Tropicana Rose Pillow Knitting Pattern by Judith A Helms: A Comprehensive Guide with Cable Chain Techniques and Intarsia Design

Tropicana Rose Pillow

Tropicana Rose Pillow

Created by Judith A Helms 2010 idahostixandstring.com

Tropicana Rose Pillow

Table of Contents

1. Yarns and Supplies - pg 2 2. Knitting Key and Chart Symbols Pg 3 3. Specialty Stitch Instructions pgs 4-6 4. Knitting Notes pg 7 5. Written Chart Instruction pgs 7 -11 6. Blocking pg 12 7. Pillow Back Opt pg 13 8. Pillow Assembly and Finish Pg 13-14 9. Charts for Front and Back Pg 15-43 10. Wandering Chain Tutorial pg 44 -

Yarn, and Supplies

Yarn - Palette fingering yarn from Knitpicks.com. 1 skein - Conch 1 skein - Rose Hip 1 skein - Rasberry Heather 1 skein - Forest Heather 1 skein - Edamane 3 skeins - White There are many shades to choose from in Palette, this was just my selection. Gauge - 8 stitch per inch, 11 rows per inch Needles- 2 -size # 1 or 2, or whatever size you need to maintain gauge. I used Knitpicks fixed circulars, size #1 (2.50 mm). I use two 47 inch circles needles. My second one is used to block the pillow top, and knit half of the cording tube.

Tropicana Rose Pillow

Knitting Key and Chart Symbols

=Knit =Purl = edge stitches ( you can knit all of these or knit or purl them as they correspond to each row. →米 = CC-R ( Cable Chain Right- move slipped chain from previous row to right, one st) 米= CC-L (Cable Chain Left-move slipped chain from previous row to left, one st ) 米= H-Ch (horizontal chain) 米= V- ch (vertical chain)= New loop is knitted with the stitch to it's immediate right. = New loop is SSK'd with stitch to it's immediate left. C -ch = Cable chain LN = left needle RN = right needle CN = circleneedle SPP = Stick, Pinch, Pull (moving stitches without cable holders) K-ch . = Knit chain, making sure that left leg of stitch is in front, then knit through back loop. All chains should lie open, resembling a crocheted chain. H-ch = Horizontal chain. H-loop = Horizontal chain loop

Specialty Stitch Instruction

= CC-R You move the Slipped stitch chain two stitches to the right. See illustration below. As you can see, I do not use a dpn, or cable holder. Of course you can if you'd like, but this is much faster once you get the hang of it. I call it the SPP method(Stick, Pinch, Pull).

1. Stop 2 stitches before the chain.

2. Insert RN into chain(Stick).

3. Pinch all 3 stitches together with the right thumb and index finger. Stitck RN into chain stitch, Pull off chain and other 2 stitches with RN. Pick up the two freed (white )stitches with LN.

4. Replace chain to LN and knit through back loop. You will notice that the left leg of the chain is the front side of the needle. This is necessary so that the chain loop lays open and flat on the surface of your knitting. 米S= CC-L (2) Move Slipped st to left, two stitches.

1. Knit to chain.

2. Stick RN (right needle)into back of two stitchess to left.

3. Pinch, Pull, and release chain stitch. Pick up chain stitch with LN. Slip the two stitches moved back onto the LN. Knit 2.

4. Knit chain.

CCC= Cable Chain Cross Put stitch 1 &2 (C ch and center st) on cable holder/ or dpn, hold to front of work. Knit chain stitch(3) to left. Slip center st(2) onto LN, Knit. Slip remaining chain(1) onto LN. Make sure the left leg of stitch in at front of work so that the chain loop lays flat on the surface of your work, K -ch. You can also work this using my SPP(stick, pinch, pull) method. Begin by sticking the tip of. the RN into the back of st #3 (left side chain); SPP, release sts 1-2; pick up sts 1&2 on LN. Knit stitch.

Knitting Notes

1. I use a long separate strand of yarn for my Oval chains. Why? This gives you the flexibility to adjust the tension on your chains forming the oval, making it possible to have rounder corners. Cut about a 2 yarn strand, pick it up in the middle to make you first stitch as illustrated by the starred stitch above. You will be using the right tail to go up the right side, and the left tail to continue up the left side after you complete the horizontal chain across the 29throw. 2. When I work Intarsia, I spit splice a new strand of yarn on to the working yarn, rather than adding in a new one. I unwrap the yarn about 2 to 3 inches of the working yarn, and cut off one ply. I do the same for the new yarn, then I spit splice them together. 3. Plan your colored strands additions. I often take one long strand and pick it up in the middle to begin the color, especially when it is a single stitch of color going in two directions.

Pattern Instructions

I am going to give you the first complete diamond border in a row by row fashion. From that point on you will follow the chart, accept for those rows that are starred- ( ).These rows are marked on the right side of your chart. adjacent to the number of the row. All even numbered rows are purled, and the chains slipped, accept for the starred rows that include the bottom and top edge of the oval frame.

