Gropius Cushion Knitting Pattern

Gropius Cushion in Rowan Cotton Glacé

What is Being Made

The Gropius Cushion is a decorative knitted cushion cover designed to fit a 40 cm (16 inch) square cushion pad. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished cushion by constructing and assembling eight individual basic squares—four for the front panel and four for the back panel. The design features a sophisticated color-blocking approach using multiple shades of Rowan Cotton Glacé yarn, creating a modern, geometric aesthetic.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cushion employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. The primary construction method uses mitred square construction, a technique that creates squares with diagonal decreases that form neat, angled corners. Each basic square is built in multiple sections using color changes and yarn joining, allowing the knitter to transition between different yarn colors strategically throughout the piece. The pattern incorporates picked-up stitches along row-end edges, a technique that allows new sections to be worked directly from the edges of previously completed sections, creating seamless integration between color blocks. The cushion cover is assembled by joining these completed squares together, demonstrating intermediate-level construction and finishing skills.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Gropius Cushion is worked primarily in garter stitch, the fundamental knit stitch pattern created by knitting every row. This simple yet textured stitch provides a stable, reversible fabric ideal for cushion covers. The pattern relies heavily on K3tog (knit three together) decreases, which are worked strategically on specific rows to create the mitred effect that shapes each square. These decreases are positioned at the center of each section, gradually reducing stitch counts and forming the characteristic diagonal lines of the mitred square technique. The combination of garter stitch with regularly spaced K3tog decreases creates both visual interest and structural integrity.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This project uses Rowan Cotton Glacé, a smooth, lightweight cotton yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern calls for four different colors from the Rowan Cotton Glacé range:

• Yarn A: Petunia 872 – 1 ball
• Yarn B: Crepe 873 – 3 balls
• Yarn C: Midnight 868 – 1 ball
• Yarn D: Ochre 833 – 2 balls

The pattern is worked on 3¼mm (US 3) needles, a size that produces the correct fabric density for this project. The recommended tension is 23 stitches and 46 rows to 10 cm measured over garter stitch using the specified needles. Each completed basic square measures approximately 20 cm (7¾ inches) square before assembly. In addition to yarn and needles, the project requires a 40 cm (16 inch) square cushion pad as the foundation for the finished cover.