Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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  1.  

      freecablecushionpattern      Print Friendly and PDF

    I made this lovely cushion cover for my living room out of some hand dyed DK yarn I had in my stash for some time. The colour matched my throw and curtains so it just had to be!

    I backed the cushion with some pretty green and lilac tartan effect fabric but you can choose fabric that matches your own decor or knit a plain reverse stocking stitch back.

    Thought I'd share !

    Finished size: 14” x 14” when blocked

    Yarn: 100 grams hand dyed Bluefaced Leicester Aran weight

    Needles: 4.5 mm / US 7 / UK 7

    Gauge: Approx 23 stitches, 26 rows = 10 cm / 4 inch in stocking stitch

    Notions:- Cable needle

    Here it is with my other crafty cushions and throws.

    sam_6240

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Cast on 80 stitches using the cable cast on method.

    Consists of 28 edging stitches, 24 pattern stitches and 28 edging stitches again.

    The pattern below is just for the centre 24 stitches. The 28 edging stitches should be purled on the RS and Knit on the WS.

    Row 1 (RS) : P10, C4F, P10

    Row 2: K10, P4, K10

    Row 3: P8, C4B, C4F, P8

    Row 4: K8, P8, K8

    Row 5: P6, T4R, K4, T4L, P6

    Row 6: K6, P2, K2, P4, K2, P2, K6

    Row 7: P4, T4R, P2, C4F, P2, T4L, P4

    Row 8: K4, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K4

    Row 9: P2, T4R, P3, T3R, T3L, P3, T4L, P2

    Row 10: K2, P2, K4, P3, K2, P3, K4, P2, K2

    Row 11: P1, T2R, T2L, P3, T3R, P2, T3L, P3, T2R, T2L, P1

    Row 12: K1, P1, K2, P1, K3, P8, K3, P1, K2, P1, K1

    Row 13: T2R, P1, T2R, P3, K2, P4, K2, P3, T2L, P1, T2L

    Row 14: P1, K2, P1, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P1, K2, P1

    Row 15: T2L, T2R, P4, T3L, P2, T3R, P4, T2L, T2R

    Row 16: K1, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K1

    Row 17: P1, T2R, P6, T3L, T3R, P6, T2L, P1

    Row 18: K10, P4, K10

    The pattern is worked in 18 row repeats following the pattern above.

    Work rows 1-18  5 times

    Work rows 1 and 2 one more time.

    Bind / Cast Off lightly.

    Abbreviations:-

    C4B          Slip 2 sts on to  the cable needle, take them to the back of the work,  knit the next 2 sts and then knit the 2 sts on the cable needle.

    C4F         Slip 2 sts on to  the cable needle, take them to the front of the work,  knit the next 2 sts and then knit the 2 sts on the cable needle.

    K             Knit.

    P             Purl.

    T2L         Twist 2 left - Cross 1st stitch in front, purl 1, knit 1.

    T2R         Twist 2 right - Cross 2nd stitch in front, knit 1, purl 1.

    T3L         Twist 3 left - Cross 1st and 2nd stitches in front, purl 1 , knit 2.

    T3R        Twist 3 right - Cross 2nd and 3rd stitches in front, knit 2, purl 1.

    T4L        Twist 4 left - Cross 1st and 2nd stitches in front over 3rd and 4th stitches,  purl 2, knit 2.

    T4R       Twist 4 right - Cross  3rd and 4th stitches in front over 1st and 2nd stitches, knit 2, purl 2.

    To Finish:

    Weave in any yarn ends.

    Without squashing the cables, press the knitted piece very lightly on the wrong side of work.

    Cut a piece of fabric  ½ “ larger all round than the knitted front (should be approx 15”square).

    With the right sides facing , sew the fabric back to the knitted front , taking a ½ “ seam allowance on the fabric and sewing right to the knitted edge.

    Turn the cover to the right way and insert a cushion inner. Sew the last side closed.

    If you prefer working from charts then here is the chart for the 24 stitch centre panel:-

    cornflower

     

     

     

  2. Print Friendly and PDF

    A few days ago , I set to and started designing my 1st ever 'difficult' shawl. I had knitted the triangular ones, many times for my on-line shop and incorporated many styles of lace patterns and picot edges. I had designed a crescent shaped shawl that involved rows and rows of wonderful bobbles and lace and that got its shape from the short row shaping I had used. But I had never knitted anything more than this. I knew there were some really gorgeous shawls out there, Ravelry, Pinterest etc were full of them. So why didn't I just knit one that I liked, learn the easy way.

     

     sam_6155

    Oh No! , that's not me.  I decided to start from scratch and design my own.

    I had this vision of the shawl radiating out from a central point on the neckline , a bit like a fan and that I would use the standard Yarn Over increases on spokes of the fan to spread the shawl wide. All I knew was when the shawl was wide enough I would incorporate a lovely horsehoe lace pattern I had found.   That was my designing done!

    Why I didn't get my charting software out at this stage I don't know. I just knitted away. 

      semicircshawl1    

     The shawl in the photo is the finished result. It's a lovely piece of work , sits beautifully on the shoulders  and drapes really well. The lace pattern is distinctive too.  

    But, when I came to write up and chart the pattern from my notes afterwards I came to see where I could have made the lace pattern look a lot better and the pattern writing a lot simpler. A  simple shift of when I started the lace pattern in one of the side panels soon resolved this. Bit annoying, if only I had charted the lace pattern before I started knitting instead of just thinking it would all work out OK.  

    Lesson learnt I think.

