Agnes

This is a real hands-on project, perfect for any knitter who wants to create a piece of bespoke furniture that's truly unique. Combining woodworking with knitting isn't as scary as it sounds. You'll feel a real sense of achievement once the project is finished!

Using yarn A, cast on 30 sts
❑ Rows 1 – 8: work in st st throughout, starting with a k row
❑ Row 9: cast on eight sts, using the two needle method. K to end of row
❑ Row 10: cast on eight sts, p to end of row
❑ Rows 11 – 29: work in st st
❑ Cast off eight sts at beg of next two rows
❑ Rows 32 – 38: work in st st
❑ Cast off
❑ Stitch the right angled edges of each corner together, forming the shaping for the stool cover

Note: this pattern comes from ‘Knitted Edgings And Trims’ by Lesley Stanfield.
Using yarn B, cast on five sts
❑ Row 1: wyif, sl1 purlwise, take yarn to back, k1, p1, k1, k1tbl
❑ Rep Row 1 until work meas 115cm
❑ Cast off in pattern
❑ Stitch the two ends together to form a loop

STOOL BASE
Using the hacksaw, cut about 1cm from each corner of the 30cm MDF board, to blunt them. This will now serve as the base of the stool.

Position one of the door handles onto a corner of the board, and draw around the base of the handle. Set aside, and check that the position of the foot is central to the corner of the board. Find the middle point of the circle and mark it clearly with a pencil. Repeat, marking the three remaining corners.

Use a drill to make a hole into each of the marks you have just made, making sure not to drill right the way through the MDF base. If the door handles do not already have holes, use the drill to create these as well, making sure that the hole is central on the base of the handle.

FOAM COVERING

Turn the base over and apply glue all over the surface. Position the foam on top of the base. Cut four rectangles from the calico, measuring approx 12cm x 25cm. Carefully apply glue to one side of a fabric piece and stick the long edge to the top of the foam about 2cm in from the edge and so that the short edge hangs down the side. Pull the fabric down tightly towards the base of the stool and staple it to the edge of the board. Repeat with the other three fabric pieces. This will round off the four edges of the foam square. Blunt the corners of the foam by cutting narrow strips of calico and repeating the process.

Cut a 58cm square of calico and position the stool, foam side down, in the centre of the fabric. Draw one of the fabric edges up the side of the foam and around onto the wooden base and staple first in the centre and then along either side, leaving approx 10cm unstapled at each end. Turn the stool to the opposite side and repeat the process, pulling evenly and tightly against the stapled side. Repeat these processes on the remaining two sides, and turn the stool upright. The four corners should be left unstapled.

Pull one of the fabric corners out from the stool and make a 5cm cut (straight down) from the folded edge of the flap, up from the point. The piece you have cut away should be a square. Repeat this process with the three remaining corner flaps. Turn the stool over and arrange the cut away corners into neat folds, then staple tightly in place to the base of the stool.

Cut a 34cm x 34cm square from the calico. Fold in and press 2cm around each edge, and arrange on the base of the stool, covering all the raw stapled edges of the fabric. Neatly staple into place. Find the drilled holes made in the base and screw in all four feet.

FINAL COVER AND MOTIF

Stretch the knitted cover over the stool, and staple to secure each corner. Staple the remainder of the cover, being careful to attach it evenly along each edge. Place the braided loop over the stool and position around the base of the knitted cover, as pictured. Attach to the stool by slip-stitching with yarn B.

Cut short lengths of yarn B and pull the fibres apart, so that they take on a cotton-wool like appearance. Draw a flower shape onto the stool with tailor’s chalk (see picture for example) and fill a petal with the pink wool fibres. Using the felting needle, punch around the outside edge of the shape. Continue felting the wool fibres to the knitted cover and repeat the process with the remaining petals. Finally, make a pink dot in the centre of the flower.

Click any of the images below to see a larger, clearer shot

30cm (width) x 30cm (length) x 15cm (height)