MillaMia Cross My Heart Cushion Cover Knitting Pattern

MillaMia Cross My Heart Cushion Cover

What is Being Made

The MillaMia Cross My Heart Cushion Cover is a knitted decorative cushion cover designed to fit a 35cm/13¾in square cushion pad. This project creates a finished cushion front and back using a traditional argyle heart pattern that has been modernized through creative colorway selection. The cover features a button-closure back panel for easy removal and washing.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its patterned design:

• Fairisle Method: The pattern is worked using the Fairisle technique, which involves stranding the yarn not in use across the wrong side of the work. Yarns are woven under and over the working yarn every 3 to 4 stitches to maintain even tension and prevent loose floats.
• Swiss Darning: Diagonal lines in the Midnight colorway are added after the front panel is knitted using the swiss darning embroidery technique, rather than being knitted into the fabric. This allows for precise detail work and adds visual interest to the argyle pattern.
• Stocking Stitch: The base fabric is worked in stocking stitch (stockinette stitch in US terminology), creating a smooth, flat surface ideal for displaying the colorwork pattern.
• Button Band Construction: The back of the cushion cover includes a button band with buttonholes to accommodate five buttons for secure closure.

Stitches Used

The MillaMia Cross My Heart Cushion Cover utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for colorwork projects:

• Knit Stitch (k): The primary stitch used throughout the project on right-side rows.
• Purl Stitch (p): Used on wrong-side rows to create stocking stitch fabric.
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): Used for decreasing stitches, particularly in shaping and buttonhole construction.
• Make One (m1): Used for increasing stitches by picking up the loop lying before the next stitch and knitting into the back of it.
• Make One Purl (m1p): The purl version of the increase stitch.
• Yarn Over (yo): Creates decorative eyelet holes for the button closures on the back panel.
• Garter Stitch (g-st): Used for edge stitches and finishing details to prevent curling.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The MillaMia Cross My Heart Cushion Cover is designed to be worked with MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn, exclusively available at Love Knitting:

• Yarn Quantities: Two 50g/1¾oz balls in Red (A), three balls in Daisy (B), and one ball in Lilac (C). The yarn weights and yardage are calculated to complete the entire cushion cover front and back.
• Needles: A pair of 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles are required to achieve the correct gauge and fabric density.
• Additional Materials: Five buttons approximately 20mm/¾in in diameter for the back panel closure, and a 35cm/13¾in by 35cm/13¾in cushion pad to insert into the finished cover.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this project to fit the specified cushion pad. The pattern requires a gauge of 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10cm/4in square when worked in stockinette stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. The finished cushion cover measures 35cm/13¾in by 35cm/13¾in, making it a perfect fit for standard square cushion pads.

Pattern Notes and Design Details

The pattern is worked from a chart where odd-numbered rows are knit rows read from right to left, and even-numbered rows are purl rows read from left to right. The pattern repeat is worked three times across the width with edge stitches as shown on the chart. The traditional argyle heart pattern is elevated through the use of multiple coordinating colorways, bringing contemporary style to a classic design suitable for modern home décor. Alternative colorway suggestions are provided, including Lipstick, Snow