Pine Forest Cushion in Rowan Felted Tweed (2coloured version)

Pine Forest Cushion in Rowan Felted Tweed

What is Being Made

The Pine Forest Cushion is a decorative knitted cushion cover designed to fit a 57cm (22½ inch) square cushion pad. This project creates a finished cushion by knitting two identical square sides that are sewn together, with an opening left for inserting the cushion pad before closing. The design features a charted pattern worked across the entire surface of each cushion side.

Available Versions

This pattern is offered in two colorway options: a multi-coloured version and a 2-coloured version. The 2-coloured version simplifies the design by using the same contrast yarn throughout all pattern areas, making it an accessible choice for knitters seeking a less complex colour-work project while maintaining the same cushion dimensions and overall structure.

Techniques Used

The Pine Forest Cushion employs fairisle technique, a traditional stranded colour-work method where multiple yarn colours are carried across the back of the work. The pattern instructions specify that stranded yarns should not be carried over more than three stitches at a time to maintain neat, elastic fabric. Yarns are caught under and over the working colour to ensure floating yarns sit neatly on the reverse side. The entire design is worked in stockinette stitch (stocking stitch), beginning with a knit row, which creates a smooth, flat surface ideal for displaying the colour pattern.

Stitches Used

The cushion is constructed using stockinette stitch throughout, worked flat in rows. The pattern is charted across 26 stitches in the repeat and worked over 150 rows for each cushion side. Stitches are cast on using a standard cast-on method and finished with a cast-off edge. The construction involves basic seaming stitches to join the two sides together along all four edges.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (50gm balls)

• Multi-coloured version: Clay 177 (4 balls), Ginger 154 (1 ball), Tawny 186 (1 ball), Scarlet 222 (1 ball), Treacle 145 (1 ball)
• 2-coloured version: Lotus Leaf 205 (4 balls), Stone 190 (2 balls)

Needles: One pair of 3¾mm (US 5) needles

Tension: 27 stitches and 27 rows to 10 centimetres measured over patterned stockinette stitch using 3¾mm needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for obtaining the proper finished dimensions and fabric characteristics.

Skill Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, reflecting the requirement to work fairisle colour-work techniques while maintaining consistent tension and following a charted pattern over an extended number of rows.

Finishing

After completing both cushion sides, the pieces are pressed according to pattern guidelines. The two sides are then sewn together along all four edges using mattress stitch or similar seaming technique, with one edge left partially open. The cushion pad is inserted through this opening, and the opening is subsequently sewn closed to complete the finished cushion.