DIY Network

Cool Cable Cushion Cover Debbie Abrahams uses a large repeat cable pattern and a reverse stockinette stitch to achieve the unique look of this cushion cover. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-607

This great design is easy to knit.

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Debbie starts by making the front panel then works on the back, which includes a button panel down the center of the panel to keep the pillow shut. Here's how it's done.

Materials:
yarn
   5 balls of Rowan All Seasons Cotton in Pansy (#218)
   2 balls of Rowan All Seasons Cotton Printed Grape (#160)
#7 straight needles
#6 straight needles
cable needle
5 Speckol ceramic buttons
yarn bobbins

Gauge
26 stitches and 32 rows = 4" measured over cable pattern using #7 needles

Stitches
c8b (cable 8 back) = slip next 4 stitches onto cable needle and hold at back of work, K4, then K4 stitches from the cable needle
Stockinette stitch

	Figure A
	Figure B

Front Panel

1. Wind off 9 small balls of Grape and 8 small balls of Pansy.
   
2. With #7 needles cast on (figure A) 100 stitches in the following color sequence: (4 stitches Grape, 8 stitches Pansy figure B) eight times, 4 stitches Grape.
   
3. Next row: (P4 Grape, K8 Pansy) eight times, P4 Grape.
   
4. Next row: (K4 Grape, P8 Pansy) eight times, K4 Grape.
   
5. Repeat the last two rows twice more.
   
6. Next row: (P4 Grape, c8b Pansy) eight times, P4 Grape.
   
7. Next row: (K4 Grape, P8 Pansy) eight times, K4 Grape.
   
8. Repeat this 10-row pattern, eleven times in total:

Figure C

   Row 9: (P4 Grape, c8b Pansy - figure C) eight times, P4 Grape.
   Row 10: As row 2.

9. Repeat pattern rows 1-2 once more.
   
10. Repeat pattern row 1 once more, ending with a right side row.
    
11. With the wrong side of the work facing, bind off stitches purlwise.

Upper Back Panel (with buttonholes)
Note - This is worked in Pansy only.

1. With right side facing pick up and knit 100 stitches along bound off edge of front panel using #7 needles.
   
2. **Next row (note: this is a wrong side row): (K4, P8) eight times, K4.
   
3. Next row: (P4, K8) eight times, P4.
   
4. Repeat the last 2 rows once more.
   
5. Next row: (K4, P8) eight times, K4.
   
6. Repeat this 10-row pattern, five times in total:

Figure D

   Row 1: (P4, c8b) eight times, P4 (figure D).
   Row 2: (K4, P8) eight times, K4.
   Row 3: (P4, K8) eight times, P4.
   Rows 4-9: Repeat rows 2-3, three times more.
   Row 10: Repeat row 2.

7. Repeat pattern row 1 once more.
   
8. Next row (decreasing): (K4, P2tog, P1, P2tog, P1, P2tog) eight times, K4 (76 stitches) **.
   
9. Change to #6 needles.
   
10. Work 2 rows in stockinette stitch.
    
11. Next row: K2, bind off next 2 stitches, K15 including the stitch that is already on the right-hand needle, (bind off next 2 stitches, K16 including the stitch that is already on the right-hand needle) twice, bind off next 2 stitches, K15 including the stitch that is already on the right-hand needle, bind off next 2 stitches, K2 including the stitch that is already on the right-hand needle.
    
12. Next row: P2, turn work so that the right side is facing you, cast on 2 stitches, turn work again so that the wrong side is facing you, P15, (turn work so that the right side is facing you, cast on 2 stitches, turn work again so that the wrong side is facing you, P16) twice, turn work so that the right side is facing you, cast on 2 stitches, turn work again so that the wrong side is facing you, P15, turn work so that the right side is facing you, cast on 2 stitches, turn work again so that the wrong side is facing you, P2.
    
13. Next row: Knit.
    
14. With the wrong side of the work facing, bind off stitches knitwise.

Lower Back Panel

1. With right side facing pick up and knit 100 stitches along cast on edge of front panel using #7 needles and Pansy.
   
2. Repeat the instructions for upper back panel from ** to **.
   
3. Change to #6 needles.
   
4. Beginning with a right side row, work 14 rows in stockinette stitch.
   
5. With the right side of the work facing, bind off stitches knitwise.

Finishing

1. Darn in ends on the wrong side of the work.
   
2. With wrong sides facing and using a damp pressing cloth and a cool iron, lightly press the cushion cover.
   
3. Mark the center point along side seam edges of front panel.
   
4. Sew side seams of upper back panel to front panel, ensuring that buttonholes are in line with the marked center point.
   
5. Sew side seams of lower back panel to front panel, inserting the broad stockinette stitch border at finished edge under the finished edge of the upper back panel, and sew down into place.
   
6. Sew buttons onto buttonband to correspond with buttonholes.

RESOURCES :

Rowan yarns
Website: www.knitrowan.com

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

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