While we were developing our Strange Brew recipe we thought to ourselves, ‘knitters are going to want to know what this looks like’, and so we created Dog Star. This twinkly yoke is was designed following our recipe, with 3 patterned sections, separated by decrease rounds.
My favourite part of this design was experimenting with colour. For Bodhi’s little sweater I kept it utterly simple by using 2 colours. The main colour is a classic neutral, and the contrast colour is a subtly variegated yarn, which adds some depth and interest. The high contrast between the two colours makes the pattern really pop. This kind of two-contrast pair with strong contrast is a great starting place if you are new to colourwork.
When I swatched the charts for the adult sizes I experimented with changing the background colour and the contrast colour part with through each chart. It has a completely different look! That is really the charm and addictive nature of colourwork for me, the same pattern with a few minor tweaks is a whole new sweater. Check out our posts on our favourite colour combos, and choosing a palette for colourwork too.
Dog Star Pattern Details
Pattern: Dog Star
Sizing: 0-6mo (6-12mo, 1-2yr, 2-4yr, 4-6yr, 6-8yr, 8-10yr, Women’s XS, S, SM, M, ML, L, LXL, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL, Men’s S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL)
Finished Chest Measurement: 17.5 (19.5, 22, 24, 26, 28.5, 30.5, 32.5, 35, 37, 39.5, 41.5, 43.5, 46, 48, 50, 54.5, 59, 37, 41.5, 46, 50, 54.5, 59, 63.5)”Yarn: DK weight yarn in two or more colours
MC: 300 (400, 500, 650, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200,1300, 1500, 1700, 1900, 2000, 2200, 2300) yds
CC: 100 (125, 150, 175, 175, 200, 225, 250, 250, 275, 275, 300, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 400,300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450) yds
Sample shown in Sweet Fiber Merino Twist DK in ‘paper birch and ‘tree line’, adult charts shown in ‘charcoal’, ‘chartreuse’, ‘sea glass’ and ‘winter’
So, if you are a little hesitant to use our Strange Brew pattern to design your own Fair Isle yoke, get started with Dog Star! Pick your 2 contrasting shades (or many!) and cast on.
Join the party!
We’re hosting an epic Strange Brew (and Dog Star) Knitalong. It starts Thursday October 19 and running for a full 7 weeks, until Monday December 11th. Join in the chat on our Facebook group, then list your finished knit in our Ravelry thread for a chance to win a prize. We will release more details when the KAL begins, but for now just get the pattern and start choosing colours!
More Fair Isle fabulous with TCK:
August 1, 2021 @ 6:37 am
Hi Firstly thank you for all your posts, patterns and pics – you are my go-to for everything knitting….
Could you please explain on pg 3 of dogstar, under yoke, first para – I am knitting Men’s L – do I knit 26 rows of MC before I start the yoke charts? Am just a bit confused as this doesnt seem to match the pics I have seen.
Thank you.
August 3, 2021 @ 3:54 pm
Hi Sharon – yep, there are more plain rounds in the larger sizes before the yoke patterning.