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-...

Note: if you purchase or already purchased “Per Aspera ad Astra beanie” you get a discounted price when buying this pattern.

“Per Aspera ad Astra” is a Latin sentence which means “through hardships to the stars” and inspires this 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 stitch: it 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 headband 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 36 grams/22 yards/20 meters for main color and 43 grams/26 yards/24 meters for contrasting color; the needed yardage varies depending on size and yarn weight.

The pattern includes a video tutorial about how to knit the star stitch; I recommend watching the video tutorial before you start knitting. A matching cowl pattern will be released soon.

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 height
• 4.5”/11.5 cm height

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
• star stitch: see later (shown in video tutorial)
• yo: yarn over
• k2tog tbl: knit 2 stitches together through back loop
• MC: main color yarn (used for the brim and as background color)
• CC: contrasting color yarn (used for the stars, cast on and bind off)
• WS: wrong side (in the flat swatch)
• RS: right side (in the flat swatch)

Thanks for the photos to:
• @dbknits55 https://www.instagram.com/dbknits55/
• @isle.stitch https://www.instagram.com/isle.stitch/
• @shelahknits https://www.instagram.com/shelahknits/
• @handmadestorybyhelena https://www.instagram.com/handmadestorybyhelena/
• @unraveled.handknits https://www.instagram.com/unraveled.handknits/
• @wildernesshomeknits https://www.instagram.com/wildernesshomeknits/