Ever since I saw a knitted Pouf (or Puff) from Pinterest, I was so inspired and wanting to knit one for my fireplace this Christmas. I want colored cord or rope and not the natural color clotheslines I used for the crochet Giant Doily Rug and knit Floor Mat. So, I begin to search around for colored cord, and coincidentally Bobbiny contacted me at the same time to introduce their colorful ropes. I quickly jump in to test out their ropes and knitted this beautiful pouf. Needed me to say how I like the ropes? It is simply fantastic, especially there are 34 colors to choose from. The ropes are so inspiring, more craft ideas are buzzing incessantly in my head.
Back to the knit pouf details, it is about 20″ in diameter and 14″ in height but the dimension is all depending on how much you stuff the pouf. The more you stuff to stretch the pouf and you will get a bigger pouf. You can stuff it with some cheap duvets or a similar stool bean bag. If you like a more rigid heavy pouf, you might stuff it with old blankets, old clothes or towels, etc.
The pouf knitting pattern called for garter stitch short row construction which gives a nice curled shape that looks like a ball after you have completed knitting. Don’t get freak out when you see the word “short row”, it is not as difficult or as complicated as you might think. Short row just means to insert extra rows invisibly in the middle of the knitting. It is simple to do a short row with garter stitches, you don’t have to wrap and lift any stitches to prevent hole formation in the stockinette stitch short row, all you need to do is pull the cord or rope tight enough. There are links to all necessary external Youtube videos for you to watch and refer to. I have also come out with a diagram to explain how to go about with the short row and adding more rows for this pouf.
Grab some ropes and start knitting yours today.
Knit Pouf Ottoman Pattern
Time needed: about 4 evenings, depending on your knitting speed
Difficulty: Avid Beginner / Intermediate.Description: This pouf is knitted by using garter stitch and short row construction. The short row between the row is 2 sts.
Knowledge: Must know how to Long Tail Cast on, Knit Garter Stitch, Basic Short Row knit in garter stitch, Basic Knit Bind Off and Horizontal seam. (click each to watch video on youtube)Pouf Dimension
Approximately: 20″ diameter x 14″ height (it depends how you stuff and stretch the pouf)Tools & Materials
1. Bobbiny Cotton Braided Ropes or cords, 5mm diameter, Color: Cherry, Quantity: 8 skeins (50 meter each) [or, 9 skeins if your knitting tension is a little looser]
2. Knitting needle: 8mm
3. Crochet hook, 4mm
4. Sewing thread and needles (for joining ropes)
5. Scissor
6. 2 to 3 queen size duvets or a bean stool or anything you think can be stuffed {e.g. old blanket, old towels, old clothes etc.)Abbreviations
K – Knit
st(s) – stitch(es)
[number] – number of stitch remaining on the left needle after you have knitted the required sts in the pattern at the end of each row.Garter Stitch Gauge: 8 sts x 12 rows to 4″ x 4″ [10cm x 10cm] square
Pouf Knitting Pattern
Worked from side to side. Long tail cast on 62 sts. on 8mm knitting needle.
Row 1: Knit all stitches, turn
Row 2: Knit 44 sts, turn. [18]
Row 3: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 25 sts, turn. [18]
Row 4: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 27 sts, turn. [16]
Row 5: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 29 sts, turn. [16]
Row 6: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 31 sts, turn. [14]
Row 7: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 33 sts, turn. [14]
Row 8: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 35 sts, turn. [12]
Row 9: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 37 sts, turn. [12]
Row 10: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 39 sts, turn. [10]
Row 11: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 41 sts, turn. [10]
Row 12: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 43 sts, turn. [8]
Row 13: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 45 sts, turn. [8]
Row 14: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 47 sts, turn. [6]
Row 15: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 49 sts, turn. [6]
Row 16: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 51 sts, turn. [4]
Row 17: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 53 sts, turn. [4]
Row 18: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 55 sts, turn. [2]
Row 19: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 57 sts, turn. [2]
Row 20: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 59 sts, turn. [0]
Row 21: Pass 1st stitch to the right needle, tighten the rope, knit 61 sts, turn. [0]
Repeat Row 2 to Row 21 (1 segment) until you reach Row 201 (total 10 segments), loosely bind off.
Cut off rope, leave a long end for weaving the seam.
The completed knit piece resembles a ball shape, where the 1st & last row is the vertical line and the sides are the top & bottom of the pouf.Assembly:
Seam up the first row and the last row with horizontal seam method, stop joining at half way. Close the gap of the pouf bottom by stringing the rope to the purl stitches. Pull as much as possible to close the gap and tighten, hide rope.
Fold the duvets to about the size of the pouf, insert them into the pouf nicely. You can stuff the pouf with a stool bean bag of similar size.
