The Reach for the Stars cushion is part of the Reach for the Stars collection. Each item in the collection features a brightly coloured space rocket with a fiery trail, inspired by one of my children’s favourite toys.

The cushion features a large intarsia rocket, is fastened with four buttons across the back and is designed to fit a 46 cm (18 inch) square cushion with a little negative ease to ensure a nice plump cushion. The cushion is knitted flat in one piece, starting at the middle of the back with a ribbed button band, then the first half of the back, the front and the second half of the back are knitted in stocking stitch, and finally the ribbed buttonhole band is worked. The cushion is seamed down the side edges using mattress stitch.

The Reach for the Stars cushion is knitted in chunky weight yarn, making it a quick knit, suitable for intermediate level knitters.

The pattern for the intarsia section is provided both as a chart (both greyscale and colour charts are provided) and as written instructions.

The sample is knitted in Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky 100% acrylic: 136 m (149 yds) to 100 g in Midnight Blue (MC, 337), Buttercup Yellow (CC1, 322), Blood Orange (CC2, 319) and Pillar Red (CC3, 314).

Sizes
One size: 43 cm square (17 in square) to fit a 46 cm square (18 in square) cushion pad.

Tension
14 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm 4 in in stocking stitch worked flat after blocking on 6 mm (US 10) needles, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Tools
6 mm (US 10) straight needles
Bobbins for holding the different yarn colours during colourwork
Chart row marker
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers × 2
Removable stitch markers × 4
Buttons × 4 3.4 cm (1 ¼ in) diameter
46 cm (18 in) square cushion pad

Materials
Chunky (bulky) weight yarn (ideally a plied acrylic, wool or wool/acrylic blend) in each of the following colours:

• MC (Navy): 335 m/365 yds
• CC1 (Yellow): 40 m/45 yds
• CC2 (Orange): 15 m/20 yds
• CC3 (Red): 40 m/45 yds

Difficulty:
Intermediate (knitting, purling, intermediate intarsia)

Pattern Style: Cushion pattern is written using abbreviations (all abbreviations are given). Both charted and written instructions are provided for the intarsia section.