Rowan Lily Cushion Knitting Pattern

Rowan Lily Knitted Cushion Cover

Project Overview

The Rowan Lily is an intermediate-level knitting project designed to create a decorative cushion cover measuring approximately 33.5 cm (13¼ inches) wide and 125 cm (49¼ inches) long before filling. This downloadable pattern from Rowan, designed by Georgia Farrell, combines classic knitting techniques with a modern aesthetic suitable for home décor applications.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a long, cylindrical knitted cushion cover that is filled with a washable duvet insert. The finished piece forms a sausage-shaped cushion approximately 21 cm in diameter when properly stuffed. The cover features a centered zip opening for easy insertion and removal of the filling, making it practical for regular washing and maintenance.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Intarsia Method: The pattern employs the intarsia technique to create color changes within the knitted fabric. This method involves using separate lengths of yarn for different colored sections, allowing for clean transitions between yarn A and yarn B without carrying yarn across the back of the work.
• Garter Stitch: The entire cushion cover is worked in garter stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges on both sides. This stitch is worked by knitting every row throughout the project.
• Striped Pattern Section: A distinct striped section is created by alternating between yarn A and yarn B in a structured pattern, with rows 1 to 20 repeated 9 times to form the striped motif, followed by additional rows in yarn A only.
• Seaming and Assembly: The pattern requires joining row-end edges to form the cylindrical shape and inserting a zip into a centered opening. Gathering techniques are used at both cast-on and cast-off edges to create neat, finished ends.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Garter Stitch (g st): The primary stitch throughout the entire project, created by knitting every row to produce a bumpy, textured fabric.
• Striped Pattern: Created through color changes using the intarsia method, alternating 67 stitches in yarn B with 67 stitches in yarn A across rows, then reversing the color placement on the following row. This pattern is repeated to create 10 distinct striped sections.
• Cast-On and Cast-Off: The pattern uses waste yarn for the initial cast-on, which is later unraveled to allow gathering threads to be threaded through live stitches for a neat finish.

Materials and Yarn

The Rowan Lily pattern calls for Rowan Cotton Wool yarn in two colors:

• Yarn A - Tiptoe 205: 7 balls of 50-gram weight
• Yarn B - Cuddle 210: 2 balls of 50-gram weight

The yarn choice of Cotton Wool provides a blend of natural fibers suitable for a washable home accessory. The yardage and weight distribution indicates that yarn A forms the majority of the cushion, with yarn B used primarily for the decorative striped sections.

Needles and Tools

• Knitting Needles: One pair of 4mm (US size 6) needles for the main knitting
• Additional Materials: Waste yarn for provisional cast-on, sewing thread for assembly, a 56 cm (22 inch) zip, and a washable single-size duvet insert (13.5 tog recommended) to achieve the cushion size shown in the pattern photograph

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 38 rows to 10 cm (measured over garter stitch using 4mm needles). Achieving the correct tension is essential for the finished cushion to reach the intended dimensions and for the zip to fit properly in the centered opening.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this project requires knitters to be comfortable with basic stitches and have experience with color work techniques. The intarsia method and the assembly process, including zip insertion and duvet rolling, make this suitable for knitters with some experience beyond beginner level.

Pattern Structure

The cushion is