A kaleidocycle is a fun mathematical toy. In essence it is a closed chain of irregular pyramids whose dimensions are calculated so that the ring can be rotated endlessly through its centre, with the corners of the pyramids touching now and again in the middle. The effect can be quite mesmerising, or ‘kaleidoscopic’. To see them in action, click the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmRN5xFPCqs

I designed and knit these as part of my exploration of self-intersected knitting techniques. The kaldeidocycle is constructed by knitting a tube, flattening it, and then passing the two layers of fabric through each other to create the hinges. Each hinge is perpendicular to the last, forcing the sections in between to take on the shape of isosceles tetrahedra.