Bright Star Cushion in Rowan Moordale - 4087 - Downloadable PDF

Bright Star Cushion in Rowan Moordale

Project Overview

The Bright Star Cushion is an intermediate-level knitting project designed to create a decorative cushion cover measuring 52 cm (20½ inches) by 32 cm (12½ inches). This downloadable PDF pattern from Rowan features a striking Fair Isle design worked entirely in stockinette stitch, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to develop colorwork skills while creating a functional home accessory.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete cushion cover consisting of two identical knitted sides that are sewn together to form a cushion cover. The finished piece is designed to fit a standard 52 cm x 32 cm cushion pad, which is inserted through an opening left during assembly and then sewn closed for a polished, professional finish.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Fair Isle Colorwork: The primary technique featured in this pattern, Fair Isle involves carrying two colors of yarn across the row and stranding the unused color behind the stitches to create the patterned design
• Stockinette Stitch: The entire cushion is worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which provides a smooth, flat fabric ideal for displaying the Fair Isle pattern
• Chart Reading: The pattern is worked from a chart, requiring knitters to follow visual instructions for color placement across each row
• Seaming: The two cushion sides are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming technique along all four edges

Stitches and Pattern Structure

The cushion side is created by casting on 129 stitches and working a 24-row pattern repeat three times, followed by rows 1 through 8 of the pattern once more. This creates a balanced, symmetrical design across the cushion face. All stitches are worked in stockinette stitch throughout, with color changes dictated by the Fair Isle chart provided in the pattern.

Materials Required

Yarn: The pattern calls for Rowan Moordale yarn in two colors:

• Moordale in Feather 001 (2 x 100g balls) – the primary color
• Moordale in Thai 005 (1 x 100g ball) – the contrast color for the Fair Isle pattern

Needles and Notions: One pair of 4mm (US 6) knitting needles is required. Additionally, a 52 cm x 32 cm cushion pad is needed to complete the project, along with yarn for seaming the cushion sides together.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 26 stitches and 27 rows to 10 cm (approximately 4 inches) measured over patterned stockinette stitch using 4mm (US 6) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the finished cushion to fit the specified pad dimensions accurately.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to tackle Fair Isle colorwork. The combination of chart reading, color stranding, and seaming techniques provides a comprehensive intermediate-level project.