Rowan Paws For Thought Cushion Homeware Knitting Pattern

Rowan Paws For Thought Cushion by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Paws For Thought Cushion is a decorative homeware project designed to fit a standard 50 cm (19½ inch) square cushion pad. This knitted cushion cover features a coordinated two-piece construction with a patterned front panel and a solid back panel, creating an attractive accent piece for any interior space.

Techniques Used

This project employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its finished design:

• Intarsia Knitting: The front panel uses the intarsia technique to incorporate color changes throughout the pattern. This method involves breaking off and joining in different colored yarns as required, allowing for detailed colorwork without carrying yarn across the back of the fabric.
• Stranded Knitting: Specific rows incorporate stranded colorwork, where two colors are worked within individual rows to create detailed pattern elements.
• Stockinette Stitch (St St): Both the front patterned section and the back panel are worked entirely in stockinette stitch, which is created by alternating knit and purl rows to produce a smooth, classic fabric surface.
• Flat Knitting: The cushion is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, with pieces subsequently seamed together during finishing.
• Bottom-Up Construction: Both the front and back panels are cast on and worked from the bottom edge upward to the top edge before casting off.
• Seaming: The finished pieces are sewn together along three sides, with the cushion pad inserted before the fourth side is closed, creating a professional, tailored finish.

Stitches Used

The pattern primarily utilizes stockinette stitch, the foundation of both the solid back panel and the patterned front panel. The front features a 38-stitch pattern repeat that is worked across 99 cast-on stitches and repeated twice per row. The pattern itself spans 62 rows, which is worked throughout the 108-row front panel section. Additional detail is added through strategic color changes in rows 109 through 113, where single stitches and small groups of stitches in contrasting yarn create fine pattern refinement. All shaping and construction relies on basic cast-on, cast-off, and stitch manipulation techniques.

Materials

Yarn: This project is worked in Rowan Hemp Tweed, a textured yarn that provides durability and visual interest suitable for homeware applications. The back panel requires 5 x 50g balls in Kelp (shade 142), while the patterned front panel uses 1 x 50g ball in Eclipse (shade 147) for the intarsia and stranded colorwork elements. The Hemp Tweed yarn provides structure and definition to both the solid and patterned sections.

Needles: One pair of 4½mm (US size 7) needles is required for the entire project. These needles are used for both the back and front panels, maintaining consistent gauge throughout.

Tension: The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch, and 21 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm measured over the patterned stockinette stitch, both achieved using 4½mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the finished cushion cover to fit the 50 cm square cushion pad accurately.

Additional Materials: One cushion pad measuring approximately 50 cm (19½ inches) square is required to complete the project. Yarn for seaming and finishing is also necessary.

Pattern Overview

The back panel is constructed first by casting on 89 stitches and working 113 rows in stockinette stitch, creating a solid, stable backing. The front panel, which showcases the design, begins with 99 cast-on stitches and incorporates the intarsia chart pattern for 108 rows, followed by four additional rows of refined colorwork that transition the design before final casting off. The skill level is intermediate, reflecting the use of intarsia and stranded techniques alongside basic knitting fundamentals. Pattern reference ZB240-00008 v.1 is designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan.