Rowan Enchanted Forest Homeware Knitting Pattern

Rowan Enchanted Forest Knitted Cushion Cover

Project Overview

The Enchanted Forest is a knitted homeware cushion cover design created by Martin Storey for Rowan. This project produces a finished cushion cover sized to fit a standard 46 cm (18 inch) square cushion pad. The design combines solid-colored knitting with a decorative motif panel, making it an ideal intermediate-level knitting project that showcases both fundamental and advanced colorwork techniques.

What is Being Made

This pattern creates a complete cushion cover consisting of two main pieces: a back panel and a front panel with an integrated decorative motif. The back panel is worked in solid stockinette stitch using Black yarn. The front panel features a central motif chart surrounded by border stitches in solid color, creating a framed design effect. The two pieces are sewn together on three sides, with a cushion pad inserted before the fourth side is closed, resulting in a professional-looking decorative homeware accessory.

Techniques Used

Bottom-Up Construction: Both the back and front panels are knitted from the cast-on edge upward to the finished length, allowing for easy adjustments and a straightforward building process.

Worked Flat: The entire project is worked on straight needles in flat pieces rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods.

Stranded Colorwork: The motif section employs fair isle technique, where multiple colors are carried across the back of the work to create the pattern. This traditional colorwork method allows for intricate designs while maintaining fabric integrity.

Intarsia Technique: In addition to fair isle, the pattern utilizes intarsia methods, which involve breaking off and joining in colors as required. This technique is particularly useful for larger areas of solid color changes and helps minimize bulk on the reverse side of the fabric.

Seamed Construction: The finished pieces are sewn together using a seaming method, with three sides closed before the cushion pad is inserted and the fourth side is closed. This approach ensures a neat, professional finish.

Stitches Used

Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch throughout the entire project. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a recognizable V-pattern on the right side and horizontal bumps on the wrong side. It is worked by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side.

The back panel is worked entirely in stockinette stitch for 114 rows in solid Black yarn. The front panel combines stockinette stitch in the border sections with the charted motif, which is also worked in stockinette stitch but incorporates the colorwork techniques to create the decorative pattern.

Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted weight yarn. The back panel requires 3 balls of yarn A (Black, shade 109) weighing 100g each. The front panel and additional details require 1 ball of yarn B (Soft Cream, shade 102) weighing 100g. This yarn choice provides a durable, washable fiber suitable for homeware items that may require regular cleaning.

Needles: One pair of 4½mm (US size 7) needles are required for the entire project. These straight needles are the appropriate size to achieve the correct gauge with the selected yarn weight.

Notions and Extras: A cushion pad measuring approximately 46 cm (18 inches) square is required to complete the project. This pad is inserted into the knitted cover after three sides are seamed together.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch using 4½mm needles. Over the patterned sections worked in intarsia and fair isle, the gauge is 21 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm. Achieving correct gauge is essential for the cushion cover to fit the 46 cm square pad properly. The finished size is designed to fit a standard 46 cm (18 inch) square cushion pad.

Pattern Structure

The back panel is straightforward: cast on 90 stitches and work 114 rows in stockinette stitch before casting off. The front panel is more complex, beginning with a cast-on of 95 stitches followed by 6 rows of stockinette stitch in solid yarn. The motif chart is then introduced, with 79 center stitches worked from the chart while 8 stitches on each edge remain in