The central pattern of this pretty cushion is based on the traditional Tree of Life pattern. The outer pattern is the wheat stitch, which is simply a split rib. The only stitches you need to know to complete the project is the knit stitch and the purl stitch.
Here we have used our soft, warm 100% merino wool colored with 100% natural mineral pigments. Some say the yarn carries the power of the Earth.
Materials & Tools
-
1 pair of 3.25 needles
- 5x skeins of mineral dyed merino wool – we have used here copper dyed merino wool
- safety pins
- stitch holder
Sizes:
To fit a 45cm x 45cm cushion
Tension 22stitch x 23rows per 10cm square.
Abbreviations
K : Knit
P : Purl
The Directions
Tree of Life Cushion
Front
Cast on 103 stitches
Work 36 rows of stocking stitch
*Row 37: RS (k1,p1) 19 times, k12 p1, k1, k1, K12, (p1,k1) 19 times
Row 38: (p1,k1)19 times, k3, p8, k2, p1, k2, p8, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 39: (k1, p1) 19times, k10, p2, k3, p2, k10, (p1, k1,) 19 times
Row 40: (p1, k1) 19 times k3, p6, k2, p5, k2, p6, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 41: (k1, p1) 19 times, k8, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k8, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 42: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3, (k1, p1, ) 19 times
*Row 43: (p1, k1) 19 times, k6, (p2, k2, p2, k3) twice, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 44: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, (p2, k2) twice, p5, (k2, p2) twice, k3 (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 45: (p1, k1) 19 times, k4, (p2, k2) twice, p1, k1, p1, (k2, p2) twice, k4, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 46: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, p1, k1, (p2, k2) twice, p1, (k2, p2) twice, k1, p1, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 47: (p1, k1) 19 times, k6, ( p2, k2, p2, k3) twice, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 48: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, (p2, k2) twice, p5, (k2, p2) twice, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
*Row 49: (k1, p1) 19 times, k5, (p1, k2, p2, p2, p1, k1) twice, k4, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 50: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3 (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 51: (k1, p1) 19 times, k6, (p2, k2, p2, k3) twice, K3, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 52: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p3, k1, p2, k2, p5, k2, p2, k1, p3, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 53: (k1, p1) 19 times, k8, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k8, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 54: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p4, k2, p2, k2,p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
*Row 55: (p1, k1) 19 times, k7, p1, k2, p2, k3, p2, k2, p1, k7, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 56: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, p6, k2, p5, k2, p6, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 57: (p1, k1) 19 times, k8, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1,k2, p2, k8, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 58: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, p5, k1, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p5, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 59: (p1, k1) 19 times, k10, p2, k3, p2, k10, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 60: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, p6, k2, p5, k2, p6, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
*Row 61: (K1, p1) 19 times k9, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k9, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 62: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p8, k2,p1, k2, p8, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 63: (k1, p1) 19 times, k10, p2, k3, p2, k10, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 64: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p7, k1, p5, k1, p7, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 65: (k1, p1) 19 times, k10, p2, k3, p2, k10, (p1,k1) 19 times
Row 66: (p1, k1) 19 times, k3, p8, k2, p1, k2, p8, k3, (k1, p1) 19 times
*Row 67: (p1, k1) 19 times, k12, p1, k1, p1, k12, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 68: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, p21, k3, (p1,k1) 19 times
Row 69: (p1, k1) 19 times, k27, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 70: (k1, p1) 19 times, k3, p21, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
Row 71: (p1, k1) 19 times, k27, (k1, p1) 19 times
Row 72: ( k1, p1) 19times k3, p21, k3, (p1, k1) 19 times
*Row 73: k12, (k1,p1) 7 times, k51, (p1,k1) 7 times, k12
Row 74: p12, (p1,k1) 7 times, p51, (k1, p1) 7 times, p12
Repeat rows 73 and 74 twice
*Row 79: k12, (p1,k1) 7 times, k51, (k1, p1) 7 times, k12
Row 80: P12, (k1, p1) 7 times, p51, (p1, k1) 7 times, p12
Repeat rows 79 and 80 twice
*Row 85: k16, (k1,p1,) 3 times, k59, (p1, k1) 3 times, k16
Row 86: p16, (p1, k1) 3 times, p59, (k1, p1) 3 times, p16
Repeat rows 85 and 86 twice
Rows 91 to 108 work in stocking stitch.
Cast off.
Part one of back
Cast on 103 stitches
Work 54 rows in stocking stitch.
Work 8 rows in K1, p1, rib
Cast off
Part two of back
Work 54 rows of stocking stitch.
Work 3 rows of K1, p1 rib
1st Button hole row
Work 10 stitch in rib, cast off 5, work 34 stitches in rib, cast off 5, work 34 stitches in rib, cast off 5, work 10 stitches in rib.
2nd Button hole row
Work 10 stitches in rib, cast on 5, work 34 stitches in rib, cast on 5, work 34 stitches in rib, cast on 5, work 10 stitches in rib.
Work 3 rows in rib.
Cast off.
TO MAKE UP
Lightly press the pieces.
Sew in threads
Join front and both pieces of the back together.
Sew on buttons
