Unicorn Stool Cover

Unicorn Stool Cover by Linda Moorhouse

What is Being Made

This is a knitted stool cover designed to fit a square stool top measuring 14 inches by 14 inches with a depth of 3 inches. The project creates a decorative fabric cover that wraps around the stool, combining a main color with a contrasting color to achieve a striking two-tone unicorn-themed design. The finished piece uses approximately 100g to 200g of yarn, equivalent to 130 to 260 yards.

Knitting Techniques Used

The stool cover employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its structure and visual interest. The project begins and ends with ribbed edging, which provides elasticity and a neat, finished appearance. The main body utilizes slip stitch colorwork, a technique where stitches are slipped rather than knitted to create color patterns without carrying yarn across large sections. The pattern also incorporates yarn forward movements, which add texture and visual variation to the fabric. The construction involves picking up stitches along the sides to create the three-dimensional cover that wraps around all sides of the stool.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The foundational stitch throughout this project is the knit 1, purl 1 rib, worked over 18 rows at both the beginning and end of the main cover piece. This creates a stretchy, textured border. The main pattern sequence consists of four rows that repeat 22 times for a total of 88 rows:

• Row 1: Main color – knit 2, then repeat (slip 1 purl-wise, knit 5) across, ending with slip 1 purl-wise and knit 2
• Row 2: Main color – purl 2, then repeat (slip 1 purl-wise, purl 5) across, ending with purl 2
• Row 3: Contrast color – repeat (knit 5, slip 1 purl-wise) across, ending with knit 5
• Row 4: Contrast color – repeat (knit 5, yarn forward, slip 1 purl-wise, take yarn to back) across, ending with knit 5

The slip stitch technique creates a jacquard-like effect without the complexity of traditional colorwork, making it accessible for intermediate knitters. The yarn forward and slip stitch combination in row 4 adds subtle texture and visual depth to the contrast color sections.

Materials and Equipment

This project requires Stylecraft Trendsetter Chunky yarn in two colors—a main color and a contrast color—totaling 100g to 200g (130 to 260 yards). The chunky yarn weight allows for relatively quick knitting and creates a substantial, durable fabric suitable for a functional stool cover. Two sizes of needles are needed: metric 4mm needles for the ribbed sections and side construction, and metric 5mm needles for the main patterned body. The larger needles create a more open fabric in the colorwork sections, while the smaller needles produce the tighter, more elastic ribbing.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While it uses basic stitches such as knit, purl, and slip stitches, the combination of techniques—managing two colors, executing slip stitch colorwork, changing needle sizes, and picking up stitches for the sides—requires some experience and attention to pattern details. Knitters comfortable with basic stitch work and simple color changes will find this project manageable and rewarding.