Knitted Falling Stars Top Down Sweater
The Knitted Falling Stars Top Down Sweater is an absolute delight! This charming sweater features a beautiful starry pattern that adds a touch of whimsy to your wardrobe. Knitting it from the top down makes it a fun and manageable project for any level of expertise. The soft yarn and cozy design will keep you warm and stylish on any chilly day. Whether you're a seasoned knitter or just starting out, this sweater is sure to bring a smile to your face with every stitch.
Skills Required/Techniques Used:
-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off;
-Increasing: knit front and back (kfr&b)
-Decreasing: knit 2 together (k2tog); ssk.
-Working in rounds on circular needles and on double pointed needles
Size: M (L, XL)
MEASUREMENTS:
Chest: 38 [42, 46] inches (96 [106, 117] cm)
Materials:
- Elann Callista DK weight yarn, color Black, 50 g / 119 m (130 yards) - 8 skeins (A)
- Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk DK Print yarn, color 8114 Blooming, 50 g / 110 m (120 yards) - 1 skein (B)
- Needles: circular US4 (3.5 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE
- double pointed needles for sleeves
Gauge for stockinette stitch for yarn A: 18 sts x 24 rows = 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm)
Notions: tapestry needle, cable needle, stitch markers, 4 stitch-holders or 2 pieces of waste yarn,
Abbreviations:
- st, sts - stitch, stitches
- k - knit
- p - purl
- k2tog - knit 2 together
- ssk
- kfr&b - knit first in front, then in back loops of the same stitch
- as est. - as established, as pattern demands
- pm - place marker
- sm - slip marker
- rm - remove marker
- RS - right side
- WS - wrong side
- w&t - wrap and turn
Pattern Notes:
Garter Stitch in rounds:
Round 1: knit around
Round 2: purl around
Repeat 2 rounds
Short overview of the pattern:
The top is worked from the top to the bottom in rounds without seams in chevron pattern. The increases and decreases are worked within the chevron pattern. The number of chevron repeats remains the same. Sleeves are worked in the round on dpn or shorter circular needles.
Sweater
Size M
Yoke
With yarn A cast on 108 sts. Join into round taking care not to twist the sts, continue to work in rounds. Mark the beginning of the round, slip marker (sm) while working.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl
Round 3: knit
Round 4: purl
With yarn B:
Round 5: *k2tog, k1, k1fr&b twice, k2, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 6: knit
Rounds 7-10: repeat rounds 5-6.
With yarn A:
Round 11: repeat round 5.
Round 12: purl
Round 13 (increase round): *k3, k1f&b twice, k4*, repeat 12 times. (132)
Round 14: purl
Round 15 (increase round): *k4, k1f&b twice, k5*, repeat 12 times. (156)
Round 16: purl
With yarn B:
Round 17: *k2tog, k3, k1f&b twice, k4, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 18: knit
Rounds 19-22: repeat rounds 17-18.
With yarn A:
Round 23: repeat round 17.
Round 24: purl
Round 25 (increase round): *k5, k1f&b twice, k6*, repeat 12 times. (180)
Round 26: purl
Round 27 (increase round): *k6, k1f&b twice, k7*, repeat 12 times. (204)
Round 28: purl
With yarn B:
Round 29: *k2tog, k5, k1f&b twice, k6, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 30: knit
Rounds 31-34: repeat rounds 29-30. Cut yarn B and continue with yarn A.
With yarn A:
Round 35: repeat round 29.
Round 36: purl
Round 37 (increase round): *k7, k1f&b twice, k8*, repeat 12 times. (228)
Round 38: purl
Round 39 (increase round): *k8, k1f&b twice, k9*, repeat 12 times. (252)
Round 40: purl
Round 41: *k2tog, k7, k1f&b twice, k8, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 42: knit
Rounds 43-46: repeat rounds 41-42.
Round 47: repeat round 41.
Round 48: purl
Round 49 (increase round): *k9, k1f&b twice, k10*, repeat 12 times. (276)
Round 50: purl
Round 51: knit
Round 52: purl
Round 53: *k2tog, k8, k1f&b, k1f&b, k9, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 54: knit
Rounds 55-58: repeat rounds 53-54 (total 276 sts before dividing for sleeves).
Divide for sleeves and bodice:
Count sts and place markers: 92 sts for back, place a marker after st 92, 46 sts for right sleeve, place another marker after st 46, 92 sts for front, place another marker after st 92, 46 sts for left sleeve.(here we have the marker for the beginning of the round).
Using a spare needle, work the back stitches only back and forth as follows:
Rows 1 (RS): *k2tog, k8, k1f&b twice, k9, ssk*, repeat 4 times.
Rows 2-6: knit
Row 7 (RS): *k2tog, k8, k1f&b twice, k9, ssk*, repeat 4 times.
Row 8 (WS): purl
Rows 9-12: repeat rows 7-8 twice.
