Star-Cross'd Love by Kristina Sutherland

Star-Cross'd Love

Knitting
February 2008
Bulky (7 wpi) ?
14 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette (Jersey)
US 10½ - 6.5 mm
548 - 685 yards (501 - 626 m)
XS
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

“A cardigan by any other name…”

Whether in rose or orange, the Star-Cross’d Love is sure to capture your heart. Worked from the top down, with minimal seaming, this cardigan knits up fast in a chunky yarn.

Yardage variation is for short and long-sleeved versions.

Measurements:

  • 32.5” chest (not counting the double-breasted portion)
  • 16.4” length from shoulder to the bottom edge

(either XS/S for a woman, or nice and big for a child)

A new tech-edited version of this pattern is now available. The previous file is also available for download, but the new version should clear up any confusion the previous version caused.

As this is one size, there are some common modifications you may be interested in:

  • Many users have added an extra cable to the back, or have added an extra k1, p1 to each ribbed section.
  • Some users have swatched cables to decide how many to add. (I would suggest swatching the cables and rib pattern together, since the cables will pull in and the ribs will stretch.)
  • Some knitters have changed the cables in Section B so that they cable every fourth row, instead of every other row.
  • Some knitters have ended their torso in a k1, p1 rib rather than the pattern in Section D.
  • Some knitters have changed Section D so that the ribbing continues, while the cables of Section C split into two smaller cables (C2B, p2, C2B).
  • Some users have opted for a different closing - like a button loop with a button around the bust rather than the buttonhole on the waist.
  • Funybunygrl’s project) added cap sleeves and reworked the collar so that the part behind the neck is just ribbed (this way, you’re not seeing the weird backside of the cables).
  • Jcolney’s project criss-crosses the cables.
  • Mamaurchin knitted hers with aran yarn and size 7 needles for a child size.
  • SherrieH’s project makes a rather cool suggestion to make the entire thing seamless: rather than knitting the Upper Left Front and Upper Right Front at the same time as the Upper Back, use a provisional cast-on (I prefer this method, but you can use your favorite) to cast on the 56 stitches for the Upper Back. Knit the Upper Back as directed. Put the live stitches on waste yarn. Undo your provisional cast-on, putting the 56 stitches from the cast-on edge back onto your needles. Using the first 15 stitches, knit the first row of your Upper Left Front. Put the remaining stitches on waste yarn, and continue knitting the Upper Left Front until reaching the end of the instructions, where you cut the yarn. Put the live stitches on waste yarn. Take the last 15 stitches from your Upper Back (keep the middle stitches on waste yarn - when you knit the Collar, use these instead of picking up stitches) and knit the Upper Right Front as directed. Then continue with the pattern.

Here are some suggestions that I’ve tried to think of for size modifications as well:

1: check your gauge. Make sure you know how many stitches and how many rows are needed for each portion.

2: Measure to see what you need for different parts. I think you can see in my preview picture that the sideways cables don’t really go to below my bust, and that is something you want to figure out - do you want it to go to underneath your bust line, and if so how long is that?

3: adding in alternate cables. Segment A charts have 9 stitches which are just ribbing - you may want to change this so that you have the C5 cables, 5 stitches of ribbing p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, then a C2 cable, 5 stitches of ribbing, and back to the C5 - that way you can add in extra stitches and not be adding more ribbing or too many stitches to add another couple of chunky cables.

4: Consider adding increases in the Segment B Collar section for larger busts.

If you’re not sure about what you need for your measurements, a good standard chart is available online.

These diagrams will tell you what you can measure if you need bespoke customizing.

This is a standardized size chart organized by bust size.

Do you know of another modification that is cool and/or popular? Do you have better suggestions for sizing modifications? Please let me know by private message, and I’ll add it!