How to Knit the Twisted Star Stitch [Tutorial]

The Spring It On! mystery shawl knitalong started on Monday, April 1. This post contains spoilers for the first clue so don't read ahead if you haven't yet knit the clue!

Clue 1 contains a textured and decorative stitch that's a little unusual — the twisted star stitch — that's done by working twice into the same three stitches with a yarnover in between.

The twisted star stitch is a variation of the star stitch that's usually done either by purling (if worked in stockinette) or knitting (if worked in garter stitch) three stitches together. In my version, the second K3tog is done through the back loops (that is, twisted) which makes the resulting star lie a little nicer.

There are two options for working the twisted stars in the pattern: either with slipped stitches or garter stitch between stars. Slipped stitches make the twisted stars pop out from the background but working garter stitch in between is a little easier to execute.

The twisted star stitch is worked over a multiple of 5 + 2 stitches and 2 rows.

The Slip Stitch Way

Row 1 (RS): (Slip 2, knit 3), repeat to last 2 stitches, slip 2.

Row 2 (WS): (Slip 2 with yarn in front, knit 3 together but don't drop the stitches from the left-hand needle, yarnover, work the same 3 stitches as knit 3 together through the back loops, then drop all 3 stitches from the left needle), repeat to last 2 stitches, slip 2 with yarn in front.

Remember to keep your yarn floats loose on the back of the work so that the fabric doesn't pucker.

The Garter Stitch Way

As said, this variation is a little bit easier to knit as you don't have to slip stitches or mind the floats. Now the twisted stars look like a daisy chain.

Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.

Row 2 (WS): *Knit 2, (K3tog, yo, K3tog tbl) into the next 3 stitches, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, knit 2.

For a smoother variation, work the 2 stitches between the stars in stockinette (that is, purl 2 on Row 2).

No matter which variation you choose, make sure you're working the "rays" of the star in the correct order on the next row. The right-most stitch tends to cross over the yarnover in the middle.

Just grab that stitch with the right needle tip and pull it in the right position.

Now you're ready to knit into the three stitches of the star.

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