DIY Network

"Trash" Cushion Cover Debbie Abrahams' "Trash" Cushion design features a bleach-striped knit. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-607

This pillow is created with a simple stockinette pattern.

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Here's how to knit this great decorative room accessory.

Materials:
yarn
   2 balls of Rowan Denim in Nashville (#225)
   2 balls of Rowan Denim in Tennessee (#231)
   1 ball of Ecru (#324)
#6 straight needles
#5 straight needles
5 milk ceramic buttons
bleach (with a pointed spout for pouring)
newspaper
sewing thread
needle
disposable gloves

Gauge
(before washing) 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" using #6 needles

Stitches
Stockinette

Figure A

Front Panel

1. With #6 needles and Nashville, cast on 63 stitches.
   
2. Repeat this 20-row stripe pattern (figure A), 6 times in total:

3. Change to #5 needles.
   
4. Repeat stripe pattern rows 1-4 once more.

Figure B

5. Work the buttonhole band (figure B) as follows using Nashville only: K4, (bind off next 3 stitches, K10 including the stitch that is already on the right-hand needle) four times, bind off next 3 stitches, K4 including the stitch that is already on the right-hand needle.
   
6. Next row: P4, (turn work so that the right side is facing you, cast on 3 stitches, turn work again so that the wrong side is facing you, P10) four times, turn work so that the right side is facing you, cast on 3 stitches, turn work again so that the wrong side is facing you, P4.
   
7. Work another 3 rows in stockinette stitch, ending with a right side row.
   
8. With the wrong side of the work facing, bind off stitches knitwise.

Back Panel

1. With #6 needles and Nashville, cast on 63 stitches.
   
2. Working in stockinette stitch throughout and beginning with a right side row, repeat this 15-row stripe pattern, 8 times in total:

3. Change to #5 needles. Work 10 rows in stockinette stitch using Nashville.
   Next row: purl using Nashville (this will create a fold-line for the buttonband).
   
4. Next row: purl using Nashville.
   
5. Work 9 rows in stockinette stitch using Nashville, ending with a right side row.
   
6. Leave the stitches on the needle.

Figure C

Binding Off the Buttonband

1. With the wrong side facing you and using a #5 needle, pick up all of the stitches across the knitting at the beginning of the buttonband, picking up the loops of Tennessee (figure C). When the stitches are picked up the knitting needle should be parallel with the needle that is holding the stitches from the buttonband.
   
2. Using a #6 needle, bind off both sets of stitches together.

Finishing

1. Darn in the ends on the wrong side of both knitted panels.

Figure D

2. Using sewing thread, mark out the following stitches on the front panel in lines for bleaching by sewing a loose running stitch along them (figure D): stitches 4, 11, 18, 25, 32, 39, 46, 53, 60.
   
3. With the right side facing upwards and the stripes vertical, pin the front panel out flat onto a wad of newspaper.
   
4. Put on the disposable gloves.
   
5. Carefully dribble some bleach along each marked line. Do not tilt the bottle too quickly.
   
6. Remove the sewing thread.

Figure E

7. Leave for approximately 90 minutes or until the color has lifted (figure E). If the bleached areas look yellow, this should turn white after a hot machine wash.
   
8. Thoroughly rinse the knitting several times in cold water.
   
9. Wash both of the panels in the washing machine on the hottest whites wash (70-90 degrees) with detergent. If possible, tumble-dry to near dryness after washing.
   
10. When the pieces are dry, sew the cast on edge of the front panel to the cast on edge of the back panel.
    
11. Sew side seams together, including the buttonband and the buttonhole band at the top.
    
12. Sew buttons onto buttonband to correspond with buttonholes.

RESOURCES :
25 Cushions to Knit
Author: Debbie Abrahams
Publisher: Trafalgar Square (2004)
ISBN: 1570762651

Rowan yarns
Website: www.knitrowan.com

GUESTS :
Debbie Abrahams
Nottingham, England
E-mail: Debbie@da-handknits.demon.co.uk
Website: www.da-handknits.demon.co.uk