Southern Star Pattern - Free

Hi everyone

In my last post there was a little cardi I sold.

Well it was my own pattern/design!!

And I had a request on Ravelry from a fellow Knit 4 Charity member to share the pattern.

So I have tried writing it out.

I would love feedback, but please be kind, I have never done anything remotely like this before.

My inspiration has come from -

• Australian Vintage Baby Patterns
• Beautiful soft Australian wool and cotton in such lovely colours - amazing how trendy old vintage patterns become when worked in more modern colours.  In particular those from Bendigo Woollen Mills
• Our Australian climate
• A need for a quick, but easy knit to make for various charities, and any friends or acquaintance's children too

• So I wanted a top-down, that way the length could be adjusted per individual
• Seamless - sewing up of garments is not a problem for me, but I do love the smooth, clean lines in baby/toddler knits
• Adaptability - (is that a word?) as in plain, lacy, a mix etc
• Sleeveless/cap cardi - I get quite warm now-a-days (hormones!!!), but sometimes I get a bit cool on my back and top of my shoulders
• A thinner, light-weight yarn (sportweight)

Ok, does this not sound like the perfect pattern for me - YES!!!

I just don't know how to up-scale.

So if anyone can point me in the right direction to adjust the pattern for toddlers, children and  adults, please let me know  :-)

I decided to share this pattern for free, as I frequently use a lot of free patterns from the web and Ravelry

Please, please, please share photos of any projects that you make with this pattern.

I would love to see what you do with it

Ravelry link here

Suppose I better put the pattern here
That's if you have read this far  :-)

SOUTHERN STAR

Designed by Maria Thomas (2011)

Worked in one-piece from the top-down, totally seamless, only the ends to stitch in
Sizes– 3-6 (6-9) months

Finished Measurements – Chest ; Length from underarm to hem ; Length from back neck to hem

Yarn – Bendigo Classic 5ply (sportweight); Bendigo Cotton 8ply

Needle – 3.75mm

Misc – buttons

Gauge - ??sts to ?? rows = 10cm in Stocking Stitch – will need to work this out

Terms – yfwd = yarn forward; kfb = knit front & back; bo = stretchy bind off; co = cast off

Cap-Sleeve Cardigan Instructions
CO 69 (73)st

Knit 4 rows

Next row (wrong side)K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K2 (1), kfb, *K2 (1), kfb* rep to last 5 sts, K5 ... 89(105)st

Row 1 – K7, *yfwd, K2 tog, K6*, rep from *-* to last 10 sts, yfwd, K2tog, Knit to end

Row 2 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 3 – K6, *(yfwd, K2 tog) twice, K4* rep to last 3sts, Knit

Row 4 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 5 - As Row 1

Row 6 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 7 – as Row 1

Row 8 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9, 10, 11 - Knit

Row 12 – K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K2 (3), kfb *K4 (5), kfb*, repeat *-* to last 7 sts, K7 ... 105 (121)sts

Row 13 – as Row 1

Row 14 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 15 - as Row 3

Row 16 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 17 - as Row 1

Row 18 – K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 19 – as Row 1

Row 20 row - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 21, 22, 23 – Knit

Row 24 – K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K3, kfb, *K5 (6), kfb* to last 7 (8) sts, K7 (8) ... 121 (137)

Row 25 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 26 – as Row 1 row

Row 27 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 28 row – as Row 3

Row 29 row - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 30 – as Row 1

Row 31 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 32 – as Row 1
Row 33, 34, 35 row – Knit

Row 36 – K2, yfwd, K2 tog, K14(18), bo 27 (28)sts, K30 (36) (total of 31 (37) for back), bo 27 (28)sts, K17 (21) (total of 18 (22) for front)

Row 37 – K18 (22), co 12, K31 (37), co 12, K18 (22)sts

Row 38 – K4 (5), kfb, *K1 (2), kfb*, repeat *-* to last 6 sts, Knit 121 (137)sts

Row 39, 40 – Knit

Continue in stocking stitch, keeping 4 st garter border to 7 (9)cm or length required, finishing on purl row

**Row 1, 2, 3, 4 Row – Knit

Row 5 (RS) – K7, *yfwd, K2 tog, K6*, rep from *-* to last 10 sts, yfwd, K2tog, Knit to end

Row 6 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 7 – K6, *(yfwd, K2 tog) twice, K4* rep to last 3sts, Knit

Row 8 row - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9 row – as Row 5

Row 10 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4

Row 11 – as Row 5

Row 12 - K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4**

Repeat **-** once

Knit 6 rows

Cast off on right side

If you would prefer a PDF version click here

P.S. Amendments to pattern in Red