Star Counterpane Block (Stitches in Time) : Knitty Winter 2011

by Franklin Habit

For almost as long as I’ve been a knitter, I’ve been fascinated by the history of knitting. I’ve especially enjoyed the mind-twisting process of working with the often obtuse and obfuscatory language of antique patterns. There’s a thrill, I find, in watching a project emerge row by row and knowing that other knitters, long gone, followed the same path.

The process of decoding, testing and correcting isn’t for everyone, though; and so in this column I hope to share the excitement of the journey by removing as many of the roadblocks as possible. You don’t need to be a historian to come along–just a knitter with a curious mind.

translated by Franklin Habit from A Knitting-Book of Counterpanes: Toilet-Covers, Pincushions, and Other Articles of Fancy Work (1871) by Mrs. George Cupples.

photos: Franklin Habit

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Will vary according to choice of yarn and needles.
With materials below, finished block is approximately 7 inches wide by 6 inches high after blocking.

MATERIALS
Yarn

Koigu KPM [100% merino wool; 175yds/50 gm skein]; color: 1203 (Sun Yellow); 1 skein (note: one block uses approximately 0.5 oz)

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #00/1.75mm straight needles

Notions
2 stitch markers
scissors
yarn needle

GAUGE

32 sts/48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

The star pattern, worked on the center 34 stitches of the block, is surrounded by a border of garter stitch. Mrs. Cupples calls for 8 stitches in the right and left borders; but if you plan to assemble multiple blocks for a blanket, consider reducing them to 4 stitches each (a total of 42 sts to CO). This will give you vertical and horizontal borders of similar widths after sewing.

Star Pattern
Use chart [see below] or written instructions as you prefer.

Row 1 [WS]: P9, k1, p14, k1, p9.
Even rows 2–20 [RS]: Knit.
Row 3 [WS]: P9, k2, p12, k2, p9.
Row 5 [WS]: P9, k3, p10, k3, p9.
Row 7 [WS]: P9, k4, p8, k4, p9.
Row 9 [WS]:P9, k5, p6, k5, p9.
Row 11 [WS]: P9, k6, p4, k6, p9.
Row 13 [WS]:P9, k7, p2, k7, p9.
Row 15 [WS]: P9, k16, p9.
Row 17 [WS]: P1, k15, p2, k15, p1.
Row 19 [WS]:P2, k13, p4, k13, p2.
Row 21 [WS]: P3, k11, p6, k11, p3.
Even rows 22–28[RS]: K15, p4, k15.
Row 23 [WS]: P4, k9, p2, k4, p2, k9, p4.
Row 25 [WS]:P5, k7, p3, k4, p3, k7, p5.
Row 27 [WS]: P6, k5, p4, k4, p4, k5, p6.
Row 29 [WS]: P7, k3, p1, k4, p4, k4, p1, k3, p7.
Even rows 30–34 [RS]: K11, p4, k4, p4, k11.
Row 31 [WS]: P8, k1, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k1, p8.
Row 33 [WS]:P8, k1, p2, k4, p4, k4, p2, k1, p8.
Row 35 [WS]:P7, k3, p1, k4, p4, k4, p1, k3, p7.
Row 36 [RS]: K10, p1, k4, p4, k4, p1, k10.
Row 37 [WS]: P6, k5, p4, k4, p4, k5, p6.
Even rows 38–42 [RS]: K15, p4, k15.
Row 39 [WS]: P5, k7, p3, k4, p3, k7, p5.
Row 41 [WS]: P4, k9, p2, k4, p2, k9, p4.
Row 43 [WS]: P3, k11, p6, k11, p3.
Even rows 44–62 [RS]: Knit.
Row 45 [WS]: P2, k13, p4, k13, p2.
Row 47 [WS]: P1, k15, p2, k15, p1.
Row 49 [WS]: P9, K16, p9.
Row 51 [WS]: P9, k7, p2, k7, p9.
Row 53 [WS]: P9, k6, p4, k6, p9.
Row 55 [WS]: P9, k5, p6, k5, p9.
Row 57 [WS]: P9, k4, p8, k4, p9.
Row 59 [WS]: P9, k3, p10, k3, p9.
Row 61 [WS]: P9, k2, p12, k2, p9.
Row 63 [WS]: P9, k1, p14, k1, p9.

Charts
The chart for this pattern is very large and fits on a letter-sized page.
Click here and print the resulting page.

DIRECTIONS

With MC, CO 50 sts.

Lower Border
Rows 1–9: Knit.
Row 10 (RS): K 8, place marker. K to last 8 sts, place marker. K 8 sts. (34 sts between markers.)

Body
Row 1 (WS): K8, work Star Pattern Row 1 between markers, k8.
Row 2 (RS): K8, work Star Pattern Row 2 between markers, k8.
Continue in pattern as established until Row 63 is complete.

Upper Border
Knit 10 rows, removing markers as you come to them.

BO.

FINISHING
Soak and gently block completed square. Lay flat to dry. When dry, weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Franklin Habit is the Chicago-based proprietor of the popular knitting blog The Panopticon and author of It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoons (Interweave Press), which has recently spawned both the Work in Progress Notebook and a 2011 calendar.

He doesn't loll about living history museums all day, since men in living history museums don't get to knit.