Size L
Yoke
With yarn A cast on 108 sts. Join into round taking care not to twist the sts, continue to work in rounds. Mark the beginning of the round.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl
Round 3: knit
Round 4: purl
With yarn B:
Round 5: *k2tog, k1, k1f&b twice, k2, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 6: knit
Rounds 7-10: repeat rounds 5-6.
With yarn A
Round 11: repeat round 5.
Round 12: purl
Round 13 (increase round): *k3, k1f&b twice, k4*, repeat 12 times. (132)
Round 14: purl
Round 15 (increase round): *k4, k1f&b twice, k5*, repeat 12 times.(156)
Round 16: purl
With yarn B
Round 17: *k2tog, k3, k1f&b twice, k4, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 18: knit
Rounds 19-22: repeat rounds 17-18.
With yarn A.
Round 23: repeat round 17.
Round 24: purl
Round 25 (increase round): *k5, k1f&b twice, k6*, repeat 12 times. (180)
Round 26: purl
Round 27 (increase round): *k6, k1f&b twice, k7*, repeat 12 times. (204)
Round 28: purl
With yarn B
Round 29: *k2tog, k5, k1f&b twice, k6, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 30: knit
Rounds 31-34: repeat rounds 29-30. Cut yarn B and continue with yarn A.
With yarn A
Round 35: repeat round 29.
Round 36: purl
Round 37 (increase round): *k7, k1f&b twice, k8*, repeat 12 times. (228)
Round 38: purl
Round 39 (increase round): *k8, k1f&b twice, k9*, repeat 12 times. (252)
Round 40: purl
Round 41: *k2tog, k7, k1f&b twice, k8, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 42: knit
Rounds 43-46: repeat rounds 41-42.
Round 47: repeat round 41.
Round 48: purl
Round 49 (increase round) : *k9, k1f&b twice, k10*, repeat 12 times. (276)
Round 50: purl
Round 51(increase round): *k10, k1f&b twice, k11*, repeat 12 times. (300)
Round 52: purl
Round 53: *k2tog, k9, k1f&b twice, k10, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 54: knit
Rounds 55-58: repeat rounds 53-54.
Round 59: repeat round 53.
Round 60: purl
Round 61 (increase round): *k11, k1f&b twice, k12*, repeat 12 times. (324)
Round 62: purl
Round 63: knit
Round 64: purl
Round 65: *k2tog, k10, k1f&b twice, k11, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 66: knit
Rounds 67-70: repeat rounds 65-66 (total 324 sts before dividing for sleeves).
Divide for sleeves and bodice
Count sts and place markers: 108 sts for back, place a marker after st 108, 54 sts for right sleeve, place the another marker after st 54, 108 sts for front, place another marker after st 108, 54 sts for left sleeve (here we have the marker for the beginning of the round.
Using a spare needle work the back stitches only back and forth as follows:
Row 1: *k2tog, k10, k1f&b twice, k11, ssk*, repeat 4 times.
Rows 2-6: knit
Row 7: *k2tog, k10, k1f&b twice, k11, ssk*, repeat 4 times.
Row 8: purl
Rows 9-12: repeat rows 7-8.
Size XL
Yoke
With yarn A cast on 108 sts. Join into round taking care not to twist the sts, continue to work in rounds. Mark the beginning of the round.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: purl
Round 3: knit
Round 4: purl
With color B:
Round 5 : *k2tog, k1, k1f&b twice, k2, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 6: knit
Rounds 7-10: repeat rounds 5-6.
With yarn A:
Round 11: repeat round 5.
Round 12: purl
Round 13 (increase round): *k3, k1f&b twice, k4*, repeat 12 times.(132)
Round 14: purl
Round 15 (increase round): *k4, k1f&b twice, k5*, repeat 12 times. (156)
Round 16: purl
With yarn B
Round 17: *k2tog, k3, k1f&b twice, k4, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 18: knit
Rounds 19-22: repeat rounds 17-18.
With yarn A:
Round 23: repeat round 17.
Round 24: purl
Round 25 (increase round): *k5, k1f&b twice, k6*, repeat 12 times. (180)
Round 26: purl
Round 27 (increase round): *k6, k1f&b twice, k7*, repeat 12 times. (204)
Round 28: purl
With yarn B:
Round 29: *k2tog, k5, k1f&b twice, k6, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 30: knit
Rounds 31-34: repeat rounds 29-30.
With yarn A
Round 35: repeat round 29. Cut yarn B and continue with yarn A.
Round 36: purl
Round 37 (increase round): *k7, k1f&b twice, k8*, repeat 12 times.(228)
Round 38: purl
Round 39 (increase round): *k8, k1f&b twice, k9*, repeat 12 times. (252)
Round 40: purl
Round 41: *k2tog, k7, k1f&b twice, k8, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 42: knit
Rounds 43-46: repeat rounds 41-42.
Round 47: repeat round 41.
