Stella Quilt Cushion

Also Available: [Stella Quilt Blanket][1] [Stella Quilt Expansion][2] If you purchase both Cushion and Blanket Patterns, you can get the Expansion for free. This works retrospectively, you don’t have to purchase all patterns at the same time. Discount applies automatically. **Gauge DK (Aran)** 21 (18) sts x 42 (36) rows = 10 x 10cm / 4 x 4” Garter Stitch worked flat, blocked **Yarn** DK or Fingering/4ply held double (Aran Weight) **MC** - 284 (250)g motif 1 / 260 (240)g motif 2 **plus** 40 (50)g for envelope closure **CC** - 66 (70)g motif 1 / 88 (80)g motif 2 **Needles** 4 (5)mm straight or circular needle, or needle required to meet gauge **Accessories** embroidery needle, scissors, 50X50 cm cushion insert **Difficulty**  Intermediate. Experience with picking up stitches and short rows advised though full instructions are given along with diagrams and a full video tutorial.  You will need to be confident in the following techniques: Working flat Picking up stitches German Short Rows Increasing Decreasing Mattress stitch for sewn closure Icord bind off for envelope closure **Construction** The front of the cover is worked first with each square being added to the previous by picking up stitches and/or working German short rows. The back is then added in the same manner with the final seam being sewn closed with mattress stitch, or a closure flap is added. Entire cover is worked flat. **Choosing a cushion inner** You will need a 50 X 50cm / 20 x 20” cushion inner for your cover. What that inner is made from will affect the look of your finished cushion. Both samples use a feather/down insert which makes the cushion plump, but doesn’t stretch the star motif or envelope closure. Synthetic inners can become very flat quite quickly, so you may prefer to use 2 smaller synthetic inners. If the cover is overstuffed you will lose the tips of the star motif and the envelope closure may stretch open and show the inner. **Gauge and yarn** It is important to make sure you have the correct gauge, otherwise your cover may not fit your cushion inner. Fortunately you can use your first square as a gauge swatch making sure to wash and block it without stretching it. Due to the stretchy nature of Garter stitch you do have some flexibility. Motif 1 sample is made at aran weight gauge using Filcolana Peruvian Highland Wool in Natural White (MC) and Cinnamon Melange (CC). It has 16 complete squares comprising 20 MC trian- gles and 12 CC triangles. Motif 2 sample is made at DK weight gauge using Filcolana Saga held double (MC) and Woolly Mammoth Hearth Sock and Natural Sock, each held double (some individual mini skeins, some skeins from the 2022 ‘Twelvetide’ Advent calendar). It has 16 complete squares consisting of 16 MC triangles and 16 CC triangles (8 different CC colours each used twice). If you are looking for Woolly Mammoth or similar British wool yarns in the US, you cane find them [here][3] at The Woolly Thistle. (Ad/Aff)** **Using Advents and scrap yarn** You can use your advent minis for this pattern if you follow the DK weight instructions. Each individual triangle uses approx 5.5g of either fingering weight yarn held double or DK, though this includes contingency so you can most likely complete a triangle with 5 grams though it will depend on the yarn you’re using and your personal knitting tension. You can also adjust the stitch counts to make slightly smaller triangles weighing 5g or less, though you will end up with a smaller cushion. Full instructions for adjusting stitch counts is given in the pattern.  ** This is an affiliate link. This means the designer gets a small commission from you your order without any extra cost to you. [1]: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stella-quilt-blanket [2]: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stella-quilt-expansion [3]: https://thewoollythistle.com/LAURAPENROSE