Pine Forest Cushion in Rowan Felted Tweed (Multicoloured version)

Pine Forest Cushion in Rowan Felted Tweed

Project Overview

The Pine Forest Cushion is an intermediate-level knitting project designed by Martin Storey that creates a decorative square cushion cover measuring 57cm (22½ inches) on each side. This cushion project is ideal for knitters looking to develop their colorwork skills while creating a practical home accessory. The design is available in both a multi-coloured version and a 2-colour version, offering flexibility based on yarn availability and personal preference.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete cushion cover consisting of two identical square panels that are sewn together to form a cushion slip. The finished cushion is designed to fit a standard 57cm square cushion pad, making it a versatile home décor item. The construction method involves creating two separate knitted pieces and joining them along all four edges, with one edge left open to insert the cushion pad before final closure.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Pine Forest Cushion employs the fairisle technique as its primary colorwork method. Fairisle knitting involves working with multiple colors within individual rows, creating intricate patterns by stranding the non-working yarns across the back of the fabric. This technique requires careful yarn management to maintain even tension and prevent loose floats. The pattern specifically recommends not carrying stranded yarns over more than three stitches at a time, with instructions to catch the floating yarns under and over the working color to keep them neatly positioned on the reverse side of the work.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The cushion is worked entirely in stockinette stitch (st st), beginning with a knit row. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern on the right side, making it an ideal base for fairisle colorwork. The pattern is chart-based, with a 26-stitch repeat that is worked over 150 rows to create the complete design. The combination of stockinette stitch with the fairisle technique produces a dense, structured fabric suitable for a cushion cover.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls for Rowan Felted Tweed yarn, a wool-based yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. For the multi-coloured version, the required yarn quantities are as follows: 4 balls of Clay (shade 177) for the main color, and 1 ball each of Ginger (154), Tawny (186), Scarlet (222), and Treacle (145) for the contrast colors. For the 2-colour version, knitters use 4 balls of Lotus Leaf (205) as the main color and 2 balls of Stone (190) for all contrast areas.

The pattern is worked on 3¾mm (US 5) needles, which are paired needles suitable for the yarn weight and stitch density required. The recommended tension is 27 stitches and 27 rows to 10 centimeters measured over patterned stockinette stitch using these needles and yarn combination. Achieving the correct tension is essential for obtaining the proper finished dimensions and ensuring the cushion cover fits the 57cm pad correctly.

Construction and Finishing

Each cushion side requires casting on 149 stitches and working 150 rows of the charted fairisle pattern. After completing both panels, the pieces are pressed according to the pattern's finishing instructions. The two panels are then sewn together along all four edges using mattress stitch or a similar seaming technique, with one edge left open. The cushion pad is inserted through the opening, and the final edge is sewn closed to complete the project.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle fairisle colorwork. The combination of managing multiple yarn colors, maintaining even tension across color changes, and working from a detailed chart requires more experience than beginner projects but remains achievable for dedicated knitters developing their skills.