Storage Baskets, Cushion Cover, Plant Pot Covers & Rug in King Cole Raffia - 4341 - Downloadable PDF

Storage Baskets, Cushion Cover, Plant Pot Covers & Rug in King Cole Raffia

What is Being Made

This King Cole Raffia pattern collection includes four coordinated home décor projects: storage baskets for organizing items, a cushion cover for upholstered seating, plant pot covers for protecting and decorating potted plants, and a rug for floor coverage. All four items are designed to be knitted from the same yarn, allowing crafters to create a cohesive, coordinated home collection.

Craft and Techniques

These projects are created using the knitting craft, making them suitable for intermediate-level knitters. The pattern employs several fundamental and decorative knitting techniques to create texture and visual interest across the collection.

The primary stitch technique used throughout the projects is garter stitch (abbreviated as g-st), which is created by knitting every row. Garter stitch produces a textured, ridged fabric that is reversible and lies flat, making it ideal for home décor items like baskets and rugs that require durability and structure.

Cable stitching is also featured in the pattern, specifically the cable 4 front (abbreviated as C4F) technique. This decorative stitch involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle, holding them at the front of the work, knitting the next stitches from the left-hand needle, and then knitting the held stitches. This creates a twisted, rope-like texture that adds visual depth and sophistication to the finished pieces.

Additional techniques include increasing stitches (inc), decreasing stitches (dec), and the make 1 (M1) method, which involves picking up the loop lying between the last stitch worked and the next stitch, then knitting into the back of that loop. These shaping techniques allow the projects to be constructed with proper fit and form.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (g-st): Knit every row to create a textured, reversible fabric
• Cable 4 front (C4F): Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at front, knit the next 2 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit the stitches from the cable needle
• Knit (K): Basic knit stitch
• Purl (P): Basic purl stitch
• Make 1 (M1): Increase stitch by picking up loop between stitches and knitting into the back
• Slip stitches: Including slip one purl (Sl1P) for edge definition
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skpo): Decrease technique for shaping

Materials and Gauge

All projects in this collection are knitted using King Cole Raffia yarn. The pattern accommodates varied yarn weights and includes specific gauge requirements to ensure proper sizing and finished dimensions.

Tension (gauge) is critical for these projects. The pattern specifies two different gauge measurements depending on the knitting technique and needle size used:

• 15 stitches and 19 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over garter stitch using 5.5mm needles
• 10 stitches and 18 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over garter stitch using 8mm needles with yarn worked double

Knitters must work a tension square before beginning the projects to verify their gauge matches the pattern requirements. If fewer stitches are achieved per 10cm than stated in the pattern, needles should be changed to finer sizes to achieve the correct tension. Proper gauge ensures that the finished storage baskets, cushion cover, plant pot covers, and rug will be the intended size and have the correct drape and structure.

The pattern uses standard knitting needles in sizes 5.5mm and 8mm, depending on the specific project and yarn weight being worked.