     

       

    Here is the perfected pattern for you. Have fun x

    Finished size:- Radius of circle 2' 2" / 66cm , Diameter 4'4" / 132cm

    Yarn:  Sublime , Sophia 5 x 50 gram balls (each 120 yards).

    Needles: 4.5 mm (UK 7, US 7 ) circular needles

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Cast on 3 sts on 4.5mm needles using the cable cast on technique

    Knitting the garter stitch top edging.

    Knit 8 rows.

    Rotate the work clockwise @ 90 degree angle so that the left side is facing upwards.Pick up and knit 4 stitches from this side edge.Rotate the work again, another 90 degrees and pick up and knit 3 stitches from the cast on edge.

    Set up rows for general shawl increases.

    Row 1 (WS): K3 , Kfb 4 times, K3 (14 sts).

    Row 2: Knit,

    Row 3: K3, P8, K3.

    Row 4: K3, (YO, K1) 4 times, (K1, YO) 4 times, K3 (22 sts).

    Row 5: K3, P16 , K3.

    Row 6: Knit.

    Row 7: As row 5.

    Row 8: K3, (K1, YO) 6 times, K4, (YO, K1) 6 times, K3 (34 stitches)

    Row 9: K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3

    Row 10: Knit.

    Row 11: As row 9.

    Row 12 (RS):  K3, k2 (YO, PM, K1, YO, K3) 3 times , (K3, YO, PM, K1, YO) 3 times,  K2, K3 (46 sts).

    Row 13: As row 9.

    Row 14: Knit.

    Row 15: As row 9.

    General shawl increases

    Row 1: K3, (knit to marker, YO, K1, YO) 6 times, knit to last 3 stitches, K3. (+12 stitches from row previous).

    Row 2: K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3

    Row 3: Knit.

    Row 4: As row 2.

    Repeat the above 4 rows until you have 286 stitches on your needles and are ready to start the YO increases again.

    Your shawl should now be made up of the following - 3 Selvedge + 23 Edge Panel + 1 +45 Side Panel + 1+ 45 SidePanel + 1+ 48 Middle Panel + 1 + 45 Side Panel + 1 + 45 Side Panel + 1 + 23 Edge Panel + 3.

    Set up row for the lace pattern.

    For simplicity I have broken the row down into the separate panels.

    Row 1:

    Selvedge & Edge Panel: K4, (1st row of lace pattern) twice, K2, YO, K1

    Side Panel: YO, K3 , (1st row of lace pattern) 4 times, K2, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K3 , (1st row of lace pattern) 4 times, K2, YO, K1,

    Middle Panel:   YO, K3 , (1st row of lace pattern) twice, K3 , (1st row of lace pattern) twice K2, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K3 , (1st row of lace pattern) 4 times, K2, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K3 , (1st row of lace pattern) 4 times, K2, YO, K1,

    Edge Panel & Selvedge : YO, K3, (1st row of lace pattern) twice, K3

    Row 2 and all even rows: K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3

        horseshoe2 

     k = knit, p = purl, yo = yarn over

    Cdd = central double decrease

    k2tpg = knit 2 together

    ssk = slip, slip, knit them together


    .
        

    Row 1: Yo, k2tog, k5, ssk, yo, k1

    Row 2: p

    Row 3: yo, k2tog, k5, ssk, yo, k1

    Row 4: p

    Row 5: yo, k3, Cdd, k3, yo, k1

    Row 6: p

    Row 7: k1, yo, k2, Cdd, k2, yo, k2

    Row 8: p

    Row 9: k2, yo, k1, Cdd, k1, yo, k3

    Row 10: p

    Row 11: k3, yo, Cdd yo, k4

    Row 12: p

    Work through all 12 rows of the lace pattern, incorporating the YO even increases on every 4th row. The YO’s are on each side of the knitted stitch that breaks up the panels.

    You should now have:- 3 Selvedge + 26 Edge Panel + 1 +51 Side Panel + 1+ 51 SidePanel + 1+ 54 Middle Panel + 1 + 51 Side Panel + 1 + 51 Side Panel + 1 + 26 Edge Panel + 3.

    The lace pattern is  now moved across 5 stitches.

    Row 13:

    Selvedge & Edge Panel: K9, (1st row of lace pattern) twice, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K1, (1st row of lace pattern) 5 times, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K1, (1st row of lace pattern) 5 times, YO, K1,

    Middle Panel:   YO, K1 , (1st row of lace pattern) twice, work 1st 5 stitches of lace pattern , K3, work last 5 stitches of lace pattern ,  (1st row of lace pattern) twice, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K1, (1st row of lace pattern) 5 times, YO, K1,

    Side Panel: YO, K1, (1st row of lace pattern) 5 times, YO, K1,

    Edge Panel & Selvedge : YO, K1, (1st row of lace pattern) twice, K8

    Work through all 12 rows of the lace pattern again , incorporating the YO even increases on every 4th row.

    Work another 2 rows, working the YO increases and working the final row of the middle panel.

    Knit 2 rows

    Cast off.

    Gently steam block the shawl and weave in all the ends.

     Now for some charts 

    Start Selvedge & Edge Panel

    horseshoe2selvedge

    Side Panel is knit 4 times.

    horseshoe2side

     The Middle panel starts and ends just the same as the side panels. However there are 3 'extra' stitches that are incorporated into the pattern in the middle of the middle panel.

    horseshoe2middle

    End panel and selvedge

    horseshoe2endselvedge

    Any problems , then just get in touch 

    More shawl patterns and knitting kits in store