Rowan Combe Cushion Homeware Knitting Pattern

Rowan Combe Cushion by Martin Storey

Project Overview

The Rowan Combe Cushion is a knitted homeware project designed to fit a 40 cm (16 inch) square cushion pad. This downloadable PDF pattern, created by designer Martin Storey and published by Rowan, combines classic knitting techniques to produce an attractive decorative cushion with a patterned front and plain back panel.

What Is Being Made

This project creates a complete cushion cover consisting of two main pieces: a patterned front panel and a plain back panel that are seamed together on three sides, with the fourth side left open for inserting a standard cushion pad. Once the pad is inserted, the opening is closed with a final seam.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Combe Cushion employs several fundamental knitting techniques to achieve its finished design:

• Stranded Colourwork (Fairisle): The front panel features the fairisle technique, a traditional method of working with multiple colours in a single row. This technique allows the creation of intricate colour patterns by carrying unused yarn colours across the back of the work, creating a dense, reversible fabric.
• Worked Flat: Both the front and back panels are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy pattern reading and construction.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The pieces are worked from the cast-on edge upward to the bind-off edge, a straightforward approach that makes following row-by-row instructions intuitive.
• Seaming: The finished pieces are joined using either back stitch or mattress stitch, both traditional seaming methods that create neat, durable seams suitable for homeware projects.

Stitches Used

The pattern is worked primarily in stocking stitch (stockinette stitch), which creates the classic smooth, V-patterned fabric characteristic of many knitted garments and homeware items. The front panel maintains stocking stitch throughout while incorporating the fairisle colour pattern, while the back panel is worked entirely in plain stocking stitch. Cast-on and cast-off are worked purlwise on the wrong side to create neat edges.

Materials and Specifications

The Combe Cushion requires Rowan Softyak DK yarn in three colours: Pampas (colour A, the main colour requiring 3 x 50gm balls), Cream (colour B, requiring 1 x 50gm ball), and Plateau (colour C, requiring 1 x 50gm ball). The pattern is worked on 4mm (US size 6) needles. In addition to yarn and needles, you will need a 40 cm (16 inch) square cushion pad to complete the project.

Pattern Specifications

The front panel is cast on with 105 stitches and worked over 121 rows, incorporating a 38-row pattern repeat from the provided chart that is worked entirely in stocking stitch. The back panel is cast on with 92 stitches and worked over 125 rows in plain stocking stitch. Tension is measured at 25 stitches and 29 rows over 10 centimetres in patterned stocking stitch, and 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 centimetres in plain stocking stitch, both using 4mm needles.

Construction Method

After pressing the finished pieces, the front and back panels are joined along three sides using either back stitch or mattress stitch. The cushion pad is then inserted through the open fourth side, and that final side is seamed closed to complete the project. This construction method ensures a professional finish suitable for a decorative homeware item.