Free knitting patterns inspired by outer space including rockets, planets, aliens, stars, moon, ufos, comets, and more. Most patterns are free. Updated 9/3/23
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These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Alien Encounter Socks
These socks tell a story of a friendly visit with extraterrestrials in knit including the aliens, their spaceship, their home, and more. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Benita Story
We Come in Peace Pillow
A friendly alien extraterrestrial on this fun cushion cover communicates the message "We Come In Peace". Size 16 x 16 in. (40.5 x 40.5 cm). Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand
Moon's Craters Hat
A cable pattern inspired by the craters on the Moon's surface turn this slightly slouchy hat into an out of this world fashion statement. Kopernikus designed by Anna-Mia Heikkinen. DK weight yarn.
Spaced Out Blanket
Outer space themed baby blanket with rocket spaceship, planets, and stars. Designed by Amy Bahrt for Cascade Yarns.
Shooting Star Sweater and Cardigan
Child's sweater with intarsia star with rainbow striped tail with cardigan and pullover options. Sizes 3 to 7 years. DK weight yarn. Shooting Star Sweater and Cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly DK 2586.
Illusion Space Scarf
An illusion-knit scarf that shows a rocket ship heading to a ringed planet in a field of stars when viewed edge-on and stripes from the side. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Andrea Blumberg.
UFO Baby Sweater
Flying saucers circle the yoke of this baby pullover. Sizes 6 12 18 24 mos. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Bernat. A kit is also available.
Halley's Comet Hat
The crown of this hat resembles a comet head bursting light with a trail behind it in chevron lace separated by eyelets. Halley’s is the most well known of the comets and has been inspiring humans since at least 240 BC. 2 sizes. Uses one skein of Aran weight yarn. Designed by Marnie MacLean.
Rocket Ship Washcloth
Outer space themed dishcloth, wash cloth, or afghan block with with rocket and moon or planet in knit and purl stitches. Designed by Zebbie Barback.
Wisdom of the Moon Shawl
The phases of the moon framed in tiny stars and a slipped-stitch chevron pattern create a striking triangular shawl. Designed by Liz Capik. DK weight yarn.
Blast Off Rocket
Toy rocket stuffie serves double duty: transporting astronauts to the moon and beyond, and transporting sleepy heads to dreamland. Designed by Jenna Swanson. Aran weight yarn.
Alien Hat
Extraterrestrial alien heads gaze out at humans from this beanie hat. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Samantha West.
Flying Saucers Blanket
Baby blanket knit with UFO space them. Knit with just one yarn strand per row using easy slip stitch mosaic colorwork. Written instructions and charts. Designed by Bernat. Sport weight yarn.
Rocket Ship Sweater
Outer space themed pullover in child sizes with a rocket ship. Instructions are for duplicate stitch but I think you could use whatever colorwork technique you prefer. Sizes 2 to 10 years. Designed by Marly Bird for Yarnspirations. Worsted weight yarn.
Out Of This World Spaceship
Toy rocket softie originally designed as a Christmas decoration. I replaced the foil insert in the porthole with a child's photo. I think you could also replace with a fun interior spaceship scene from a favorite TV show or movie. The original porthole trim is a wreath. I changed the colors so it would be work year-round. Size Approx 6½” 16.5 cm tall. Designed by Nancy Anderson for Yarnspirations. Fingering weight yarn. Background is one of the James Webb Telescope photos.
Starbeing Cowl
Space themed cowl featuring extraterrestrial aliens and rockets. I think you could also use this design for other projects like sweaters and blankets. Designed by Vikki Perkins. Worsted weight yarn.
Anybody Out There?
A rocket with space traveler meets an alien in a UFO near Saturn on this scarf that is double knit but can be adapted for intarsia or duplicate stitch. Designed by Galagonya Gulova Workshop.
More Free Patterns
I've Made You the Moon
This clever moon toy softie has craters that are created by picking on stitches on the surface of the ball. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Rosie Bill. Great room decoration or toy for your favorite little (or big) astronomer!
Solar System Baby Sweater
This baby cardigan features planets and stars in intarsia. The text in the back is the name of the designer's son and can easily be changed. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Honey Pollack and titled "Kohavim"
Rocket
Rocket ship toy about 21cm (8 in) high. Use cardboard for the structure of the fins. Designed by Sachiyo Ishii. Excerpted from Mini Knitted Cosmos: Over 40 Woolly Aliens, Rockets, Planets and Other Astro-Knits
The Goldilocks Zone
Space-themed fingerless mitts knit with a starry sky above a dramatic sunset. Inspired by Laura Lam’s novel Goldilocks. Designed by Dianna Walla / Paper Tiger.
Dancing Star Baby Bunting
Dress your little star as a star. Designed by Lion Brand Yarn. Bulky weight. Pictured project by thunderbean who said it was so cozy the recipient fell asleep as soon as she was put in the bunting. One size fits Infant – 3 months.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the Bernat Pipsqueak yarn used in the pictured project
Rocket
Small rocket ship toy knit with 10 - 20 yards (9 - 18 m) of yarn. Use cardboard for the structure of the fins. Designed by Knitting by Post.
Sweet Moon Mitts
Fingerless mitts with stranded man in the moon motifs. Designed by Grace Lidinsky-Smith.
Starry Nights Sweater
Child's pullover with henley neckline and a stranded design of suns, moons, and stars. Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8. DK weight yarn. Designed by Sam Godden.
Rocket Ship
Rocket toy softie with separate small astronaut who can be stored in rocket hatch. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Katie Boyette.
