Cairenn

Cairenn Knit Cushion Cover by Lucy Hague

What is Being Made

Cairenn is a knitted cushion cover designed by Lucy Hague, featuring a distinctive three-piece construction method. The finished cushion cover measures 16½ inches (41 cm) square and is designed to fit a 19¾ inch (50 cm) square cushion insert. The cover incorporates an envelope-style back closure with button fasteners, allowing for convenient insertion and removal of the inner cushion.

Construction Technique and Method

This cushion cover employs a sophisticated three-stage construction process that combines both circular and flat knitting techniques. The design begins with the cabled front panel, which is worked in the round from the centre outward, creating a seamless construction from the center point. Once the front panel is complete, the stitches are cast off using an i-cord edging technique, which creates a finished, decorative border. The envelope-style back panels are then worked flat by picking up stitches along the i-cord edging of the front panel. After blocking, the back panels are seamed at the edges of the cushion, and buttons are added to the closure for functional fastening and easy access to the cushion insert.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch pattern used throughout this design is stocking stitch, which provides a smooth, classic fabric base. The design also features cable stitches as a decorative element on the front panel, adding visual interest and texture. The i-cord edging technique is used to finish and frame the front panel, creating a polished edge that serves as the pickup line for the back panels.

Materials and Specifications

• Yarn: 510 yards (465 meters) of Aran-weight yarn. The sample shown uses West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland in the colorway 'Seafield,' which is 100% Shetland wool with 182 yards (166 meters) per 100 gram skein; 3 skeins are required for this project.
• Needles: 4.0mm (US 6) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for working the center-out circular sections; one 4.0mm (US 6) circular needle approximately 24 inches (60 cm) long; and one 4.0mm (US 6) circular needle approximately 40 inches (100 cm) long for working larger circumferences.
• Gauge: 18.5 stitches and 29 rows per round to 4 inches (10 cm) in stocking stitch after blocking.
• Additional Materials: Buttons for the envelope closure and a cable needle for working the cable stitches.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction methods and stitch techniques. The combination of center-out circular knitting, cable work, i-cord edging, and the three-piece assembly process requires intermediate-level experience and attention to detail.