Deramores Anchor Cushion Knitting Pattern

Deramores Anchor Cushion

Project Overview

The Deramores Anchor Cushion is an intermediate-level knitting project designed to create a decorative cushion cover measuring 30cm x 40cm. This pattern combines colorwork techniques with classic knitting stitches to produce a finished cushion that showcases nautical inspiration drawn from the Cornish landscape. The design was created by Sarah Murray, a freelance knitting and crochet designer based in Cornwall who specializes in patterns inspired by coastal themes and textures.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a knitted cushion cover featuring an anchor motif. The finished cushion is designed to fit a standard 30cm x 40cm cushion pad. The cover is knitted as a flat piece worked from the bottom up, with colorwork elements integrated throughout the design to create the anchor pattern on the front of the cushion.

Techniques Used

The Deramores Anchor Cushion employs several key knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters:

• Intarsia Method: The primary colorwork technique used in this pattern. Rather than stranding yarn across the back of the work, the intarsia method requires using separate lengths or balls of yarn for each distinct patch of color. This creates a clean finish on the wrong side and prevents long floats of unused yarn.
• Color Joining: The pattern incorporates three different yarn colors that are joined at specific points indicated on the chart. As new colors are introduced, yarn ends are woven in on the wrong side of the work while knitting progresses, minimizing finishing work after completion.
• Chart Reading: The pattern is worked from a chart that is read directionally—right to left on right-side rows and left to right on wrong-side rows. This requires attention to chart orientation and stitch placement.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes two primary stitch patterns:

• Stocking Stitch (St-st): The main stitch used throughout the cushion front. Stocking stitch is created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern texture on the right side. This stitch provides an ideal canvas for displaying the colorwork anchor design.
• 2x2 Rib: A secondary stitch pattern used for finishing edges. The 2x2 rib alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches across rows, creating vertical lines of texture. This elastic stitch is commonly used for cuffs and edges as it provides structure and recovery.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for Deramores Studio DK yarn in three colorways:

• 1 x 100g Mist (Yarn A)
• 1 x 100g Frost (Yarn B)
• 1 x 100g Storm Cloud (Yarn C)

The DK weight yarn is chosen to knit at a specific tension, allowing the finished cushion to reach its intended dimensions.

Needles: A pair of 4mm knitting needles are required for this project.

Tension: The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 29 rows over a 10cm x 10cm (4 inch x 4 inch) square worked in stocking stitch using 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the cushion to fit the 30cm x 40cm pad properly.

Additional Materials: A 30cm x 40cm cushion pad is required to complete the finished cushion cover.

Pattern Construction

The cushion front begins with a cast-on of 75 stitches using the thumb method and Yarn A (Mist). The pattern is worked in stocking stitch throughout, with Yarns B and C introduced at points indicated on the accompanying chart. The chart-based colorwork creates the anchor design while maintaining the smooth stocking stitch base. The use of separate yarn lengths for each color section and the weaving in of ends as work progresses ensures a professional finish with minimal seaming required upon completion.