There are cushion patterns, and then there are cushion patterns that make people walk into your living room and immediately ask where you got it. This leopard print knitting pattern is firmly in the second category.
The design is bold, graphic, and entirely handmade. Worked flat on straight needles in DK yarn, it is more approachable than it looks. If you can knit with two colours and work from a chart or written instructions, you can make this.
What Is the Leopard Print Knitting Pattern?
The leopard print knitting pattern produces a 40cm x 40cm cushion cover in three-colour stranded colourwork. Yarn A forms the background, Yarn B outlines the spots, and Yarn C fills them in. You could of course use a little duplicate stitch to add those centre spots and keep the stranded colourwork two colour (much simpler). The finished piece is edged with a neat i-cord trim in Yarn B, which gives it a properly professional finish.
The front is worked in colourwork. The back is plain stocking stitch in Yarn A, so you are not doing colourwork for the entire make.
Two yarn options are given, Stylecraft Special DK for a budget-friendly version, and Knit Picks Swish DK in superwash merino if you fancy something a little more luxurious. Both use the same colourway palette: a warm sand background, graphite spots outline, and a peachy pink fill.
What Is Included in the PDF?
The PDF contains everything you need to make the cushion without any head-scratching mid-project.
You get the full chart as a 48-stitch repeat across 50 rows, plus a large print version spread across four pages that you can print and join together for easier reading at the needles. For anyone who prefers not to work from a chart, there are full written row-by-row instructions for every single row of the colourwork.
The PDF also includes a stranded knitting technique guide covering float management and how to handle colourwork on wrong-side rows, plus a link to a video on carrying floats if you want to see it in action before you start.
Yarn requirements and colourway names are given for both yarn options, so you can order exactly what you need.
Is This Leopard Print Knitting Pattern Right for You?
This is a confident beginner to intermediate pattern. You will need to be comfortable knitting flat and managing two yarn colours across a row. If you have never done any colourwork before, the technique guide in the PDF will walk you through it. The Yarn C spots can also be Swiss darned after the knitting is complete, which simplifies the stranded sections considerably if you would rather ease yourself in.
If you have made the Dandelion rabbit cushion and fancied something a bit more grown-up for your own sofa, this is it.
Get the Leopard Print Knitting Pattern
The pattern is available as an instant PDF download from the Jane Burns shop and from Etsy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to knit in the round to make this cushion?
No. The front and back panels are both worked flat on straight needles. There is no circular knitting required for the main fabric.
What yarn do I need for the leopard print knitting pattern?
Two options are given in the PDF. Stylecraft Special DK in Mushroom, Graphite, and Vintage Peach, or Knit Picks Swish DK in Nutmeg Heather, Asphalt Heather, and Conch. Both are DK weight.
How difficult is this leopard print knitting pattern?
It is suitable for confident beginners and intermediate knitters who are comfortable working with two colours. A full technique guide for stranded knitting worked flat is included in the PDF.
Can I Swiss darn the spots instead of knitting them in?
Yes. The Yarn C spots can be Swiss darned after the knitting is complete, which simplifies the colourwork sections. This is noted in the pattern.
What size cushion does this pattern make?
The finished cushion cover measures 40cm x 40cm (15.75 x 15.75 inches). A 42cm x 42cm cushion pad is recommended.
If you loved the Leopard Print Cushion, check out Elton Bone, Freddie Purcurry and Piggy Stardust Cushion Patterns
I would love to see your finished projects, please tag me on social media #janeburnsdesigns or drop me an email.
Happy Knitting,
Jane