Alien Superhero Socks
These socks are covered with the friendliest of extraterrestrials in stranded colorwork. Size options: Foot circumference unstretched/stretched: Newborn – 4.5 /6 inches (11/15cm); X-small – 4.75/6 inches (12/15cm); S – 5.5/7.5 inches (15/19cm); M – 6.25/8.25 inches (16/21cm); L – 6.75/8.75 inches (17/22cm). Designed by Mary Pat McGurk. Pictured projects by niemiecp and TalyaInLove
Goodnight Moon Pillow
This man in the moon crescent shaped softie is knit in the round, with no seaming required. The pattern is easily memorized because it is the same three rounds repeated from one end to the other. Gussets are added for the nose and mouth. The night cap can be personalized with stripes, tassels, embroidery, etc. Measurements after stuffing are 12 X 6 inches. Designed by Sara Elizabeth Kellner.
Water Bear / Tardigrade
Water bears, also known as tardigrades, are microscopic animals that are almost indestructible. They are the first known animal to survive after exposure to outer space after traveling on various missions including to the space station, shuttle Endeavor, to Phobos, and even a lunar lander. This water bear is knitted in the round and is relatively simple to make. The finished toy tardigrade measures 9 inches long and 4.5 inches tall. Designed by Sara Luna Adelt.
Mars Rover Hat
This beanie is a salute to both the Curiosity Rover and the upcoming Mars 2020 rover. (The outline triangle under the back of the rover is the ground penetrating radar signal from a science instrument on the back of Mars 2020.) Designed by Sarah Milkovich. DK weight yarn.
Alien Hat
This hat is out of this world, featuring a cable design down the centre of the head, and embroidered details to enhance the glistening gaze of the bug-eyed alien. Designed by Vanessa Mooncie, excerpted from Monster Hats: 15 Scary Head-Warmers to Knit. Bulky weight yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
Get Monster Hats: 15 Scary Head-Warmers to Knit at Amazon
Astronomer’s Beret
Simple embroidery creates a star chart of the winter night sky that is visible in the northern hemisphere on this hat with a three-color, corrugated ribbed band. DK weight yarn. Designed by Merri Fromm for Knitty
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Consider supporting Knitty on Patreon
- See more Beret Knitting Patterns
Lunar Mittens
Phases of the moon in stranded colorwork. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Holly C. Watson
Patterns for Purchase
Rocket Sweater
Space themed sweater in adult and child versions. On the front the rocket is soaring into space past the Sun, Earth, Mercury, Venus, and the Moon. On the back are the outer planets in a starry sky. The sleeves are mirrored comets shooting through the starry sky. Adult sizes S, M, L. Child sizes 3 and 5 years old. DK weight yarn. Designed by AmarinalevinHandknits.
Space Mobile
Mobile with the sun, planets, space rockets, UFOs, and astronaut and alien, suspended from a wooden embroidery hoop covered with yarn. DK weight yarn. Designed by Amanda Berry.
Rockets to Mars Sweater
Unisex sweater with rocketships blasting off around the yoke and with optional waist shaping for a more feminine silhouette. Sizes 28 to 60 in; 71 to 152 cm. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Interstellar Dreams.
Space Blanket
Outer space patchwork blanket featuring Saturn, Earth, the Moon, a galaxy, and stars. DK weight yarn. Designed by Rubyandthefoxes.
Space Walk Sweater
Outer space themed children's sweater with a unique touch an astronaut is held in the rocket's pocket and go for a space walk against the background of earth and stars. Sizes approx ages 2-6. Great stash buster for leftover DK weight yarn. Designed by Nicola Garner.
Solar System
Instructions to make the planets, Pluto planetoid, and our star, the sun. This pattern comes in written and chart instructions. Sizes from Sun: 10 cm to Pluto 2 cm. Great stash buster for leftover DK weight yarn. Designed by Ruth Haydock.
Reach for the Stars Sweater, Blanket, and Pillow
A brightly colored space rocket with a fiery trail blazes across this outer space themed children's jumper, matching baby blanket, and cushion cover. Sweater sizes 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12) years. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Vikki Bird.
Alien Autopsy
Science fiction based toy or diorama of an extraterrestrial. Available as pattern or kit. Great stash buster! Designed by Emily Stoneking.
Ignition
Space-themed leg-warmers with a rocket spaceship taking off with exhaust plumes. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Annie Watts.
Orbital Ornaments
Space-themed ornaments including rocket, satellite, flying saucer, ringed planet, and sun. These work up quickly and are great for your stash of sock yarn leftovers. They would also make a great baby mobile or playtime toys. Designed by Laura Chau.
Mini Knitted Cosmos: Over 40 Woolly Aliens, Rockets, Planets and Other Astro-Knits
Bestselling author Sachiyo Ishii offers 40 adorable projects including astronauts, space shuttles, moon buggies, UFOs, rockets, planets and a whole host of astro-animals such as dogs, bears, kangaroos, bunnies and mice. There's no limit to the fun you can have with these cute mini knits! All the projects are quick and relatively easy to make, with very easy techniques to follow. There is a step-by-step section on how to sew the figures and animals together and the patterns are all suitable for competent beginners. Available in ebook and print.
Solar System Blanket
Circular blanket worked from the center outward. The solar system is accurately scaled in Astronomical Units (except for the sun), and finishes with an attached garter stitch edge. Designed by Emily Bujold. Pictured projects by Darlamour, fricknfrack, and Egmrspretty. Consider using a tweed yarn to simulate a star field background as Darlamour did.
Solar Eclipse Knit Hat
Celebrate the next eclipse or commemorate the last one with this beanie in stranded colorwork. Designed by Heidi Arjes
Andromeda Mittens
Andromeda Galaxy depicted in a variety of types of colorwork. Designed by Emily Bujold
Roswell Hat
Slouchy hat with alien faces in textured stitches and colorwork. Designed by Alexandra Davidoff. Worsted weight yarn.
