Floating Circles Cushion Cover

Floating Circles Cushion Cover

What is Being Made

The Floating Circles Cushion Cover is a knitted cushion cover designed by Sian Brown, measuring 40 x 40 cm. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a decorative cushion cover featuring a striking intarsia pattern of floating circles. The finished cover is constructed to fit a standard 40 x 40 cm cushion pad and includes button closures for easy insertion and removal of the cushion form.

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs several essential knitting techniques to achieve its finished design. Intarsia is the primary colorwork method, allowing the floating circle motifs to be worked in a contrasting color against the main background. The pattern uses stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) as the primary fabric structure, creating a smooth, professional finish suitable for home décor. Rib stitch (alternating knit and purl stitches) is used for the cast-on edge to create a neat, elastic border. The pattern also incorporates reverse stocking stitch to mark turning points, which helps define the construction sections and creates subtle texture lines in the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stocking Stitch (St St): The main stitch throughout the cushion cover, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the classic smooth knit fabric
• Rib Stitch (K1, P1): Used for the initial 5 rows at the cast-on edge, combining single knit and purl stitches to create an elastic, textured border
• Reverse Stocking Stitch (Rev St St): Used strategically to mark turning points and construction divisions within the pattern
• Intarsia Colorwork: The floating circle motifs are worked using intarsia technique, where yarn colors are changed within rows to create the pattern design without carrying unused yarn across the back

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: This pattern uses two different acrylic yarns in DK weight. The primary yarn is Cygnet Boho Spirit (100% acrylic, 100 gm balls with 240 meters per ball) in the Festival colorway (6923), requiring 2 balls for the main background. The contrasting color is Cygnet DK (100% acrylic, 100 gm balls with 298 meters per ball) in Cream (256), requiring 1 ball for the intarsia motifs and ribbed edge.

Needles and Notions: A pair of size 4mm knitting needles is required to achieve the correct gauge. Additional materials include a 40 x 40 cm cushion pad to fill the finished cover and 5 buttons for the closure mechanism.

Gauge and Tension: The pattern specifies a tension of 23 stitches and 29 rows over a 10 x 10 cm square worked in stocking stitch using yarn A. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the cushion cover to fit the standard cushion pad properly.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The cushion cover is constructed in two main pieces: a back and a front. The back section is worked first, measuring 30 cm from the cast-on edge in stocking stitch with yarn A, beginning with a 5-row ribbed edge in yarn B. The front section features the decorative floating circles motifs and is constructed using an intarsia chart. The pattern repeats the chart motifs three times across the front, with 7 rows of plain stocking stitch between each motif repeat, creating a balanced, symmetrical design. The pattern includes overlapping sections for button closure, making this a practical and functional home décor item.