Tuesday 29 May 2012

Domino Knitting - Rainbow Cushion


I recently discovered this amazing way of producing square motifs – it’s variously known as modular knitting, domino knitting and mitred knitting.  The basic instructions came from here, but you will need to adjust the number of stitches depending on what size you want the squares to be, and also how many colours you want to use. 
In keeping with my obsession with rainbow colours, so needing 7 coloured stripes, I started with 42 stitches – this gives you 6 rows for each stripe.  I decided to start with something simple – a cushion cover – but you could just keep going and produce a large throw (known as an Afghan in the US). 
Each new square is attached to the existing ones by picking up stitches, rather than by sewing them all together afterwards – great if you hate sewing knitted pieces together.  The downside is all the ends that have to be sewn in; I found it easier to do this last, as you can then weave them into the seams so that they don’t show on the right side.
Note: I find the easiest way to pick up stitches is to use a crochet hook, preferably a long one.  Pick up all the stitches onto the hook, then transfer them to the knitting needle from the wrong end of the hook.  You may have to do the stitches in groups if the hook is not long enough – there must be a device out there that is a combination of knitting needle and crochet hook, but I haven’t found one yet!

Later note - February 2013 - I've found the mysterious device! Pack of 14 bamboo Afghan hooks in sizes from 3 mm to 10 mm from Amazon here

Rainbow Cushion

Materials 

Double knitting yarn in rainbow colours – mine were mainly Sirdar Hayfield Budget DK in red, orange, yellow, green, kingfisher, royal and purple - about 25 g of each colour.

Pair 3.75mm (UK 9, US 4) Knitting needles
3.75mm crochet hook (for picking up stitches – see note above)
16 inch square cushion pad

First square

With purple, cast on 44 sts.
Wrong side (WS): K2tog, K 40, K2tog (42 sts)
*Right side (RS): K19, K2tog, s1, k1, psso, K19 (40 sts)
WS: K 40
RS: K18, K2tog, s1, k1, psso, K18 (38 sts)
First square with 1 st left to start next square
WS: K38
Change to royal, and continuing to dec twice as above at the centre of each RS row, work 6 rows.
Change to kingfisher and work 6 rows as above.
Continue to change colour every 6 rows, using green, yellow, orange then red.
Continue until 4 sts remain.
RS: K2tog, s1, k1, psso
WS: K2tog.  Do not fasten off, as you will start the next square with red.

Squares 2 to 8

Ready to knit first row of square 2
With the last st from the first square still on your needle, pick up a further 21 sts along the upper edge of your square.  Cast on a further 22 sts. (44 sts in all)
WS: K2tog, K 40, K2tog (42 sts)
Continue from * in the first square, reversing the colour sequence, i.e. after red, work in orange, then yellow, green, kingfisher, royal and finally purple.
Ready to knit first row of square 9
Continue to add squares in this manner until you have 8 squares in a line.  Fasten off yarn after the 8th square.

Square 9

Using red, cast on 22 sts, then pick up 22 sts along right edge of square 1.
WS: K2tog, K40, K2tog (42 sts)
Continue from * in the first square, reversing the colour sequence, i.e. after red, work in orange, then yellow, green, kingfisher, royal and finally purple.

Squares 10 to 16

Joining a square on 2 sides
With the last st from the square 9 still on your needle, pick up another 21 sts along the upper edge of your square, then a further 22 sts along the right edge of square 2.
WS: K2tog, K 40, K2tog (42 sts)
Continue from * in the first square.
Continue to add squares in this manner until you have a second row of 8 squares.

Squares 17 to 32

Work another 2 rows of squares as for Squares 10 to 16, alternating the colour sequence as shown.
Numbering of squares
Sew in all ends securely, making sure the stitching does not show on the right side.  Leaving the left edge (the one with no ends to darn in) for the zip opening, fold the work in half and stitch seams.  Insert zip using fine backstitch in matching yarns.
Turn cushion cover right side out and insert cushion pad – you will need one approximately 16 inches square.