FIBERSPRCE Beaded Aquarium Series: Starfish P-15
The Starfish and Baby Starfish are worked flat using the beaded knitting technique described below. Instructions are given for making a flat Starfish with beads on one side only, a flat Starfish with beads on both sides, and a 3-D Starfish. Part of the Beaded Aquarium Series, the Starfish looks great in a fish bowl or aquarium (no water, please!) hanging in a “fish mobile" or as a pin. See Suggestions at end of pattern for more applications of this design. One hank of seed beads and one ball of perle cotton will make at least three Starfish. Finished size: Starfish - 4" across, Baby Starfish - 2" across.
Materials
Size 8 DMC perle cotton, 1 ball #61 gold variegated, white (Christmas Star), or #310 black (Star Pin) US Size 0000 (1.25mm) double pointed needles Size 11 seed beads, 1-5 strands/Starfish, clear or light topaz with variegated, silver-lined clear or silver-lined topaz with white, silver-lined multicolor with black Small sewing needle Small amount of matching carded wool or soft yarn for 3-D Starfish Monofilament line or silver/gold cord to hang fish 11/2" pin back for Star Pin Gauge: 10 sts/1" in beaded knitting
Techniques
Transferring Seed Beads To Cotton - In order to do bead knitting, seed beads must first be transferred from the hank to the cotton. For best results, place the hank of beads on a cookie sheet or something similar to catch "runaways". Carefully separate one end of one strand from the hank. Tie a knot around the last bead in the strand and remove the other end from the hank. This will keep the beads from slipping off the end. Unwind 3-4 yards of cotton. Tie (one tie only, do not knot) the unknotted end of the bead string to the cotton, about 12"-1" from the end. Gently slide the beads from the strand, over the tie and onto the cotton. Transfer short sections of beads and move them down the full length of the cotton. If a bead will not go over the tie, undo it and remove the bead. As the work progresses, continue to gently slide the beads down the length of the cotton. Beaded Knitting (Kslip) - Insert the needle into the st to be knit, slide bead up against needle and knit the st. This technique is used when knitting on the wrong side (WS) and results in bead placement on the right side (RS). inc - increase. Knit in the front and the back of the next st. To increase with beads, place bead on first st of increase only. yf - yarn forward. Bring the yarn forward as if to purl and turn the work. k2tog tbl - knit 2 sts together through back loop. Insert the right needle through the back loops of the next 2 sts and knit, Kslip if instructions require. Knitted Cast-On - Hold the work in your left hand. Insert the right needle between the last 2 sts on the left needle. Bring yarn around back and knit, pulling the new st between the last two sts and up onto the left needle. If working a Kslip row, knit the first st without a bead. BO Kslip - bind off with beads. Knit the first st without a bead, Kslip the following st, pass the first st over the Kslip st. Continue to Kslip across.
General Guidelines
Throughout this pattern these guidelines and their exceptions apply unless otherwise noted: 1) The first stitch of every row is slipped knitwise. Exception: Do not slip the first st on rows beginning with a knitted cast-on. 2) All RS rows are worked without beads, i.e., Slip 1, \*knit\*, across. When making Variation B, Kslip is used on all rows, RS and ws. 3) All wS rows are worked with beads, i.e., Slip 1, \*Kslip\*, across. PLEASE NOiE: Ine Startish arms curl a little, just like a real Starfish. If you have excessive curling, you might want to use a larger needle or take care not to work the increases and decreases too tightly. Starfish Body Transfer beads as required by each variation to cotton (See Techniques). Rows that repeat often are in bold letters for easy reference. Variation A - Flat Starfish/Beads on Right Side Only Transfer 3 strands of beads to cotton. Cast on 10 sts. Row 1: (RS) Knit across loosely without beads. Do not slip the first stitch. Row 2: (WS) Using Knitted Cast-On, cast on 1 st (See Techniques). Knit this st without a bead, Kslip to last stitch, yf, turn. Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15: Slip 1, knit to last st, inc (See Techniques). Row 4: Cast on 1 st as in Row 2, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 2 sts, yf, turn. Row 6: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 3 sts, yf, turn. Row 8: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 4 sts, yf, turn. Row 10: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 5 sts, yf, turn. Row 12: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 6 sts, yf, turn. Row 14: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 7 sts, yf, turn. Row 16: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 8 sts, yf, turn. (25 sts) Rows 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31: Slip 1, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog tbl. Row 18: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 7 sts, yf, turn. Row 20: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 6 sts, yf, turn. Row 22: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 5 sts, yf, turn. Row 24: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 4 sts, yf, turn. Row 26: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 3 sts, yf, turn. Row 28: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 2 sts, yf, turn. Row 30: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last stitch, yf, turn. Row 32: Slip 1, \*Kslip\* across. (10 sts) Row 33: Slip 1, \*k\* across. One Starish arm complete. Repeat Rows 2-33 four more times, then bind off using Kslip across. Finishing: Join body at cast on and bind off edges. Weave in tails.
