Spinney Hill
JULIET BERNARD Cushion with leaf details
“I AM completely fascinated by slipped or held stitches, and I came across a video using this technique to create these lovely leaf shapes,” explains Juliet Bernard. Her cushion design uses a brand-new yarn from Fyberspates, called Tarma Aran. This is a plump blend of wool and alpaca, which is hand-dyed in a range of 20 warm, semi-solid shades.
LEAF PATTERN
Make leaf: using yarn B, C, D or E as indicated, insert the right needle 7 rows below the stitch and pull yarn through. Insert needle again 6 rows below the stitch and pull yarn through, and repeat until you have 7 loops on your right needle. Knit the next stitch using yarn A, and then pass each loop over the stitch, making sure each loop lies behind the previous one.
FRONT
Using 5mm needles, yarn A and a provisional cast-on method, cast on 65 sts.
Starting with a knit row, work 14 rows in st st.
Refer to photograph for order of leaf colours.
Leaf row 1: K8, (make leaf, K11) 4 times, make leaf, K8.
Work 11 rows in st st.
Leaf row 2: K14, (make leaf, K11) 3 times, make leaf, K14.
Work 11 rows in st st.
Continue until you have 7 rows of leaves.
Work 7 rows in st st.
Place sts on a holder or waste yarn.
UPPER BACK
Using 5mm needles and yarn A, cast on 65 sts.
MOSS STITCH BORDER
Row 1: *K1, P1; rep from * to last st, K1. Rep row 1 another 19 times.
Change to yarn B and work 10 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Change to yarn C and work 10 rows in st st.
Change to yarn D and work 10 rows in st st.
Change to yarn E and work 10 rows in st st. Place sts on a holder or waste yarn.
LOWER BACK
Using 5mm needles and yarn A, cast on 65 sts.
Work 16 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Change to yarn B and work 10 rows in st st.
Change to yarn C and work 10 rows in st st.
Change to yarn D and work 10 rows in st st.
Change to yarn E and work 10 rows in st st. Place sts on a holder or waste yarn.
MAKING UP
Block pieces gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball bands.
Weave in ends.
FRONT
Undo provisional cast-on and place stitches on a spare needle.
Using yarn A and with RS facing, knit sts from needle, pick up and knit 65 sts evenly down the side, knit 65 sts evenly across the top, pick up and knit 65 sts evenly down the other side.
260 sts.
BACK
Place moss stitch border of Upper Back over yarn A stripe on Lower Back, and either tack or use pins to hold in place. Using yarn A, and with RS facing, knit 65 held sts from Upper Back, pick up and knit 65 sts evenly down the side, making sure to knit through the two layers overlapping Upper Back and Lower Back layers, knit 65 sts from Lower Back, pick up and knit 65 sts evenly down the other side. 260 sts.
With WS facing, hold Front and Back together and use a three-needle cast-off to join both panels together.