This is a really thick, padded stitch that makes a great pillow cover. The bright pink pompom edging zings out against the lovely, color-blocked greens; a tassel edging would work equally well. This pillow is backed with fabric, but you could make a second panel for the back instead -although you’ll then need twice as much yarn.
YOU WILL NEED
Caron Chunky Cakes (100% acrylic, approx. 296yds/271m per 9⅞oz/280g ball) bulky (chunky) weight yarn
1 ball of 17004 Lime Cream
US size 11 (8mm) knitting needles
Yarn sewing needle
Approx. 17in (45cm) square of lining fabric
Approx. 70in (180cm) of bright pink pompom edging
16in (40cm) square pillow form
FINISHED MEASUREMENT To fi t 16in (40cm) square pillow form
GAUGE (TENSION) 15 sts x 12 rows over a 4in (10cm) square in herringbone stitch, using US size 11 (8mm) needles.
ABBREVIATIONS
approx. approximately
k knit
k2tog knit 2 stitches together
LH left hand
p purl
p2tog purl 2 stitches together
rep repeat
RS right side
Sl slip
St(s) stitch(es)
FOR THE COVER
Knit very loosely throughout.
Cast on 62 sts.
Row 1: Sl first st knitwise, sl next st knitwise, insert LH needle, from left to right, into front of both slipped sts and k2tog but drop only one loop off needle, *sl next st purlwise, sl next st knitwise, insert LH needle, from left to right, into front of both slipped sts and k2tog, but drop only one loop off needle; rep from * to last st, k into back of last st.
Row 2: *P2tog but drop only fi rst loop off needle; rep from * to last st, p last st.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 until work measures 16in (40cm).
Bind (cast) off.
FINISHING
Use the knitted piece as a template to cut the lining fabric, allowing an extra ⅝ in (1.5cm) seam allowance on each side. Pin and then hand-sew the pompom edging all around on the RS edge of the fabric, with the pompoms facing inward and working within the seam allowance.
With RS together, pin the knitted piece and the fabric pieces together, making sure the pompoms are on the RS between the layers. Sew around three sides with a ⅝in (1.5cm) seam allowance.
Turn RS out and insert the pillow form. Sew the last side together neatly, enclosing the pillow form.
For more self-striping designs using cake yarns and colour wheels, check out Color Block Knits by Nicki Trench. To get more fab blog posts like this one - direct to your inbox - be sure to sign up to our mailing list here.