Lily Cushion in Rowan Cotton Wool - RB003-00009-ENP - Downloadable PDF

Lily Cushion by Georgia Farrell in Rowan Cotton Wool – Pattern Summary

The Lily Cushion is a beautifully crafted knitted cushion cover designed by Georgia Farrell and published by Rowan. Released as a downloadable PDF (reference RB003-00009-ENP), this pattern is rated intermediate in skill level, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore more structured colourwork methods. The finished cushion has a striking striped design with a clean, contemporary aesthetic that suits a wide range of home interiors.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted cushion cover designed to fit around a washable duvet repurposed as cushion filling. To achieve a similar size to the cushion shown in the original photograph, the pattern recommends using a 13.5 tog single size washable duvet as the inner. The cover is closed with a 56 cm (22 in) zip, sewn in place using sewing thread. A small amount of waste yarn is also listed among the required extras, suggesting its use during construction or finishing.

Design and Construction Details

The Lily Cushion features a bold striped colourwork pattern worked across the full width of the fabric. The design is structured around a repeating 36-row stripe sequence, which is worked a total of nine full repeats plus an additional partial repeat, creating 10 completed striped sections in the contrast colour before the pattern transitions back to the main colour for a final plain section. This careful sequencing gives the cushion a rhythmic, graphic quality.

The stripe pattern is achieved using the intarsia method, a colourwork technique in which separate lengths or bobbins of yarn are used for each colour section rather than carrying yarn across the back of the work. This keeps the fabric neat and avoids unnecessary bulk or floats on the wrong side — particularly important in a cushion cover where the interior will be visible during assembly. Knitters new to intarsia will benefit from reviewing the technique before beginning, as the pattern references a dedicated information page for guidance.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Knit stitch (garter stitch) – The entire fabric appears to be worked in knit stitch on both right-side and wrong-side rows, producing a garter stitch texture. This gives the cushion a pleasingly tactile, ridged surface and eliminates the need to manage purl rows in the colourwork sections.
• Intarsia colourwork – Used to create the two-colour striped sections, with each colour block worked using its own separate yarn supply. At the colour change point, yarns are twisted around each other to prevent gaps in the fabric.
• Stripe sequencing – The pattern alternates between a striped section (rows 1–20, worked in two colours across the row) and a plain section (rows 21–36, worked entirely in the main colour), building a structured repeat across the length of the cushion panel.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written for Rowan Cotton Wool, a DK weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. Two colourways are used:

• Yarn A – Tiptoe (shade 205): 7 balls required — this is the main colour used throughout the cushion, including the plain sections and one half of each striped row.
• Yarn B – Cuddle (shade 210): 2 balls required — this contrast colour appears in the striped sections only and is broken off once all 10 striped repeats are complete.

Rowan Cotton Wool is a blend of cotton and wool fibres, combining the breathability and stitch definition of cotton with the warmth and elasticity of wool. This makes it well suited to home accessories such as cushions, offering durability alongside a soft, comfortable handle. The yarn's smooth texture also helps the stripe pattern read clearly and crisp.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for one pair of 4 mm (UK no. 8 / US size 6) straight needles. The stated tension is 20 stitches and 38 rows to 10 cm, measured over the stitch pattern used in the design. As with all knitting projects, achieving the correct tension swatch before beginning is