Knitted Barnacles

Once enhanced through a biomineralisation process (MICP), these knitted barnacles can be used as breakwave but also to provide shelter to marine organisms living in intertidal areas during periods of low tide.
The instructions in the knitting pattern below are for creating a modular honeycomb structure which can be adapted to the specific site in which it is intended to be installed.

This pattern is an adaptation of the Nudibranchia patter by Cate Carter-Evans. You can find the original pattern at this link: https://knitty.com/ISSUEdf19/PATTnudibranchia/PATTnudibranchia.php

This pattern is not intended for commercial use.

Materials:

• You can use any weight of wool for this pattern, although we recommend DK, Worsted, Aran or Bulky weight wool.
  If you are knitting this patter for use in the environment, please ensure that you use natural fibres only.
  If you are knitting this as part of the Coastal Nature Lab project, please only use undyed wool.
• Set of DP needles.

Gauge: To give your barnacles some structure, knit this project at a fairly tight gauge.

INSTRUCTIONS

Barnacle 1
CO 30 stitches. Divide to 3 needles (10 sts per needle).
Knit *cone* to the desired height and bind off.

Barnacle 2
CO 25 sts + pick up 5 sts along the lower edge of the first barnacle from the beginning of round 1.
Knit *cone* to the desired height and bind off.

Barnacle 3
CO 20 sts + pick up 5 sts along the lower edge of barnacle 1 and 5 sts along the lower edge of barnacle 2 starting from one of the decrease point.
Knit *cone* to the desired height and bind off.

Barnacle 4
CO 15 sts + pick up 3 sts along the lower edge of barnacle 2, and 3 respectively, starting from one of the decrease points in either barnacle.
Knit *cone* to the desired height and bind off.

All the following Barnacles

Cast on and pick up stitches from the lower edge of the existing barnacles to form a honeycomb pattern (see diagram below for reference).
Knit *cone* to the desired height and bind off.
You can develop your pattern in different directions, but always make sure to match up the decreasing points in each bottom row.

*Cone* 

Give your barnacles some variety by knitting at different heights, and leave some of the barnacles open and other closed.  To do so, knit for each barnacle as many rounds as you like before casting off the remaining stitches.

Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: [K8, k2tog] 3 times. 27 sts.
Round 3: [K7, k2tog] 3 times. 24 sts.
Round 4: [K6, k2tog] 3 times. 21 sts.
Round 5: Knit 1 round.
Round 6: [K5, k2tog] 3 times. 18 sts.
Round 7: Knit 1 round.
Round 8: [K4, k2tog] 3 times. 15 sts.
Round 9 & 10: Knit 2 rounds
Round 11: [K3, k2tog] 3 times. 12 sts.
Round 12 & 13: Knit 2 rounds.
Round 14: [K2, k2tog] 3 times. 9 sts.
Round 15 – 17: Knit 3 rounds.
Round 18: [K1, k2tog] 3 times. 6 sts.
Round 19 – 21: Knit 3 rounds.
Round 22: [K2tog] 3 times. 3 sts.
Round 23: Knit. Break yarn, leaving a 4 inch/ 10 cm tail, and thread the end onto a yarn needle. Pass the end through the three remaining sts twice, and pass the end through the tip of the cone.