Cushion Cover and Throw in Hayfield Illusion - 7932 - Downloadable PDF

Hayfield Illusion DK Cushion Cover and Throw – Pattern 7932

Pattern 7932 from Hayfield is a beginner-friendly downloadable PDF that covers two classic home accessories: a generously sized square throw and a matching cushion cover, both knitted in Hayfield Illusion DK yarn. The designs are clean, unfussy, and ideal for knitters who are just starting out or who want a satisfying, low-stress project that delivers a polished, professional result.

What Is Being Made

The Throw

The throw measures a substantial 100 x 100 cm (39½ x 39½ inches), making it a generous lap blanket or decorative sofa throw. It is constructed in five separate panels, each knitted individually and then joined together along their side edges. This panel construction keeps the knitting manageable and avoids the need to handle a heavy, unwieldy piece of fabric on the needles. The finished throw is blocked by pinning it out to the stated measurements, covering it with damp cloths, and leaving it to dry — a simple wet-blocking technique that helps the panels lie flat and join seamlessly.

The Cushion Cover

The cushion cover is designed to fit a 41 x 41 cm (16 x 16 inch) cushion pad. Both the back and front panels are worked identically, which simplifies the pattern considerably. Each panel is begun with a clever triangular cast-on shaping — stitches are increased on every row from just 3 stitches up to 121 stitches — which creates a diagonal, mitred effect across the fabric. The panel is then decreased back down symmetrically to complete the square shape. A 41 cm (16 inch) zip fastener is inserted into the fourth side seam to allow easy removal of the cushion pad for washing. Like the throw, the cushion cover is finished by blocking to measurements.

Techniques Used

• Thumb method cast-on — the recommended cast-on technique for both projects, producing a neat, elastic edge well suited to garter stitch fabric
• Panel construction — the throw is built from five individual strips that are seamed together, a practical approach that makes a large project feel approachable
• Mitre shaping (increase and decrease rows) — the cushion cover panels are shaped by working inc in first st, knit to end on every row to build up to 121 stitches, then k2tog, knit to end on every row to reduce back down to 3 stitches before casting off
• Seaming and assembly — panels are joined along their side edges; the cushion cover uses a zip insertion technique for a neat, functional finish
• Wet blocking — both finished pieces are pinned out to measurements, covered with damp cloths, and left to dry to achieve the correct dimensions and a smooth appearance

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (g-st) — every row is knitted, creating a ridged, reversible fabric with excellent drape and body. Garter stitch is the primary and only stitch pattern used throughout both the throw and the cushion cover, making this pattern genuinely accessible to beginners who know only the knit stitch
• K2tog (knit two together) — a simple right-leaning decrease used during the cushion cover shaping
• Inc (increase in first stitch) — a basic bar increase used to build the cushion panel from its starting point
• Knitways cast-off — a standard cast-off worked knit-wise for a clean, consistent edge

Materials

Yarn

Both projects use Hayfield Illusion DK, a double knitting weight yarn sold in 100g balls. The throw requires 6 x 100g balls in shade 308. The cushion cover uses 1 x 100g ball of shade 308 as the main colour (M) and 1 x 100g ball of shade 309 as the contrast colour (C), with the two identical panels worked in different shades to create a two-tone