Basket Texture Cushion Cover

Basket Texture Cushion Cover by Sian Brown

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted cushion cover measuring 40 x 40 cm, designed by Sian Brown as a beginner-friendly knitting project. The cover features a textured basket weave pattern on the front and a simple moss stitch back, creating visual interest and tactile depth. The finished cushion cover is fastened with five medium-sized buttons, making it practical for inserting and removing a cushion pad.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Cascade Pacific Chunky yarn in the Denim colorway (shade 73), requiring three 100-gram balls for the complete project. Knitters will need a pair of 6mm needles and five medium-sized buttons for the button closure. The chunky yarn weight makes this project quick to complete while creating a substantial, cozy finished piece.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This design employs several fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The back of the cushion cover is worked in moss stitch, a classic textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern across two rows. This stitch provides a reversible, bumpy texture that adds visual interest to the back panel.

The front features a basket texture pattern that repeats over 16 rows. This pattern combines blocks of stocking stitch (alternating knit and purl rows) with strategic placement of purl stitches to create a woven basket-like appearance. The pattern uses yarn over needle (abbreviated as yon) as an abbreviation reference, indicating potential eyelet or textural elements within the design.

The construction begins with a cast on of 60 stitches and progresses through the back section in stocking stitch before transitioning to the patterned front. An increase of one stitch is worked during the transition between sections, bringing the stitch count to 61 stitches for the front panel.

Tension and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension of 15 stitches and 21 rows over a 10 x 10 centimeter square in stocking stitch. Maintaining this tension is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions of 40 x 40 cm. The back section measures 30 cm from the cast-on edge before the transition to the front pattern begins.

Skill Level

This project is rated as beginner difficulty, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to the craft or those seeking a straightforward cushion project. The combination of basic stitches—knit, purl, and moss stitch—alongside a repeating 16-row pattern provides manageable complexity while producing a professional-looking finished piece.