Death Star

Death Star Knitted Toy by Carissa Browning

What Is Being Made

The Death Star is a small knitted toy designed by independent designer Carissa Browning. This project creates a three-dimensional spherical ornament or decorative toy with finished measurements of 12 inches in circumference and 4 inches in height. The piece is suitable for display, play, or as a finished handmade gift item.

Craft and Technique Overview

This is a knitting project worked primarily in the round using small-circumference circular needles or double-pointed needles. The construction method involves creating a sphere through strategic increases and decreases, which is a fundamental technique in three-dimensional knitted toy making. The pattern uses stockinette stitch as the primary fabric base, which creates a smooth, finished surface ideal for toy construction.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Death Star pattern employs several essential knitting techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) – used to create intentional holes and increase stitch count
• Knit front and back (kfb) – an increase method that creates new stitches from a single stitch
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used to shape the toy
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease technique
• Purl 2 together (p2tog) – a decrease worked on wrong-side rows
• Slip, slip, purl (ssp) – a left-leaning decrease on purl rows
• Stockinette stitch – the primary fabric structure (knit on right-side rounds, purl on wrong-side rounds when working flat sections)
• Yarn in front (wyif) – yarn positioning for specific stitch variations

Materials and Tools Required

This project uses DK weight yarn, specifically Plymouth Yarn Encore DK in color 466 Grey. The yarn composition is 75% acrylic and 25% wool, providing a blend of durability and warmth. One 50-gram skein, which contains 150 yards (137 meters), is sufficient to complete the entire toy.

Needles required are US 1 (2.25mm) circular needles or double-pointed needles, chosen for their small diameter to accommodate the fine gauge required for this project. Additional supplies include fiber fill or waste yarn for stuffing the completed toy and a tapestry needle for finishing and seaming.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch. This relatively tight gauge is essential for creating a dense fabric that holds stuffing securely without gaps. The finished toy is one size, making this a straightforward project with no sizing adjustments needed.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The intermediate classification reflects the requirement to work in the round with small needles, manage multiple decrease and increase techniques, and successfully shape a three-dimensional object through strategic stitch manipulation.

Pattern Format

The Death Star pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it accessible to knitters seeking a no-cost toy project. The digital format allows for easy printing and reference while working.