Knitting Stitch: Estonian Starflower Stitch Tutorial

The honest truth? We couldn’t wait for December to come to show you the Estonian Starflower Stitch, then all of a sudden December had already started without us even noticing, so here we are! Late, but so happy to present you THE lace knitting stitch that gives all the Christmas vibes 🎄

This, as the name suggests, is a big stitch from the Estonian knitting tradition, which is full of incredible lace and eyelet stitches like this one.

The Estonian Starflower Stitch reminds of the popular Christmas ornamental flower plant Poinsettia. Elegant and sophisticated, it is perfect to recreate using twisted ore voluminous yarns like mohair.

Estonian Starflower Knitting Stitch for Christmas

 

Obviously, despite the Christmas magic that this stitch spreads all around, nothing can keep you from using it all year round for its elegance and delicacy!

You’ve known us for some time now: we have a strong attraction to mohair when it comes to lace stitches. Needless to say, we couldn’t resist 😅

 

The Estonian Starflower Stitch reminds of the popular Christmas ornamental flower plant Poinsettia. Elegant and sophisticated, it is perfect to recreate using twisted ore voluminous yarns like mohair.

 

To get a swatch as the one pictured above:

What knitting techniques do you need to know?

  • Knit and Knit TBL (through the back loop)
  • Purl
  • Yarn over
  • Decreases: knit 2 stitches together, SKP (slip, knit, pass over), SK2P (slip, knit 2 together, pass over)

This stitch recreates the shape of the popular Christmas ornamental flower plant Poinsettia, with its pointed petals. The base of each flower is obtained by making groups of 9 stitches (starting from the same 3 base stitches), which naturally get into a “fan” shape. From these 9 stitches, you will create 3 pointed petals by using the SKP2 decrease technique. The flowers are surrounded by a lace design: to get the eyelets you will simply yarn over as stated in the pattern.

It looks complicated, but with a little practice (and great satisfaction) you’ll see it’s not!

Abbreviations

In this tutorial, you will find the following abbreviations:

  • K = knit
  • P = purl
  • YO = yarn over
  • K2TOG = knit 2 stitches together
  • SKP = slip-knit-pass over decrease
  • SK2P = slip-K2TOG-pass over decrease
  • M = (K1, K1 through the back loop) into the same stitch – while working M, pull on each stitch upwards to elongate it
  • 3/1 = (K1, YO, K1) into same stitch – while working 3/1, pull on each stitch upwards to elongate it
  • 9/3 = insert the right needle into the next 3 stitches (as if to K3TOG), yarn over (as if to K) and pull yarn out without dropping the 3 stitches off the left needle, *YO, insert right needle into same 3 stitches, yarn over and pull yarn out without dropping the 3 stitches off the left needle*, repeat from * to * 3 more times, drop the 3 stitches off the left needle (9 stitches have been made into 3 stitches) – while working 9/3, pull on each stitch upwards to elongate it

 

How to knit the Estonian Starflower Lace Stitch

Cast on a multiple of 12 + 7 stitches.

Row 1 [RS = right side]:
  • K2, *K3, YO, SK2P, YO, K6.*.
  • Repeat from * to * to the last 5 sts. End with K3, YO, SKP.
Row 2 [WS = wrong side] and following even rows:

Purl rows.

Row 3:
  • M, 3/1, *SK2P, K3, SK2P, 9/3*.
  • Repeat from * to * to last 5 sts. End with SK2P, K2.
Row 5:
  • K2, YO, K3, *SKP, K1, K2TOG, (K3, YO) x2, K3*.
  • Repeat from * to * to last 3 sts. End with SKP, K1.
Row 7:
  • K2, YO, K, YO, SK2P, *(SK2P) x2, YO, K1, YO, K3, YO, K1, YO, SK2P.*
  • Repeat from * to * to last 2 sts. End with SKP.
Row 9:
  • K2TOG, YO, K3, *K6, YO, SK2P, YO, K3*.
  • Repeat from * to * to last 2 sts. End with K2.
Row 11:
  • K2, SK2P, *9/3, SK2P, K3, SK2P*.
  • Repeat from * to * to last 2 sts. End with 3/1, M.
Row 13:
  • K1, K2TOG, *(K3, YO) x2, K3, SKP, K1, K2TOG*.
  • Repeat from * to * to last 5 sts. End with K3, YO, K2.
Row 15:
  • K2TOG, *SK2P, YO, K1, YO, K3, YO, K1, YO, (SK2P) x2*.
  • Repeat from * to * to last 6 sts. End with SK2P, (YO, K1) x2, K1.

Continue working repeating Rows 1 – 16. End with a Row 2 or Row 10.

Estonian Starflower Stitch Chart

Estonian Starflower Stitch knitting chart for flat knitting. This is an advanced knitting chart.

Save it on your Pinterest knitting board!

 

Let us know in the comment section below what you’re going to knit using this stitch and share your creations on Instagram using the hashtag #bettaknit!

If you like this stitch, check out our English Mesh Lace Stitch tutorial!

✨ BettaKnit Team wishes you Happy Holidays! ✨