Use DK or thicker yarn (or two ends of four ply, and 3 or 4mm needles (in order to get a solid fabric which will retain its shape well).

Abbreviations:
K - knit
K2tog - knit 2sts together
YO – Yarn over (to make a new stitch)

Central body
Cast on 7sts
Row 1 K 7
Row 2 K2,YO,K3,YO, K2 (9sts)
Row 3 K9
Row 4 K2,YO,K5,YO,K2 (11sts)
Row 5 K11
Row 6 K2,YO,K7,YO,K2(13sts)
Row 7 K13
Row 8-13 K13 over 6 rows straight
Row 14 K2, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K2 (11sts)
Row 15 K11
Row 16 K2, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K2 (9sts)
Row 17 K9
Row 18 K2, K2tog,K1,K2tog, K2 (7sts)
Row 19 K7
Cast off 6sts, leaving the last st on the needle.

First ‘star’ point
Turn your work and using your working needlle, pick up 6sts back along the edge of your work, making 7sts on your needle. You are going to be knitting 4 more points around the edge, so judge the spacing of the pickup accordingly.
Row 1 K7
Row 2 K7 – (to save sewing up you can catch the yarn ‘tail’ into the row by knitting it in)
Row 3 K1, K2tog, K4 (6sts)
Row 4 K6
Row 5 K6
Row 6 K6
Row 7 K1, K2tog, K3 (5sts)
Row 8 K5sts
Row 9 K1, K2tog, K2(4sts)
Row 10 K4
Row 11 K1, K2tog,K1 (3sts)
Row12 K3
Row 13 K1, K2tog (2sts)
Row 14-16 K2 over 3 rows straight
Row 17 K2tog (1st)
Row 18-20 K1, over 3 rows straight
Cast off 1st

Second ‘star’ point
Pick up the next 7sts along the edge to the left of the first star, knit as the first one and repeat around the edge for ‘star’ points 3, 4 and 5.
Sew the ends in and tidy the starfish as necessary.

Do feel free to share this pattern to make starfish for the Underwater World project, but please credit the author.

Vikki Haffenden May 2009