“St. Nicholas” Chair Back Cover in Schachenmayr Boston and Brazilia - 5516 - Downloadable PDF

Knitted "St. Nicholas" Chair Back Cover in Schachenmayr Boston and Brazilia – Design 5516

This free downloadable knitting pattern (Design 5516) from Schachenmayr produces a charming festive chair back cover shaped to evoke the silhouette of St. Nicholas – a delightful seasonal decoration perfect for dressing up dining or accent chairs during the Christmas period. The finished piece is worked in two identical panels that are seamed together, creating a structured cover that slips neatly over the back of a chair.

What Is Being Made

The project is a Stuhlhusse "Nikolaus" – literally a "St. Nicholas chair back cover" – designed as a knitted holiday decoration. It is constructed from two matching knitted pieces that together form the recognisable shaped outline associated with St. Nicholas. The result is a cosy, textural decoration that transforms an ordinary chair into a festive focal point.

Materials Used

• Schachenmayr Brazilia – used for the ribbed cuff or border section at the lower edge of each panel; this yarn provides a contrast in texture and colour to define the trim
• Schachenmayr Boston – used for the main body of each panel, worked in smooth stockinette stitch; Boston is a chunky to aran weight yarn that knits up quickly and gives excellent stitch definition
• Both yarns are Schachenmayr brand products, ensuring colour and weight compatibility within the design
• Needles appropriate for aran and chunky weight yarns are required, consistent with the recommended gauges for Schachenmayr Boston and Brazilia

Construction and Techniques

The pattern instructs the knitter to work two identical pieces, each begun by casting on 62 stitches using Schachenmayr Brazilia. The lower border of each piece is worked for 7 cm in garter stitch (every row knitted), which creates a firm, non-curling edge that mimics a decorative cuff or trim – ideal for the St. Nicholas aesthetic.

After completing the garter stitch border, the yarn is changed to Schachenmayr Boston and the work continues in stockinette stitch (smooth stocking stitch: knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) for 35.5 cm (64 rows). This section forms the main body of the chair cover panel.

Once the body length is reached, a structured shaping sequence begins to create the distinctive silhouette. Decreases are worked alternately on every following row and every second following row, decreasing one stitch at each end on both sides, repeated 28 times. This bilateral decreasing tapers the panel symmetrically toward the top.

Stitches and Shaping Details

• Garter stitch – every row knitted; used for the 7 cm border worked in Brazilia
• Stockinette stitch (smooth stocking stitch) – knit right-side rows, purl wrong-side rows; used for the main body in Boston
• Right-leaning decrease (k2tog) – on right-side rows: work edge stitch and 1 stitch, then knit 2 together
• Left-leaning decrease (skpo / slip 1, k1, psso) – on right-side rows near the end: slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over
• Purl decreases on wrong-side rows – p2tog through back loop at the beginning and standard p2tog near the end, maintaining the symmetrical shaping on return rows
• Edge stitches (selvedge stitches) are maintained throughout the shaping rows to keep clean edges for seaming
• After 42 decrease rows, 6 stitches remain, and these are then worked off to close the top of the panel

Pattern Format and Availability

Design 5516 is published by Schachenmayr (© 2014 Coats PLC