Set--up Rows

We begin with a provisional cast on. With crochet hook and waste yarn, chain 139. Break yarn, leaving about a 6 inch tail. Make loose knot about half way to end of yarn. With working background yarn, count in 5 chains from end that has the knot, and begin picking up 129 sts with working needle. Work as follows Row - A = Purl across Row - B Knit across.

Beginning the Chart.

? 2;\* Sl 1, P 1, Sl 1; P 9; repeat from \* 9 times; end Sl 1, P 1, Sl 1; P 2, K 1 Note - You will be knitting the beginning st of every row(edge stitch). Row-3. K 7; \*[CC-R, K-ch, K 4, CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 5]; Repeat from \*, 8 times; End - CC-R, Kch, K 4, CC-L, K 1, K-ch K 1. Row- 4. K 1, Purl across, slipping all stitches as indicated on chart; end K 1. Repeat this row for all even rows unless indicated by at beginning of row. Row- 5. K1, \*[CC-L, K 1, K-ch, K 3, CC-R, K-ch; K 6]; repeat from \* 8 times. End - CC-L, K 1, K-ch, K 3, CC-R, K-ch; K1. Row- 7. K 2; \*[CC-L, K 1, K-ch, K 1, CC-R, K-ch; K 8];repeat from \* 8 times. End - CC-L, K 1, K-ch, K 1, CC-R, K-ch; K2. Row- 9. K 3; \*[ work CCC over next 3 stitches; K 9];repeat from \* 8 times. End, work CCC ; K3. Row- 11. K 2; \*[CC-R, K-ch, K 2, CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 7]; repeat from \* 8 times. End, CC-R, Kch, K 2, CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 2. Row- 13. K 1, \*[ICC-R, K-ch, K 4, CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 5]; repeat from \* 8 times. End - CC-R, Kch, K 4, CC-L, K 1, K-ch K 2. Row- 15. K7,\* [CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 3, CC-R, K-ch, K 6]; repeat from \* 9 times. End -CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 3, CC-R, K-ch, K 7. Row- 17. K8;\* [CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 1, CC-R, K-ch. K 8]; repeat from \* 9 times. End -[CC-L, K 1, K-ch; K 1,CC-R, K-ch. K8.] Row- 19. K 9; \*[work CCC over next 3 sts; K 9]; repeat from \* 9 times. End- work CCC, K 9. Repeat technique for entire chart as indicated to row #39.

Tropicana Rose Pillow

Establishing the Oval Frame

Row - 39 The starred stitched in row 39 begins the Oval frame using horizontal chains to form the frame around the roses. To begin this section, knit the starred stitch (stitch #4o) and the next one to the left(41). Now, slip these two stitches back onto the LN. Using a crochet hook, holding a separate strand of yarn in the middle( about a yard and a half long, divided into), insert the hook into stitch 40 and pull through a loop (\*see knitting notes). Lay this loop to the left, and hold it down with your left thumb. Slip stitches 40 and 41 back to the RN. Slip new loop onto RN. This new loop is the beginning of your horizontal chain which lays across the bottom of the oval. These chain loops are always knitted with what I call the Oval strand, even if it is the same color.

See the Wandering Cable Chain tutorial PDF included with this pattern for complete illustrated instructions on horizontal chain. You might want to work the practice piece first. Begin working the horizontal chain across the row,using the frame strand for the H - chain, and the working yarn for the background stitches. Pick up the last H- ch at stitch 9o. Knit stitch 90 with working yarn, then slip the last H-loop onto the RN, and let is ride there while you complete the rest of the row. Continue across as indicated on chart. Row- 4o. K 1, Purl across, slip stitches where indicated. Work to . With the tail of the Oval strand, purl together the last H-loop with the stitch on you left, making sure you have the H-loop, laying flat. Drop the Oval strand of yarn, and with the background working yarn, purl across to the next starred stitch, st 40. You should now see the right tail of your Oval strand hanging on your left. Turn your work to the right side. With your crochet hook, stick into the same stitch where you began your Horizontal Chain and pull up a loop from the separate strand hanging in the back of your work. Put it on the LN. Turn . Purl that H-loop, with the next stitch to your left, making sure it lays flat on the front of your work. Continue across and complete the rest of the row as indicated on the chart.

This is just a swatch view, but your new chain leaning to the right should look like this. From this point on, follow the chart. Begin your Intarsia pattern as indicated. Work border and Cable chain Oval, as directed in the tutorial.

