A birthday present for Amber Smith’s surprise 40th birthday party! Sending to Kentucky.

Using hypatia for the star stitch instruction, with my own braided band.

CO 20
3 rows garter
4 garter, 12 stockinette, 4 garter basic pattern throughout
Slip first stitch purlwise wyif throughout
Begin with 6 rows in basic pattern
Braid on every 6th row, 20 crossings total.
(On first 4 crossings, add a YO at the crossing to create extra space to use as button hole)
End with 6 rows in basic pattern, 3 rows garter.

Pick up 2 stitches in each slipped stitch (twice), then 1 stitch for 5 total stitches over 3 stitches, around.

4 repeats of the star pattern for 8 stars before starting decreases.
Move BOR back 2 stitches on each pattern row

Round 1: Star, k1, Star, k2, k2tog, k1
Rnd 2: knit
Rnd3: Star, k1, Star, k2, k2tog
Rnd4: knit
5: Star, k2, k2tog, k3
6: knit past the star, k1, k2tog
7: Star, k2, k2tog, k1
8: knit past star, k1, k2tog
9 and following - k2tog on each leading star edge
Pull through last 12 stitches.