Continue to join the seam and close the gap of the top of the pouf.Remark:
1. Due to the chunky rope, I used basic no wrap short row knit for this garter stitch pouf. The wrap method and other short row methods are not suitable in this pattern because it will make a bulky stitch. As long as you pull the short row stitch tight enough, it won’t leave any ugly big hole on your pouf.
2. Use circular knitting needle if you have, otherwise, you may use normal knitting needle as I did.
3. Use crochet hook to do the joining since the rope is thick.
If you are new to short row construction, I hope this diagram will help you to understand.
Click the picture to see a larger diagram.
Basically, short row construction in this garter stitch pouf means that you knit more rows at the middle stitches than the sides’ stitches. By skipping knitting the sides’ rows, you need to use the short row method, it is this simple.
I used Bobbiny braided cotton rope for this project. Bobbiny has a good number of color choices on the ropes. Scroll down to get the coupon code which entitles you a 10% discount on all items in Bobbiny.
Since the rope comes in 50m length in each hank, you will need to join the rope as you knit. You may just knot the ends together and hide them in the pouf, but it could leave some visible bumps to your pouf.
Otherwise, you may sew 2 ends together as shown in the pictures.
Long-tail cast-on 62 stitches on the needle to begin the knitting.
Begin the cast-on at 100″ from the rope end, this will give you sufficient length to cast-on all 62 stitches with some extra length for weaving to close the gap during assembly.
Knit the pouf as per the knitting pattern given above.
The top picture showed the progress after completed Row 21, this is 1 segment. You need to do 10 segments for the pouf.
The bottom picture showed the pouf after completed a few segments. The pouf is starting to take shape as a ball.
This is the pouf after completed 10 segments and loosely bind-off. Leave sufficient rope for assembly.
Perform the horizontal seam to join the first row and the last row.
Stop joining at halfway.
Close the gap of the short row side where you have already done the horizontal seam.
Pass the rope through the purl stitches only, pull the rope as tight as possible to close the gap. Fasten and hide rope.
This is the closer look of the gap, which is going to appear either at the top or bottom of the pouf.
Stuff in your duvets or similar size of a stool bean bag.
Continue to join the seam together and close the gap of the other short row side. Fasten and hide rope.
The pouf is completed. You can see the obvious short row pattern of the 10 segments.
Hi! I cant wait to try this but unfortunately I only have Medium yarn with me – do you think I could use yarn and follow the same process? I’m new to knitting so hopfully that’s not a silly question
You may use a few strands of yarn to knit, make a test gauge to measure if the size is similar.
Hi dear,
I really need to make a pouf, and I am looking for an easy way and pattern, can you help me please. here it seems very complicated to me. Or is there a video available to watch.
Best regards,
Mandana
Hi!
You mention a coupon code for the Bobbiny site? I could not find it. Is it still available?
Thanks!
Desiree
The coupon code was expired already.
What did you use to stuff this pouf with exactally? Size of duvet and quanity please.
I stuffed it with my similar size stool bean bag. If you are going to stuff duvet, the quantity and size of duvet needed will be depending how full and dense you want your pouf to be. A queen size duvet is just nice for a soft pouf.
Hello! Super excited to try this out. One question, I have 8mm circular needles would I still follow your pattern segments?
Yes, if you can get the same tension as stated in the pattern.
Garter Stitch Gauge: 8 sts x 12 rows to 4″ x 4″ [10cm x 10cm] square
Thanks for the reply! I am starting the project but before I do, what does “begin cast-on at 100″ from the rope end” mean? Still getting use to all the terms. Also, are you using simple yarn over to initiate the turn from row 1 into the short rows?
Hi Gigi, it means begin to crochet at a length 100″ from the yarn end. Yes, I am using basic no wrap short row knit, but I am not very sure if it is the same as the simple yarn over method.
Love that you have free patterns!
I’ve just finished my first pouf and I love it, thank you. The instructions are so easy to follow, the you tube video is invaluable and I’m looking forward to the next project! I found bobbiny rope easily on eBay, and if you want a taller pouf try using a single king size duvet. I bought a new one (cheap!) and put it into the pouf with the plastic on. Soooo much easier than trying to wrestle with yards of duvet. Plastic off of course and pouf is taller than it is wide but still fabulous!
HI Dear ,
This is Anshul from India, basically we are manufacturer of poufs and other knitted items and we export all over the world,but i swere to you i never saw this kind of perfection in any pcs we make.
Basically Concoon hanging seat is just superb, i salute you for this.
Thanks
Do you slip the first stitch?
No I didn’t slip the first stitch.
Hi,
I knew how to knit basic things before I started this and I watched the tutorials which were helpful but what do you mean by pass 1st stitch to right needle? I started the 2nd row where I knit 44 stitches, then turned my work over, so do I just pass the first stitch over to the right and ignore it and continue knitting the stitches on the left?
