1153 Suffolk - Cushion Knitting Pattern for Home in Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky

1153 Suffolk Cushion Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The 1153 Suffolk is a knitted cushion cover designed by Julie Turjoman for Valley Yarns. This home decor project creates a luxurious 24" x 24" square cushion featuring textured cable patterns that add depth and visual interest to any living space. The cushion works up quickly in chunky yarn, making it an ideal project for adding comfort and style to sofas, beds, or window seats.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a decorative cushion cover with finished dimensions of 24" x 24" square. The cushion is designed to fit a standard 24" square pillow form, creating a professional-looking home decor accent piece. The plush cables throughout the design provide tactile texture that enhances both the visual appeal and comfort of the finished cushion.

Knitting Techniques

• Bottom-Up Construction: The cushion is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to easily adjust length if needed before binding off
• Flat Knitting: Worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods
• Seamed Assembly: Two equal pieces are knitted separately and then seamed together along the edges to enclose the pillow form, creating clean finished seams
• Cable Patterns: Prominent cable stitches create dimensional texture and visual depth throughout the design, requiring the use of a cable needle to cross stitches

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The 1153 Suffolk features cable stitches as its primary design element. These cables are worked using a cable needle to create the characteristic twisted, rope-like texture that gives the cushion its plush appearance. The pattern uses a gauge of 13 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches when worked in the cable pattern and blocked, which is typical for chunky yarn weights.

Yarn and Materials

Yarn: Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky is a premium blend of 85% Merino Wool and 15% Baby Alpaca. The pattern requires 5 skeins of this yarn, with each skein weighing 100 grams and containing 108 yards. The color specified is 01-Cream, a neutral shade that complements various interior design styles.

Needles and Tools: The pattern calls for US size 10 (6.00 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches in length, though any needle size that achieves the specified gauge may be substituted. Additional tools required include a cable needle for working the cable stitches, stitch markers to track pattern repeats, locking stitch markers for securing stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. White reinforcing thread is recommended for seaming the two cushion pieces together with durability in mind.

Finishing: A 24" square pillow form is needed to complete the project, providing the cushion's structure and support.

Skill Level and Construction

Rated as Advanced Beginner, this pattern is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle cable work. The relatively straightforward construction—two identical flat pieces seamed together—combined with the quick-working chunky yarn makes this an achievable project for intermediate knitters looking to expand their skills with cable techniques. The pattern's single size and straightforward assembly process contribute to its accessibility despite the advanced cable work involved.