Debbie Bliss Snowflake Cushions Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Snowflake Cushions

What Is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Snowflake Cushions pattern creates decorative cushion covers designed to fit a 35cm/14in (14 inch) cushion pad. The project produces a complete cushion cover worked as a single piece that folds to create both the front and back panels, with a snowflake motif featured on the front.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several sophisticated techniques:

• Stranded colorwork: The snowflake design is created using the stranded technique, where yarn not in use is carried across the wrong side of the work and woven in where it crosses to maintain an even fabric.
• Worked flat: The entire cushion is knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for the construction of a single rectangular piece that folds at designated points.
• Seamed construction: The finished piece is seamed together to form the cushion cover structure.
• Buttonhole placement: Functional buttonholes are incorporated into the design using yarn over decreases (y2rn and k2tog/ssk combinations) to create openings for four buttons.

Stitches Used

The pattern primarily uses fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The main stitch throughout the cushion, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side to produce a smooth, flat fabric.
• Garter stitch: Used for the edge sections and foldline rows (knit on both right and wrong sides) to create a textured border and structural definition points.
• Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (ssk) and knit two together (k2tog) are used to create the buttonholes in combination with yarn overs.
• Yarn overs: Double yarn rounds (y2rn) create the buttonhole eyelets.

Materials and Specifications

The cushion covers are constructed using quality yarn and appropriate needles:

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto DK weight yarn, with two 50g balls each of two colors—one for the cushion back and one for the snowflake pattern. Color options include Ecru 02 (A) paired with either Black 03 (B) or Scarlet 12 (B).
• Needles: A pair each of 3.75mm (US 5) and 4mm (US 6) knitting needles. The smaller needles are used for the cast-on edge and final rows, while the larger needles accommodate the main body and colorwork sections.
• Additional notions: Four buttons per cushion and a 35cm/14in cushion pad insert.
• Tension: 22 stitches and 30 rows measured over 10cm/4in square in stockinette stitch using 4mm (US 6) needles.

Pattern Structure

The cushion is constructed in distinct sections with specific measurements and foldlines. The pattern begins with a garter stitch edge, followed by stockinette stitch foundation rows and the buttonhole row. The cushion front features the snowflake chart worked in stranded colorwork, followed by additional stockinette rows. Foldline rows mark the transitions between the front and back sections, with the back panel completed in solid color stockinette stitch before finishing with garter stitch edges and casting off.