Cable Throw and Cushion Cover

Cable Throw and Cushion Cover by Sian Brown

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern by designer Sian Brown features a coordinated set of two projects: a substantial cable throw blanket and a matching cushion cover. Both pieces showcase classic cable knitting techniques worked in a soft aran-weight yarn. The pattern is designed at an intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters with some experience in working with cables and shaping techniques.

What is Being Made

Cable Throw: A generously sized throw blanket measuring approximately 150 cm x 100 cm. The throw is constructed from separate panels, with the sample featuring four panels. The modular construction allows knitters to customize the final dimensions by adjusting the number of panels and altering the border stitches accordingly.

Cushion Cover: A 50 x 50 cm cushion cover (including border) designed to fit a 45 cm cushion. The cover features a button closure detail and coordinates visually with the throw through matching cable patterns and yarn choice.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques characteristic of cable work:

• Cable stitching: The primary decorative technique, using a cable needle to create twisted, rope-like textures across the fabric
• Twist stitches: Abbreviated as T3F (twist 3 front) and T3B (twist 3 back), these create diagonal crossed stitches by slipping stitches onto a cable needle and working them in a specific order
• Stocking stitch: The background stitch used throughout, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric
• Purl stitches: Used in combination with knit stitches to define cable patterns and create textural contrast
• Panel construction: The throw is worked in modular sections that are later joined, allowing for design flexibility
• Button bands: The cushion cover incorporates a button closure, requiring knowledge of button band construction

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches:

• Knit (k): The basic stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl (p): The reverse of the knit stitch, used to create definition and texture within cable patterns
• Make 1 (m1): An increase stitch used to shape the fabric where needed
• Twist 3 Front (T3F): A cable variation where two stitches are slipped to a cable needle and held at the front, one purl stitch is worked, then the two stitches from the cable needle are knitted
• Twist 3 Back (T3B): A cable variation where one stitch is slipped to a cable needle and held at the back, two stitches are knitted, then the stitch from the cable needle is purled
• Yarn Round Needle Twice (Yrn2): A decorative increase creating eyelet details
• Cable 4 Front/Back (C4F/B): A four-stitch cable where two stitches are slipped to a cable needle and held at front or back of work, then worked in sequence to create the characteristic cable twist

Materials

Yarn: Bergere de France Aromalaine in shade Serenite (colorway 24117), an aran-weight yarn. The throw requires 33 balls of yarn, while the cushion cover requires 12 balls. Aran-weight yarn is a medium-weight yarn that knits to a standard tension of 16 stitches and 22 rows over a 10 x 10 cm square in stocking stitch.

Needles and Tools: The pattern calls for a pair of 5.5mm needles for flat knitting, a 5.5mm circular needle (likely for working the border or joining panels), and a 5.5mm cable needle for manipulating stitches during cable work. These needle sizes are appropriate for aran-weight yarn and ensure proper tension and stitch definition.

Notions: Five buttons are required for the cushion cover closure.

Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as an intermediate pattern, this design is best suited for knitters who have experience working with cable stitches and are comfortable reading pattern abbreviations and following shaping