Variation B - Flat Starfish/Beads On Both Sides
Transfer 5 strands of beads to cotton. Cast on 10 sts. Kslip on all rows - including Row 1. Bind off using Kslip. Finishing: Use one tail to sew cast on and bind off edges together on one side, being careful to bring the rows of beads together closely. Use the other tail to do the same on the opposite side. Weave in tails.
Variation C - 3-D Starfish/Beads on Right Side
Transfer 6 strands of beads to cotton. Cast on 10 sts, leaving an 18" tail for sewing the pieces together. Knit same as Variation A. Make two. Finishing: Join body at cast on and bind off edges. With WS together, join around outside edge. At halfway point, start stuffing lightly with carded wool. Cover stuffing with finger to avoid catching in stitches. Hide knot and sew tail inside.
Baby Starfish/Starfish Pin
Variations A, B and C listed above can be applied to the Baby Starfish as well. Transfer one strand of beads per Starfish side to cotton. Cast on 6 sts. Row 1: (RS) Knit across loosely without beads. Do not slip the first stitch. Row 2: (WS) Using Knitted Cast-On, cast on 2 sts (See Techniques), k first st without a bead, Kslip to last stitch, yf, turn. Rows 3, 5, 7: Slip 1, K to last st, inc (See Techniques). Row 4: Cast on 2 sts, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 2 sts, yf, turn. Row 6: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 3 sts, yf, turn. Row 8: Cast on 1 st, k first st without bead, Kslip to last 4 sts, yf, turn. (15 sts) Rows 9, 11, 13, 15: Slip 1, k to last 2 sts, k2 tog tbl. Row 10: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 4 sts, yf, turn. Row 12: BO Kslip 1 stitch, Kslip to last 3 sts, yf, turn. Row 14: BO Kslip 2 stitches, Kslip to last 2 sts, yf, turn. Row 16: BO Kslip 2 stitches, Kslip to end. (5 sts) Row 17: Slip 1, k to last st, inc. (6 sts) RepeatRows 2-17three more times. For fifth arm, repeat Rows 2-16 only. Bind off. Finishing: See finishing notes for variations A, B & C above. For Starfish Pin, sew pin back to WS.
Suggestions
3-D Starfish (Variation C) can be hung in a "fish mobile' by running a length of monofilament through the tip of one arm. Match up the ends of the monofilament. Tie an overhand knot up against the tip of the arm and another near the ends of the monofilament. Flat Starfish (Variations A & B) can live in a dry aquarium amid seashells and colorful gravel. Starfish and Baby Starfish in Variation A can be used as bead appliques. Try them on sweaters, straw hats and beach bags. Make stars for a Christmas tree (white Starfish in photo) using the Baby Starfish pattern (Variation B or C), white cotton and gold or silver beads. Tie a gold or silver ribbon through the tip of one arm to hang star. Starfish coasters (use Variation B) are fun to use on the patio or alongside the pool. Have fun with this versatile pattern!