Thank you
Yes NN, just slip the first stitch to the right needle, then continue to knit the second stitch onwards. Remember to pull the first tight enough before you begin to knit the second stitch.
How can I make a knitted bean bag instead?
Is this super bulky 6 or bulky 5? Trying to find a US equivalent fro Bobbiny as we can’t get that in the US. Thanks!
Hi Liz,
This is rope and it is not the ordinary yarn we used to knit, sorry that I am not sure if it is consider super bulky 5 or 6. Fyi, Bobbiny is able to ship worldwide.
It is a Super Bulky according to ravelry, 55 yards per skein.
Hi there, great pattern. If I wanted to increase the diameter do I just need to add more segments? I wanted something 30inches.thanks
Hi Emma, In order to increase the diameter, you will need to add more stitches to the short row sides. For a 30″ diameter (assuming the height to maintain at 14″), you will need to cast on a total of 82 sts; 28 short row – 26 normal – 28 short row. You may adapt the diagram below to knit the pouf, instead of 62 sts on the total, change it to 82, instead of 18 sts on the short row side, change it to 28.
Hope this help. Please let me know should you need more clarification.
Hi, I love the pouffe and the hanging coccoon seat and want to make them both but cannot find the cord. Where can I get some or what could I use. I feel wool would be too stretchy.
Thank you
Hi Mrs. Eileen Turner,
Thank you for liking both knitting patterns. I am using Bobbiny ropes and love the color range they have had in the shop. Bobbiny does have an online shop with international shipping facility. Sorry that I so not know which other shop has the similar ropes.
Hi. I wanted to know do you also make this knitted pouf on a commercial basis. I live way across the globe from you and was working on a project for which I require something like this but it is unavailable in my country. So just wondering if you/ if you know of any medium where I could purchase something like this based on my requirements and get it shipped. Thank you.
Hi Shahmeer, at this moment I do not have to the capacity to take any order. Perhaps you can contact Bobbiny (the brand of ropes I used in this project) to see if they have customers that are able to take order. I do not mind if they make and sell base on my pattern.
I bought 4 skeins of the 100 m rope (instead of 8 50-meter skeins). However, I just got finished with my second segment and already finished one full skein. Seems like I’ll need more than the three that are left to finish. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Abby,
Obviously, your rope finishes too soon and this is weird. Please do the following checklist. Did you check on the pattern gauge? Is your knit piece bigger that stated in the pattern? Which brand of rope are you using?
I would like to know more about it.
Thanks.
Looking forward to taking on this project! Do you think this would work on double pointed needles?
I am afraid the stitches will come off from the other end of the needle even with a stopper installed. The best is to use a circular needle.
Would this pattern work if you used super chunky yarn at all?
It should work.
Did you make this with super chunky yarn? I’m wondering the same thing. I’m wondering whether to use 1 or 2 strands of Super Bulky.
I actually just finished with the 2 colours… It was simple enough to figure out! Now at the assembly portion of the project. It’s going to be beautiful!
Great, Christine. I love the one I am doing now too, I have apple green and blue mix 🙂
Do you have any pics?
hi! I can’t wait to try this… Would it be overly complicated to do 2 colours? I was thinking of using grey and white, alternating between the 10 segments… What do you think?
It is not difficult because the method is the same, just that you have to use alternate color for the next segment. I am going to knit another project using this technique with 2 colors and I already have the ropes with me. YAY!!!
ok Iam sorry I found how to print it I’am the one to eat crow sorry again
Great pattern to bad you cannot print it to do it
I would love to make this but about 18″ high. How would I adapt the pattern, and how many skeins would I need?
Hi Karen, in order to make it into 18″ high, please add 8 sts to the pattern. For example, originally it was cast on 62 sts but you need to change it to 70 sts. knit 44 sts becomes knit 52 sts for Row 2. Then knit 33 sts for row 3 and so on.
I estimated that you probably need additional 2 skeins for this height.
Ok, I’m so excited to make this, but I’m stuck and frustrated. I don’t think I understand if the no wrap short rows are what you’re explaining via the pattern of turning and slipping, or if there’s a stich I do somewhere. I seem to be 1 row increased by the turn on Row 4 and I’ve torn everything out and started from scratch three times now. I’m a strong beginner, but I can’t find a tutorial for NWSRs online that seem applicable to the pattern…can you help me get unstuck? Thanks!!
Never miiiiind–I was working from a printed copy of the pattern and I just noticed the links you provide for which stitches are included. Thank you!
Glad that you have gotten it….. yes, the link was there but it won;t show in printed copy 🙂
very nice and good explanations. thank u so much…
Hello there and thank you for another great tuturial. Would this cotton rope work for your knitted floor mat (instead of using a clothes line) or would it be much too thin?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Hi Lynn, this rope works perfectly for the knitted floor mat too 🙂