stunning, wearable art piece. This free pattern is perfect for adventurous beginners who want to try short rows without fear, and the result is a cozy, eye-catching accessory that will brighten any outfit.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in 7 colors (approx 100g each): Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. Shown in Knit Picks Swish Worsted.
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) 24-inch circular needle (used to hold the large number of stitches, but you will work back and forth in rows, not in the round).
• Other: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, stitch markers (optional, to mark short row turns).
• Gauge: 20 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge is important for the final size and drape.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Understanding the Construction

This snood is worked flat in a long strip, then seamed into a loop. The spiral effect is created by working short rows in a repeating sequence of colors. Each color section is worked in a wedge shape, and when joined, these wedges create a continuous spiral.

Abbreviations

• k = knit
• p = purl
• w&t = wrap and turn (bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back, return slipped stitch to left needle, turn work)

Getting Started

With Color A (Red), cast on 40 stitches using your preferred method. Leave a 6-inch tail for seaming later.

Foundation Rows

• Row 1 (RS): Knit across all 40 stitches.
• Row 2 (WS): Purl across all 40 stitches.

The Short Row Sequence (Repeat for the entire snood)

Note: When you work a w&t, you will create a wrapped stitch. On the following row, when you encounter that wrapped stitch, you must pick up the wrap and knit or purl it together with the wrapped stitch to hide the gap. The instructions below tell you when to do this.

• Row 3 (RS): With Color A (Red), knit 30 stitches, then w&t. You will have 10 unworked stitches on your left needle.
• Row 4 (WS): Purl across all stitches on the needle (back to the wrapped stitch). When you reach the wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap from the front and purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
• Row 5 (RS): With Color B (Orange), knit 20 stitches, then w&t. You will have 20 unworked stitches on your left needle.
• Row 6 (WS): Purl across all stitches on the needle. When you reach the wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap and purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
• Row 7 (RS): With Color C (Yellow), knit 10 stitches, then w&t. You will have 30 unworked stitches on your left needle.
• Row 8 (WS): Purl across all stitches on the needle. When you reach the wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap and purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
• Row 9 (RS): With Color D (Green), knit all 40 stitches. As you knit, pick up each wrap and knit it together with its wrapped stitch. This completes the first wedge.
• Row 10 (WS): Purl across all 40 stitches.
• Row 11 (RS): With Color D (Green), knit 30 stitches, then w&t.
• Row 12 (WS): Purl across all stitches on the needle. When you reach the wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap and purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
• Row 13 (RS): With Color E (Blue), knit 20 stitches, then w&t.
• Row 14 (WS): Purl across all stitches on the needle. When you reach the wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap and purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
• Row 15 (RS): With Color F (Indigo), knit 10 stitches, then w&t.
• Row 16 (WS): Purl across all stitches on the needle. When you reach the wrapped stitch, pick up the wrap and purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
• Row 17 (RS): With Color G (Violet), knit all 40 stitches. Pick up each wrap and knit it together with its wrapped stitch.
• Row 18 (WS): Purl across all 40 stitches.

This completes one full color sequence (Rows 3-18). Repeat Rows 3-18 until the piece measures approximately 60 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a Row 18 repeat (a WS purl row).

Binding Off

Bind off loosely in pattern (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches) on the next RS row. Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail for seaming, and pull through the last stitch.

Finishing

1. Seaming: Fold the strip so the cast-on edge and bind-off edge meet. Using the tail from the bind-off, sew the two edges together using a mattress stitch or your preferred invisible seam. This creates the loop of the snood.
2. Weave in ends: Weave in all remaining yarn tails securely on the wrong side of the fabric.
3. Blocking: Gently block the snood to open up the stitches and even out the colors. You can wet block or steam block, being careful not to stretch the fabric too much. Lay flat to dry.

Your Prismatic Spiral Snood is complete! The short rows create a subtle wedge shape, giving the snood a dynamic, twisted appearance that will wrap around you in a continuous rainbow. Enjoy your new colorful accessory!