Pea Soup Cushion

This one was commissioned by my parents for their new uberflat in Glasgow. My Mum loves this retro kind of green, and wanted something simple but not just stocking stitch. They seemed pretty pleased with it, and I hope you'll like the pattern too! 

     

I'm sure this stitch pattern must have a name, it seems so simple. (I actually copied it from a pair of my boyfriend's mum's handknitted ovengloves!) I'm going to refer to it as pea soup stitch: it's pretty smooth with the odd lump, and the colour's about right. If you know the real name please let me know! 

Yarn : Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 8 balls = 728m, held double throughout.

Needles :  8 mm/US 11

Gauge:  Held singly, gauge is 18sts/ 4'' in stocking stitch with 5mm/US 8 needles.

            Held double, gauge is 11 sts/ 4'' in stocking stitch with 8mm / US 11 needles.

Size: To fit a 45cm x 45cm cushion pad.

Extras: You might want a couple of buttons and a crochet hook to crochet some button loops.

Notation: 

k = knit

p = purl

CO = cast on

Directions:

Pea Soup Stitch: 

Row 1: k2 *p1 k1* to last stitch, k1.

Row 2: purl.

Row 3 k1 *p1 k1* to end.

Row 4: purl.

With yarn held double, CO 45 stitches. Work in pea soup stitch until cushion cover measures 100cm, then bind off loosely. Fold up the the bottom leaving 12cm at the top as shown below (i.e. fold up the bottom 44cm). 

Pin in place and sew up the sides using mattress stitch. 

Fold the top 12cm over and sew in place down the sides.

You might want to sew a couple of buttons on as shown below, I crocheted two button loops for them by working 10 chain stitches from the "bind off" edge with a 5mm crochet hook (yarn held singly). 

Weave in loose ends and you're done!

New design on Etsy and Ravelry!

Great news! Another lovely pattern is up for sale on Ravelry and in my Etsy shop.

The Avena cowl is a beautiful lace cowl in a lovely fuzzy yarn. An understated lace design which could be dressed up or down, it would go equally well with jeans and a t-shirt as with evening dress. The pattern is simple and elegant, pretty but not too fussy.

 The lace pattern is easy to memorize, each repeat has only four rows, two of which are just knit! This cowl would make a gorgeous gift, and it's quick to knit with aran yarn on large 6mm/US 8 needles, and it only uses one skein!