DNA Helix Kindle Cover

My love for science came from a series of amazing teachers, but it always goes back to my Dad.  He brought me into his lab when I was little and helped me create the most amazing science fair projects in elementary school.  When my mom told me that he was hoping that I would knit him a cover for his Kindle, I was thrilled and jumped at the opprotunity to design something just for him.  (He lives in Florida, so finding things to knit for him is always a challenge!)  I decided to make the kindle with a DNA helix cable, something that was still very classy but with a nod to the love of science we both share.

I wanted his Kindle cover to be perfect, so I actually started off creating a DNA Helix Beer Cozy so I could perfect the chart and scale.  (I will share even more about the design process later.) I hope you enjoy this DNA Helix Kindle Cover!  It has been designed with plenty of love.

The front and back of the DNA Helix Kindle Cover

Materials

• US Size 6 (4.0 mm) double pointed knitting needles, or circular needles long enough for magic loop.
• KnitPicks Comfy Worsted Yarn (30 g, ~65 yards) in color Celestial or other worsted weight yarn.  This project would work with many different fiber substitutions.  
• Notions: Cable Needle, Yarn needle for weaving in loose ends, Beer bottle to measure your progress.  
• Gauge - 16 sts/3", 22 rows/3" over stockinette.  
• Finished size - 4.5" x 7.5";  Designed to fit the Kindle Paperwhite 6.7" x 4.6" x 0.36".  Modifications to fit a different model are discussed at the end of the pattern.  

Abbreviations used in this pattern

• CN - Cable Needle
• K - Knit
• P - Purl
• S1 - Slip 1 
• St - Stitch
• P2tog - purl 2 stitches together.  

The Pattern

• Cast on 48 stitches with the long tail cast on method.  Arrange the stitches on 3 needles as follows:  24, 12, 12.  
• Join to knit in the round, work in 2x2 ribbing (K2, P2) for 3 rows.  
• P12, Starting with row 1 (from right to left) knit the 24 stitches of the DNA Helix Chart, P12
• Continue knitting as above until your piece measures 7.25" inches. (In the sample I worked rows 1-26 twice and then Rows 1-2 once more.)  
• Finishing:  Turn the kindle inside out and graft the bottom together using the kitchener stitch.  (Alternatively, bind off P-wise and then stitch the bind off edge closed.) Weave in loose ends.  
• Block if desired.  

The Double Double Helix Cable Chart 

The DNA Helix Chart.  Each row should be followed from right to left.  The 6 shaded purl stitches are for the side of the Kindle, youcan adjust this number if you would like the cables to be more centered on the cover.  Open the chart in a new window to see a larger version.  

DNA Cable Knitting Chart Key

The Kindle Cover over a cardboard mock-up of the Kindle Paperwhite.

Modifying the Pattern to fit a different Kindle or iPad model.
Since the DNA helix cable is designed to be off center, this pattern would be really easy to modifty to fit a differently shaped tablet.  Make a swatch to double check your gauge.  To alter the width, increase (or decrease) stitches in sets of 4 until you have the desired number.  (Remember, you want the DNA cover to be slightly smaller than your eReader so it fits snugly.) Add these stitches to the beginning and end of each cabled round.  To alter the height, add continue knitting rounds of the cable chart until the piece measures just over the length of your kindle (you want stretch in the with direction, not the length.)

I don't have access to the Kindle Paperwhite myself, so I am modeling it on a piece of cardboard that I cut to scale. Hopefully my parents will send me a picture once it is in their hands!

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This this pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. This pattern is not to be replicated, sold or redistributed without permission from ChemKnits. © 2013 ChemKnits