Experiments

I enjoy doing knitting for the Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne, the Wyoming Childrens Home, and the homeless shelter in Cheyenne.  It gives me a chance to try new patterns, or to experiment with patterns and stitches.  The following experiment turned out so well that I decided to write down the pattern.

I LOVE the star stitch.  Easy to do, with lots of visual interest.  So I incorporated it into a pattern for earwarmer / headband.  The close-up of the stitch should illustrate why I like it so much.

Star Stitch Headband/Earwarmer

Joanna Perkins

Supplies needed:                    Worsted weight yarn (less than 150 yards)

                                                Size 8 needles (gauge is not particularly important)

                                                Large decorative button

Star stitch:  Purl 3 together, do not remove from left needle, wrap yarn around right needle, purl 3 together again, then remove the three stitches from left needle.

Kfb                       Knit into front and back of same stitch to increase

K2tog                    Knit two stitches together to decrease

K2togTBL             Knit two stitches together through the back of the stitches to decrease

Pattern:

Cast on 7 stitches.

Row 1, 3               Knit across

Row 2 and even rows through row 20     K1, Kfb, K to 2 stitches from end of row, Kfb, K last stitch.

Row 5 (WS)         P3, *P1, star stitch* once, P1, P3         (11 stitches)

Row 7                   P2, *P1, star stitch* twice, P1, P2        (13 stitches)

Row 9                   P1, *P1, star stitch* 3 times, P1, P1     (15 stitches)

Row 11                 P4, *P1, star stitch* 2 times, P1, P4     (17 stitches)

Row 13                 P3, *P1, star stitch* 3 times, P1, P3     (19 stitches)

Row 15                 P2, *P1, star stitch* 4 times, P1, P2     (21 stitches)

Row 17                 P1, *P1, star stitch* 5 times, P1, P1     (23 stitches)

Row 19                 P4, *P1, star stitch* 4 times, P1, P4     (25 stitches)

Row 21                 P3, *P1, star stitch* 5 times, P1, P3     (27 stitches)

Row 22 and 24     Knit across

Row 23                 P1, *P1, star stitch* 6 times, P1, P1

Continue Rows 21-24 for approximately 12”, then begin Row 1 of decrease pattern on RS row.

Row 1 and odd rows through Row 17      K1, K2togTBL, knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1

Row 2                    P4, *P1, star stitch* 4 times, P1, P4     (25 stitches)

Row 4                    P1, *P1, star stitch* 5 times, P1, P1     (23 stitches)

Row 6                    P2, *P1, star stitch* 4 times, P1, P2     (21 stitches)

Row 8                    P3, *P1, star stitch* 3 times, P1, P3     (19 stitches)

Row 10                 P4, *P1, star stitch* 2 times, P1, P4      (17 stitches)

Row 12                 P1, *P1, star stitch* 3 times, P1, P1      (15 stitches)

Row 14                 P2, *P1, star stitch* 2 times, P1, P2      (13 stitches)

Row 16                 P3, *P1, star stitch* once, P1, P3          (11 stitches)

Row 18                 Knit across                                            (9 stitches)

Row 19       ##      Knit 4, BO stitch #4, Knit 3                    (7 stitches)

Row 20                 Knit 3, CO1, Knit 3

Row 21                 Knit across

Bind off all stitches

## Row 19, Use a one row buttonhole if that is your preferred method, and eliminate row 20.

Sew on button, weave ends in and trim.

NOTE:  If doing this pattern with chunky/bulky yarn, you can use appropriate size needles, end increases with Row 17 (just do the number of repeats for the stitches on the needle), do the Row 21-24 repeat until the headband is ready for decrease and end with a P3 start row, then pick up the decrease pattern at Row 10.  This keeps the offset pattern in effect.