When A Star Is Born

When A Star Is Born is the third charity pattern in 2018.  It is a knitted stylistic star with five (5) fat arms, and when knitted in more rounds, it will turn into a sand dollar / pentagon shape.  This star is simple to knit and good for beginners that need more practice in circular knitting.

The only challenge in this pattern is the center double increase (CDI) stitch.  This stitch is more commonly seen in lace pattern.  Basically, it is knitting three (3) times into the same stitches, and thus the mother stitch will be slightly enlarged and sometimes make up a hole in the lace pattern. Using larger size needle (and keeping the yarn weight the same) will make the stitch easier to execute.  The resulting hole will probably be larger but considering we are doing garter stitch, it might not be that obvious.

I used this star in two (2) of my recent patterns, Furballs' Last Tree Standing and Furballs' Only Tree Standing.  The star, being simple and easy to knit, suits well in these two patterns.  In Furballs' Last Tree Standing, the star is  either knitted or sew onto the piece or knitted as one to form the topper of the battered Christmas Tree.  In Furballs' Only Tree Standing, the star is creatively to form the topper of the three tiered Christmas tree, and at the same time, knitted as one piece to be used as a button such that there is no need for sewing.  I agree that it does not look like the "real" star but it converses the feeling of a star, and that is all needed in the pattern.  Let the imagination of the viewers make up the "real" star :D

It is also a good small piece to try out wet blocking for beginners.

1. Wet the piece by immersing in water and gently squeeze out excess (meaning no dripping).  Alternatively, spray the piece with water.  Replace with starch or sugar water to stiffen the piece as preferred.
2. Lay the piece flat on a thick and firm cork or foam board.  Using sewing pins, pin the center of the piece onto the board.
3. Next pin the "troughs" (the lowest point in between the arms) in a relax position (meaning minimal pulling from center out).
4. Finally, pull the tips of the arms from center out and pin on the board. This will accentuate the length of the arms making it more of a star shape.
5. Set aside to wait for the piece to dry and take shape.

Have fun knitting up the small star to brighten up your project.  Please remember to donate generously to your local cat / animal shelters for this holiday season when you use this pattern in whole or in part.  Furballs and I thanks you all in advance :D

Warning: the star is small in size and could be swallowed and leading to choking or suffocation, so please use it with caution when applying to pet / baby / children knitting


 

Furballs' Charity pattern 2018/3

When A Star Is Born

Materials

Yarn, worsted weight, non mercerized 100% cotton (0.2 oz. / 4.4 g, 7.0 yd. / 6.4 m) OR acrylic (0.1 oz. / 3.3 g, 5.5 yd. / 5.0 m)

 

Knitting needles, circular or double point, size 3.50 / US 4 , one (1) pair / one (1) set

Measuring tape, or equivalent, one (1) (optional)

Scissors and yarn needle

Gauge (Pre block, garter stitch in situ)

4" x 4" / 10 cm x 10 cm                  24 sts x 48 rows (cotton and acrylic)

Measurement (Pre block)

Diameter                             2 ¹/₂" / 6 cm (cotton and acrylic)

Abbreviations

BO          Bind off (k1, ppso)

CDI         Center double increase

CO          Cast on

k             Knit

p             Purl

ppso      Pass previous stitch over

Rnd(s)   Round(s)

RS          Right side

st(s)       Stitch(es)

 

Specialty stitch: Center double increase (CDI)

Working on the RS and knitting up to CDI in the pattern,

Step 1   Using right (working) needle, knit into the back loop of the first stitch on left (holding)  needle.  Do not drop the mother stitch

Step 2   Bring the right (working) needle to the front and knit into the same stitch. Drop the mother stitch

Step 3   With the two daughter stitches on the right (working) needle, identify the strand of yarn running vertical below the needle and in between the two stitches. Use left (holding) needle to pick up the strand from back to front and left to right to form a loop

Step 4   Using right (working) needle, knit into the back arm of the pick up loop

 

 

Using 3.50 mm knitting needle, CO 5 sts using long tail cast on

Arrange the five (5) cast on stitches on the needles, either circular or double point needles, for knitting in rounds

Start knitting in rounds and follow the knitting instruction below
 

Rnd 1     p1 to join, p to the end of rnd (5 sts)

Rnd 2     CDI x 5 (15 sts)

Rnd 3 and following odd number rnds   p to the end of rnd

Rnd 4     (k1, CDI, k1) x 5 (25 sts)

Rnd 6     (k2, CDI , k2) x 5 (35 sts)

               Option

The star shape starts to form, bind off at any odd number row when reaching desirable diameter as prefer

Rnd 8     (k3, CDI, k3) x 5 (45 sts)

Rnd 10   k2, ppso, BO to the end of rnd

Cut yarn leaving 6” / 15 cm tail

Pull yarn tail through the stitch to secure

Weave in all loose end(s)

Back to the pattern page in Ravelry for additional information on this pattern