Round 48: purl
Round 49 (increase round): *k9, k1f&b twice, k10*, repeat 12 times. (276)
Round 50: purl
Round 51 (increase round): *k10, k1f&b twice, k11*, repeat 12 times. (300)
Round 52: purl
Round 53: *k2tog, k9, k1f&b twice, k10, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 54: knit
Rounds 55-58: repeat rounds 53-54.
Round 59: repeat round 53.
Round 60: purl
Round 61 (increase round): *k11, k1f&b twice, k12*, repeat 12 times.(324)
Round 62: purl
Round 63 (increase round): *k12, k1f&b twice, k13*, repeat 12 times. (348)
Round 64: purl
Round 65: *k2tog, k11, k1f&b, k1f&b, k12, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 66: knit
Rounds 67-70: repeat rounds 65-66.
Round 71: repeat round 65.
Round 72: purl
Round 73 (increase round): *k13, k1f&b twice, k14*, repeat 12 times. (372)
Round 74: purl
Round 75: knit
Round 76: purl
Round 77: *k2tog, k12, k1f&b, k1f&b, k13, ssk*, repeat 12 times.
Round 78: knit
Rounds 79-82: repeat rounds 65-66 (total 372 sts before dividing for sleeves).
Divide for sleeves and bodice
Count sts and place markers: 124 sts for back, place a marker after st 124, 62 sts for right sleeve, place another marker after st 62, 124 sts for front, place another marker after st 124, 62 sts for left sleeve (here we have the marker for the beginning of the round.
Using a spare needle work the back stitches only back and forth as follows:
Row 1: *k2tog, k12, k1f&b, k1f&b, k13, ssk*, repeat 4 times.
Rows 2-6: knit
Row 7: *k2tog, k12, k1f&b, k1f&b, k13, ssk*, repeat 4 times.
Row 8: purl
Rows 9-12: repeat rows 7-8.
Bodice
Knit 92 (108, 124) sts of the back, rm, transfer 46 (54, 62) sts of the right sleeve to a length of yarn, rm, knit 92 (108, 124) sts of the front, rm, transfer 46 (54, 62) sts of the left sleeve to a length of yarn, join and continue to work the bodice in rounds, do not remove the first marker, [184 (216, 248) sts] as follows:
Round 1: *k2tog, k8 (10, 12), k1f&b twice, k9 (11, 13), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 2: purl
Round 3: knit
Round 4: purl
Round 5: knit
Round 6: purl
Round 7: *k2tog, k8 (10, 12), k1f&b twice, k9 (11, 13), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 8: knit
Rounds 9-12: repeat rounds 7-8.
Round 13: *k2tog, k8 (10, 12), k1f&b twice, k9 (11, 13), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 14: purl
Round 15 (decrease round): *k2tog, k19 (23, 27), ssk*, repeat 8 times. [168, (200, 232)]
Round 16: purl
Round 17: knit
Round 18: purl
Round 19: *k2tog, k7 (9, 11), k1f&b twice, k8 (10, 12), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 20: knit
Rounds 21-24: repeat rounds 19-20.
Round 25: *k2tog, k7 (9, 11), k1f&b twice, k8 (10, 12), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 26: purl
Round 27 (decrease round): *k2tog, k17 (21, 25), ssk*, repeat 8 times. [152 (184, 216)]
Round 28: purl
Round 29: knit
Round 30: purl
Round 31: *k2tog, k6 (8, 10), k1f&b twice, k7 (9, 11), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 32: knit
Rounds 33-36: repeat rounds 31-32.
Round 37: *k2tog, k6 (8, 10), k1f&b twice, k7 (9, 11), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 38: purl
Round 39: knit
Round 40: purl
Round 41: knit
Round 42: purl
Round 43: *k2tog, k6 (8, 10), k1f&b twice, k7 (9, 11), ssk*, repeat 8 times.
Round 44: knit
Rounds 45-48: repeat rounds 43-44.
Rounds 49-60: repeat rounds 37-48.
Rounds 61-66: repeat rounds 37-42.
Bind off
Sleeves
Sleeves are worked in rounds on double pointed needles.
Transfer 46 (54, 62) sts from the length of yarn to the needles and pick up 11 sts over the edge of the back rows. You'll have 57 (65, 73) sts. Work 54 rounds as follows:
Round 1: *k2tog, k8 (10, 12), k1f&b twice, k9 (11, 13), ssk*, repeat 2 times, k2tog, k2, k1f&b twice, k3, ssk.
Round 2: purl
Round 3: knit
Round 4: purl
Round 5: knit
Round 6: purl
Round 7: *k2tog, k8 (10, 12), k1f&b twice, k9 (11, 13), ssk*, repeat 2 times, k2tog, k2, k1f&b twice, k3, ssk.
Round 8: knit
Rounds 9-12: repeat rounds 7-8.
Rounds 13-48: repeat rounds 1-12.
Rounds 49-54: repeat rounds 1-6.
Cast off.
Finishing:
Block the top.
Have fun!