Cable Panel Pillow Cover

Cable Panel Pillow Cover by LadyshipDesigns

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern creates a 20" x 20" (51 x 51 cm) hand knit pillow cover featuring a distinctive rope cable panel design. The pillow cover is constructed in three separate pieces that are then joined together using a crochet stitch border, and includes an envelope closure for easy insertion and removal of a pillow form.

What Is Being Made

A decorative hand knit cushion cover measuring 20 inches by 20 inches (51 centimeters by 51 centimeters). The design emphasizes a prominent rope cable pattern as the focal point, with the three-piece construction method allowing for a professional finish. The envelope closure design provides practical functionality while maintaining aesthetic appeal.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Cable knitting: The pattern features a rope cable technique worked over 16 rows, creating the textured focal point of the pillow cover
• Stocking stitch: Used as the base fabric, providing a smooth, classic knit surface
• Multi-piece construction: The cover is knit as three separate components before being assembled
• Crochet finishing: A crochet stitch border joins the three knitted pieces together, combining both knitting and crochet skills
• Seaming: Sewing needle work completes the envelope closure

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for beginner-level crafters:

• K – Knit stitch
• P – Purl stitch
• St(s) – Stitch(es)
• C4B – Cable 4 Back: slip next 4 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back of work, knit 4 stitches from left needle, then knit 4 stitches from cable needle
• Single Crochet: Used for the finishing border that joins the three knitted pieces

Materials and Tools Required

Yarn: Approximately 12 ounces (400 grams / 600 yards) of worsted weight yarn, classified as #4/medium weight. The pattern recommends purchasing slightly extra yarn to ensure sufficient yardage for completion and to verify that all yarn balls match in dye lot.

Needles and Hooks:

• One pair of 5.5mm/US 9/UK 5 needles
• One pair of 6mm/US 10/UK 4 needles
• Cable needle for managing cable stitches
• 4mm/US G-6/UK 8 crochet hook for the finishing border
• Sewing needle for seaming the envelope closure

Gauge and Tension

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 20 rows over a 4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm) square worked in stocking stitch on 6mm/US 10/UK 4 needles. The pattern instructions emphasize the importance of working a tension square before beginning the project to ensure the finished pillow cover achieves the intended dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Rated as beginner-friendly, this pattern is accessible to knitters new to cable work. While cable knitting is introduced, the straightforward three-piece construction and use of basic stitches make it an excellent project for developing cable technique skills.