Stargazer is a top-down yoke pullover that starts at the neckband with conventional long-tail cast-on. Circular knitting of the wide neckband begins with two rounds of single rib for upright sturdiness. This is followed by ruched stitch to give the band a ribbon-like appearance. The star color stranding that follows in the yoke and continues on to the trunk and sleeves is an easier-than-it-looks knit pattern. The design intention is to simulate the oblivious scattering of stars in the night sky; the kind of dark sky that can only be visualized when one’s eyes (or mind) are distant from city light pollution. A color chart is provided as a guide to start the knitter on a star-scattering knitting spree. The knitter is encouraged to flip, rotate, start and stop, even skip rows when using the chart to produce their own random star placement. Careful counting is unnecessary because before long one will find themselves free styling their strands of stars.

To punctuate the sweater’s appearance is the Milky Way stranding at the yoke and at the bottom of the long flounced sleeves. This is the only section that requires attention to counting. Knitted with two strands of mohair entwined with the tweedy wool, it generates the effect of wispy, illuminated clouds, or the condensed powdered bands of our more expansive home, the Milky Way galaxy.

The length of the sweater and the sleeve is customizable. I chose to knit my prototype sweater cropped with a ruched hem for a whimsical and curve-flattering structure. The knitter may also choose to have capped or three-quarter length sleeves. If long sleeves are preferable, the sleeves of my swatch sweater are flounced at the elbow.

All in all, I feel Stargazer is an easy color stranded knitted sweater. Aside from the Milky Way, I knitted it without worry of what row I left off, or if my number stars were off, or if I accidentally skipped five stitches, etc. Just as stargazing tranquilizes our often stressed spirit, my expectation is that knitting Stargazer helps others to relax and regenerate.

YARN ESTIMATES FOR CROPPED LENGTH
FOR SMALLEST SIZE: 1302 yds TOTAL
HD (200yds/skein) x1 = 200 yds
DB (109 yds/ball) x 8 = 872 yds
VY (230 yds/skein) x 1 = 230

FOR LARGEST SIZE : 2068 yds TOTAL
HD (200yds/skein) x1.5 = 300 yds
DB (109 yds/ball) x 12 = 1308 yds
VY (230 yds/skein) x 2 = 460 yds

If longer sweater length, 9 balls to 12 of DB is a likely more than adequate. And another 0.5 for other contrast yarns.

SWEATER IS TO BE WORN WITH 4-6 INCHES EASE
Measurements of Chest Circumference is Actual Garment Size

Cm / Inches“
Sz 1: 91.5 / 36
Sz 2: 96.5 / 38
Sz 3: 101.5 / 40
Sz 4: 106.5 / 42
Sz 5: 112 / 44
Sz 6: 117 / 46
Sz 7: 122 / 48
Sz 8: 127 / 50
Sz 9: 132 / 52
Sz 10: 137 / 54
So 11: 142 / 57
So 12: 150 / 60