Named for the star-like clusters that decorate this shawl, Astra is a romantic crescent-shaped shawl with just a hint of intrigue. Featuring enchanting aster stitch motifs between alternating rows of stockinette and textured garter stitch stripes, this shawl uses relatively simple stitches to achieve a fantastical, textured effect. Astra is a great shawl to play with fun color combinations and works well with popular speckled colorways. Links to video tutorials for the Aster stitch motifs are included in the pattern.

Pattern kits are available from Long Dog Yarn.

Materials

• US 4 / 3.5 mm 32” circular needles
• tapestry needle
• stitch markers

Yarn

1 skein each Long Dog Yarn Bounce (100% Superwash merino; 436 yds / 100 g) in Freshwater Pearl (MC) and Fig (CC) or approximately 380 yds MC and 265 yds CC in comparable fingering weight yarn.

Gauge

22.5 sts x 35 rows = 4” in body pattern.

Note: Gauge is not essential for this project, however it will affect the final measurements and yarn requirements.

Size

Shawl measures approximately 63” along top border by 15” at widest point.

Pattern Difficulty

3 out of 5

Skills Required

knit, purl, yarn over, dropped stitches, k5tog, slipped stitches