P367 Woven Look Cushions

How to Knit Woven Look Cushions

Create richly textured cushions that look woven rather than knitted. These easy patterns combine slipped stitches, ribbing, colour changes and simple stranded sections to produce a robust, fabric-like finish.

The original design uses gradient yarns in grey, beige, orange and blue, giving the finished cushions extra depth and contrast. You can make either a square cushion or a rectangular cushion, or knit both as a coordinated set.

Finished Measurements

What You Will Need

Yarn

The original pattern uses Makr Cottage Loom yarn in 100 g balls:

• Colour 1: 1 ball Smokey Grey
• Colour 2: 1 ball Pearlescent Beige
• Colour 3: 1 ball Dusk Orange
• Colour 4: 1 ball Coastal Blue

The same four-colour quantity is used for either the square or rectangular cushion.

Needles and Equipment

• 6 mm straight knitting needles
• Wool or felt needle for sewing in ends
• 35 cm × 35 cm cushion insert for the square cushion
• 30 cm × 50 cm cushion insert for the rectangular cushion
• Scissors

Tension

Using 6 mm needles, work to a tension of:

14 stitches and 20 rows over 10 cm in stocking stitch.

Knit and wash a tension square before beginning. A different tension may affect the finished cushion size and the fit around the insert.

Abbreviations

• C: Colour
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• Sl: Slip stitch
• Sl kw: Slip stitch knitwise
• Sl pw: Slip stitch purlwise
• Wl.bk: Take wool to the back of the knitting
• Wl.fwd: Bring wool to the front of the knitting

How the Woven Effect Is Created

The woven appearance is created by combining slipped stitches with yarn carried across the front or back of the work. These floats sit across the knitted fabric and create a structured, textile-like surface.

Additional sections of ribbing, garter stitch, stocking stitch and two-colour blocks provide contrast and make each cushion look pieced together.

Construction Overview

The front and back of each cushion are knitted separately using the same instructions.

1. Knit the first cushion panel.
2. Repeat the pattern to make a matching second panel.
3. Sew the lower edge and both side seams.
4. Insert the cushion form.
5. Sew the upper edge closed.

Square Cushion

For the square cushion, cast on 60 stitches in Colour 1.

Begin with eight rows of knit-one, purl-one rib. The remaining panel is created by working through a sequence of colour and texture sections.

Main Colour Sequence

1. Colour 1 ribbed border
2. Colour 2 slipped-stitch woven section
3. Colour 3 contrasting slipped-stitch section
4. Colour 4 garter-stitch band
5. Colour 3 stocking-stitch stripe
6. Colour 2 seed or moss-stitch section
7. Colour 3 and Colour 4 two-colour block pattern
8. Repeat the textured sections in reverse order
9. Finish with a Colour 1 ribbed border

Knit a second identical panel for the back.

Rectangular Cushion

For the rectangular cushion, cast on 50 stitches in Colour 2.

Begin with 30 rows of knit-one, purl-one rib. Continue through the slipped stitch, garter stitch, stocking stitch and colour-blocked sections shown in the pattern.

Main Colour Sequence

1. Colour 2 wide ribbed panel
2. Colour 1 woven slipped-stitch section
3. Colour 3 contrasting slipped-stitch section
4. Colour 4 garter-stitch stripe
5. Colour 3 stocking-stitch stripe
6. Colour 1 moss-stitch section
7. Colour 2 stocking-stitch stripe
8. Colour 3 and Colour 4 two-colour pattern
9. Finish with a wide Colour 4 ribbed panel

Knit a second matching panel for the back.

Working the Two-Colour Sections

The geometric sections use two colours across the same row. Work the required number of stitches in the first colour, then twist the two yarns around each other before changing to the second colour.

Carry the unused yarn across the wrong side of the work. Do not pull it tightly, as the cushion panel must remain flat and flexible.

Finishing the Cushions

1. Place the front and back panels together with the wrong sides facing.
2. Sew the lower edge using an invisible horizontal seaming method.
3. Join both side seams using a square chain-stitch or mattress-style seam.
4. Insert the correct-size cushion form.
5. Close the upper edge using an invisible horizontal seam.
6. Weave in all remaining yarn ends securely.

Alternative Yarns for This Project

The original cushions use Makr Cottage Loom, a softly spun yarn with gradual colour changes. A suitable substitute should produce the same tension and have enough structure for a durable cushion cover.

• 12 ply wool and acrylic blend – provides warmth, durability and good stitch definition.
• Aran or light chunky acrylic – an affordable, easy-care option suited to frequently used cushions.
• Gradient or self-striping chunky yarn – recreates the colour depth of the original Cottage Loom yarn.
• Chunky wool – gives the cushions a more natural, structured and premium finish.
• Recycled fibre yarn – can create a rustic, contemporary look, provided the yarn is strong and does not stretch excessively.
• Cotton-acrylic chunky blend – produces a cooler, smoother cushion with good stitch definition and easier care.

Choosing the Best Substitute

Choose a yarn that can achieve 14 stitches and 20 rows over 10 cm on 6 mm needles.

Smooth yarns will make the slipped-stitch and geometric patterns easier to see. Very fluffy or boucle yarns may hide the woven-look texture.

For the closest visual result, select four yarns that vary in both colour and tone, such as a neutral, a light shade, a warm accent and a cool accent.

Colour Ideas

• Charcoal, cream, rust and teal
• Beige, blush, burgundy and olive
• Navy, pale blue, mustard and ivory
• Black, white, grey and terracotta
• Four tonal shades of the same colour
• Neutral yarns with one bright feature colour

Care

Follow the care instructions on the selected yarn label. Remove the cushion insert before washing where possible.

Gently reshape the cover while damp and dry it flat. Avoid hanging the wet cover, as this may stretch the slipped-stitch sections and side seams.