This pattern is part of Per Aspera ad Astra set, including a beanie, a headband and a cowl with a big discount: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/pattern-set-per-...

Per Aspera ad Astra is a Latin sentence which means “through hardships to the stars” and inspires this beanie design featuring a star stitch. I think everyone can recognize a moment in their life in this sentence. It is also a metaphor about knitting this beanie: the star stitch can be a bit tricky to knit at the beginning, there are some details to pay attention to (explained in written instructions and video tutorial). But after the initial difficulties you will complete your beanie and it will be full of stars! As I said, “per Aspera ad Astra”.

The instructions are for super bulky, light bulky and worsted weight yarn and for sizes small, medium and large, but the pattern will work with any size and yarn weight as long as you cast on a number of stitches multiple of six.

Note: the pattern is worked with two colors but you work with only one color on each round.

My sample was knitted with Malabrigo Rasta, a super bulky yarn, for medium size. I used about 58 yards/53 meters for main color and 29 yards/27 meters for contrasting color; the needed yardage varies depending on size and yarn weight. If you knit the small or medium size, with two skeins of Rasta you will be able to knit two beanies with inverted colors.

The pattern includes a video tutorial about how to knit the star stitch and the central double decrease.

Finished size
• 16.5”/42 cm circumference for size small, can stretch up to 19”/48 cm
• 19”/48 cm circumference for size medium, can stretch up to 21.5”/55 cm
• 21”/54 cm circumference for size large, can stretch up to 24.5”/62 cm
• 8”/20 cm - 9”/23 cm length

Tools
• 16’’/40 cm circular needles or longer (if you use magic loop) or DPNs. Needle size: Super bulky US 13/9 mm - Light bulky US 9/5.5 mm - Worsted US 6/4 mm
• one stitch marker to identify the start of the round
• a tapestry needle for finishing

Skill level: intermediate

Knitting techniques and abbreviations
• long tail cast on, knit in the round
• slip 1: slip 1 stitch purlwise with working yarn in the back
• k2tog: knit two stitches together
• cdd (central double decrease): slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1 stitch, slip the 2 slipped stitches together over the knitted stitch (shown in video tutorial)
• star stitch: see later (shown in video tutorial)
• yo: yarn over
• MC: main color yarn (used for the brim and as background color)
• CC: contrasting color yarn (used for the stars)
• WS: wrong side (in the flat swatch)
• RS: right side (in the flat swatch)

Thanks for the photos to:
• @handmadestorybyhelena https://www.instagram.com/handmadestorybyhelena/
• @twolittlerainbows https://www.instagram.com/twolittlerainbows