\* Stem options

1. Knit normally 2. Establish them as a Cable chain 3. Creating them with a crochet hook after the piece is done. I like #3. It gives me complete control over the stitches, but it totally depends on the look you want. Continue to work chart as establish through row 128. Row- 129. Completing the OVAL. K 9; Wk CCC over next 3 sts. K 9, Wk CCC over next 3 sts. K 13, CC-L (2) K 2, K ch with frame strand, drop new st of chain off needle, hold down with left thumb. With working yarn, YO ( this YO replaces the stitch you just began your H-loop with), K 1. Slip chain loop under thumb back up onto RN. Use this loop to begin working the H-chain across the top. Work horizontal chain across row. Pick up last H-loop. K next st (91). Work CC-R (2), but instead of knitting the chain, pass it over the last H-loop on RN. Pull last H-loop completely through. With yarn needle bring it through it's originaf base to back of work. You can fasten it now, or later. Drop oval frame strand. Continue across row as established. With working yarn YO, K13, wk CCC over next 3 sts. K 9; wk CCC over next 3 sts. K 9. Row- 130. K1, P 8; Sl 1, P 1, Sl 1; \*[ P 9; Sl 1,P 1, Sl 1];Repeat 6 times; P 7, make one (flip YO, so that the leftleft of the loop is on your left, purl through this leg). P 1; Sl 1, P 1, Sl 1; P 9, Sl 1, P 1, Sl 1; P 9, Sl 1, P 1, Sl 1; P 8, K 1. Rows 131-175. You are now set up to finish the chart, working the chains as before. Row- 176. Purl across Row- 177. Knit across Row- 178. Purl across ;s - leave pillow top on needle, pull needle through so work rests on cor Once finished, you now can decide if you want to outline the roses with a crocheted chain as I did, or leave the needlepoint look. If you are going to outline, then use only one ply of the wool. You can see in the photo that I used the lightest shade of salmon. The lines below indicate where I crocheted the edge of the rose.

Getting Ready to Block

A. Stop here and weave in all tails before proceeding.

1. With right side of work facing you, place marker on needle. Pick up 132 sts,(extra stitches are for corner ease) down left side of pillow top to corner. Pull your needle through as before. You now have the last row of knitting and the stitches you picked up on the left side on one 47 inch circle needle. We will call this needle- NA or needle A. 2.Turn the bottom edge of the pillow up so that the purl side is facing you. Carefully release the provisional chain. Using your second 47 inch circle needle or NB (needle B), working from right the left, insert the working needle in each loop from the back to front.. After all the. stitches are on needle B, turn your work so that the right side is facing you. Knit across all the bottom edge stitches (129 sts). 3. Continuing with needle B, pick up the 132 sts on the right side of the pillow top. Pull NB through so that the bottom and right side rest on its cord.. With the pillow top resting on the cords of both needle, you can now soak the pillow top in cool water with a bit of wool wash. Squeeze out the water, and block it on a towel that has been place on a surface you can pin through. Use your needles as blocking rods, pinning against them to block your pillow to size, 16 by 16. Let dry. If you need your needles, thread a strand of waste yarn, and carefully remove one needle, picking up the edge sts. Repeat this process for each needle. Set top aside for later assembly. Below is a n illustration of the needle set up for blocking your pillow.

Tropicana Rose Pillow Back

1. Cast on 129 as before, 2. Your options for the back are many A. Knit it in plain Stockinette B. Duplicate the front without the picture C. Duplicate the front with another color combo for the roses D. Work the diamond pattern over the entire surface. That's what I did. E. Work the front pattern without the roses.

Pillow Assembly

When back is finished, pick up stitches on sides and bottom as before and block. Once you have the back on the waste yarn strands, you can begin the assembly as follows: 1. With wrongs sides of pillow together(right sides facing out) check to make sure they they match-top to top, bottom to bottom. 2. Slip one side of sts of pillow top back onto a 24 in CN, then slip the sts of the corresponding sts of back onto another 24 in CN. Beginning at a corner, work a 3 needle bind off across these sts. Repeat this process twice more. You now have bound off 3 sides of your pillow. 3. Slip the last remaining sts of pillow onto your 2 , 24 in, CN's. Insert a purchased pillow form, or one you have made yourself. 4. Using the 3 needle bind off, close the last section. Fasten and weave ends in. \* If you want to be able to remove cover, knit and extra 1/2 -3/4 in to the last section on each side. Fold under and insert a zipper. You can also re-enforce it with ribbon.

Edge Options

As you can see in the picture at the beginning of this file, I originally chose to leave my pillow plain. But, then, I just had to try making a fringe. See picture on next page. This fringe is made up of 3 strands of 7 in. long yarn, folded into, and drawn through with a crochet hook, every other st along BO edge. I think it works well, but it's your call. Be sure to comb out and steam your fringe before trimming.

Tropicana Rose Pillow Chart

Before beginning this chart, prepare your cast on by crocheting a chain of waste yarn with hook similar in size to your #1 needle. Chain 139 loops. Turn chain to back. Using your working needle, and project yarn, pick up 129 sts. These stitches will be conssidered Row #1 of your chart. Begin chart on row 2 (purl side). For addtional "cable chain" practice, you can upload a couple of tutorials on my "Fun Stuff" page at www.idahostixandstrings.com. The first section of the chart begin on the next page.

Tropicana Rose Pillow Back

To begin back, crochet chain with waste yarn (139 chains or loops). Pick up 129 stitches using working yarn. This row will be counted as ROW #1 of chart. Turn. Begin row #2 of chart. Work chart as before. Odd rows = knit Even rows= purl + = edge stitches (you can knit them all if you wish) \*Note If you need addtional instruction on working with the "cable chains" go to my website and click on "fun stuff." Upload the tutorial and practice a bit. \*\* The chart for the back begins on next page.