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How-To

Knitted Stools

"Benchwarmer" has no negative connotations here. Soft, bulky yarn makes comfortable woolen covers for wooden stools. These call for a slight variation on the simple rectangle: Each cover is shaped like a cross with very short arms that are then folded down and stitched to make the corners.

For the Stool with Grey Feet

Size 17 needles
3 skeins lofty wool yarn
Synthetic batting cut to seat size
18-inch saddle-seat stool

  1. Cast on 17 stitches. Knit in stockinette for 5 rows (1 3/4 inches).
  2. Increase 4 stitches at the beginning of next row, as well as at the end. Continue knitting in stockinette for 17 1/2 inches.
  3. Decrease 4 stitches at the beginning of next row, as well as at the end. Continue knitting for 5 more rows.
  4. Cast off. Weave in ends. (Block if needed.)
  5. Stitch together all corners, creating a slipcover.
  6. Place batting on seat of stool. Place slipcover over batting. Staple excess to underside of stool.

Lofty wool-blend yarn, in Snowdrift, by Martha Stewart Crafts, from joann.com. Saddle seat stool, 24", stackandstacks.com.

Norden bench, ikea.com. Vintage round stool; and foot stool, abchome.com. Saddle seat stool; and conductor step stool, stacksandstacks.com. Wallpaper, in Scrapwood-02, wallpapercollective.com.

 

For the Stool with Black Feet

Size 15 needles
3 skeins bulky wool
Synthetic batting cut to seat size
12 1/2-inch square step stool
Stapler

  1. Cast on 23 stitches. Knit in garter stitch for 6 rows (2 inches).
  2. Increase 4 stitches at the beginning of next row, as well as at the end. Continue knitting in garter stitch for 45 rows.
  3. Decrease 4 stitches at the beginning of next row, as well as at the end. Continue knitting for 6 more rows.
  4. Cast off. Weave in ends. (Block if needed.)
  5. Stitch together all corners, creating a slipcover.
  6. Place batting on seat of stool. Place slipcover over batting. Staple excess to underside of stool.

Bulky yarn, in Pluto, by Blue Sky Alpacas, from purlsoho.comConductor step stool, stacksandstacks.com.

Norden benchikea.comVintage round stool; and foot stoolabchome.comSaddle seat stool; and conductor step stoolstacksandstacks.comWallpaper, in Scrapwood-02, wallpapercollective.com.

 

For the Stool with Nubby Seat

The loop stitch is a slightly more advanced method of knitting. Watch the video on the left to see our how-to.

Size 13 needles
2 skeins yarn
Synthetic batting cut to seat size
24-inch saddle-seat stool
Stapler

  1. Cast on 41 stitches. Knit in garter stitch for 7 rows (2 inches).
  2. Increase 6 stitches at beginning of next row. Knit 41 stitches in loop stitch. Increase 6 stitches at end of row. Continue knitting in loop stitch for 9 inches.
  3. Decrease 6 stitches at beginning of next row, as well as at the end. Continue knitting for 7 more rows.
  4. Cast off. Weave in ends. (Block if needed.)
  5. Stitch together all corners, creating a slipcover.
  6. Place batting on seat of stool. Place slipcover over batting. Staple excess to underside of stool.

Yarn, in Ecru, by Cascade Magnum, from purlsoho.comSaddle seat stool, 24", stacksandstacks.com.

Norden benchikea.comVintage round stool; and foot stoolabchome.comSaddle seat stool; and conductor step stoolstacksandstacks.comWallpaper, in Scrapwood-02, wallpapercollective.com.

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Comments

  • NaomiAnselmo
    2 Feb, 2012

    This is absolutely stunning, I can't wait to find some thrifted stool to try this on!

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