What do I need to know about silk yarn?
Temptation is a unique Japanese silk yarn, made with unspun reeled filaments of Tussah silk barely twisted. It is very fragile, so make sure your nails and hands are smooth. But don't put lotion on your hands right before using it, or it will stain the silk. The yarn may snag, but if it does, ignore it and move on. When you finish, move all the snags to the back of the work with a crochet hook.

What needles should I use for silk yarn?
Because the yarn is barely twisted, it may split, so make sure your needles are ultra smooth and not too pointy. I suggest metal or plastic needles, such as Addi Turbos or Pony Pearls. If you use wooden needles, I suggest you use needles from Lantern Moon. But even with the smoothest needles, splits may occur. If so, redo those stitches and move on. Do not fret; although this may seem onerous, the results are worth it! All three pillows use slip stitches. When slipping, always slip as if to purl. Always hold your yarn to the back when working the RS and the front when working the WS. All three pillows have multiple colours. Do not cut MC, but rather run it up the side, twisting it around the CC every other row. Cut the CC after each Repeat section.

Honeycomb Pillow
Intermediate

Knitted measurements
20"/51 cm x 20"/51 cm

Materials
• Classic Elite Temptation (100% silk) each skein 3.5 oz/100 g, 110 yds/100 m
• 2 skeins Green (MC); 1 skein each in Red (A), Pastel Pink (B) and Kitty Pink (C)
• Size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• Tapestry needle
• Crochet hook
• 20"/51 cm x 20"/51 cm pillow form

Gauge
16 stitches and 27 rows over 4"/10 cm in pattern stitch

Page 1 of 4 -- Learn how to make the pattern for your honeycomb pillow on page 2

Pattern (Multiple of 8 stitches + 6)
Repeat I (8 rows)
Rows 1 and 2 With MC, Knit all stitches. Do not cut MC, but twist it around contrasting colour every other row.
Rows 3, 5, 7 (RS) Change to contrasting colour, and K2, Slip 2 with yarn in back, (K6, Slip 2) 9 times, K2.
Rows 4, 6, 8 (WS) P2, Slip 2 with yarn in front, (P6, Slip 2) 9 times, P2.
Cut contrasting colour.
Repeat II (8 rows)
Rows 9 and 10 With MC, repeat Rows 1 and 2.
Rows 11, 13, 15 Change to contrasting colour, and (K6, Slip 2) 9 times, K6.
Rows 12, 14, 16 (P6, Slip 2) 9 times, P6.

First side
With MC, cast on 78 stitches. Work repeats as follows:
1st Repeat Repeat I with A.
2nd Repeat Repeat II with B.
3rd Repeat Repeat I with C.
4th Repeat Repeat II with B.
5th Repeat Repeat I with A.
6th Repeat Repeat II with B.
7th Repeat Repeat I with C.
8th Repeat Repeat II with B.
9th Repeat Repeat I with A.
10th Repeat Repeat II with B.
11th Repeat Repeat I with C.
12th Repeat Repeat II with B.
13th Repeat Repeat I with A.
14th Repeat Repeat II with B.
15th Repeat Repeat I with C.
16th Repeat Repeat II with B.
17th Repeat Repeat I with A. End with two rows of garter stitch in MC. Bind off loosely.

Second side
Work exactly the same as the first side.

Finishing
With tapestry needle and right side of front and back facing out, seam together three sides. Put pillow form in and back stitch fourth side. Alternatively, you may wish to put a zipper in the fourth side.

Care
Temptation cannot be washed. Dry-clean only.

Page 2 of 4 -- Find out how to knit a chain pillow on page 3

Chain Pillow
Intermediate

Knitted measurements
20"/51 cm x 20"/51 cm

Materials
• Classic Elite Temptation (100% silk) each skein 3.5 oz/100 g, 110 yds/100 m
• 2 skeins Green (MC); 1 skein each in Pearl Blue (A), Alpine (B) and White (C)
• Size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• One 20"/51 cm x 20"/51 cm pillow form
• Crochet hook
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
16 stitches and 21 rows over 4"/10 cm using pattern stitch.

Pattern (multiple of 8 stitches + 6)
Repeat I (8 rows)
Rows 1 and 2 With MC, work in stockinette stitch.
Rows 3 and 4 With CC, Knit.
Row 5 With MC, K6, *(Slip 2, K6); repeat from * to end.
Row 7 With CC, repeat Row 5.
Row 8 Knit.

Repeat II (8 rows)
Rows 1 and 2 With MC, work in stockinette stitch.
Rows 3 and 4 With CC, Knit.
Row 5 With MC, K2, *(Slip 2, K6); repeat from * to last 4 stitches, Slip 2, K2.
Row 6 P2, *(Slip 2, P6); repeat from * to last 4 stitches, Slip 2, P2.
Row 7 With CC, repeat Row 5.
Row 8 Knit.

First side
With MC, cast on 78 stitches.
1st Repeat Repeat I with A.
2nd Repeat Repeat II with B.
3rd Repeat Repeat I with C.
4th Repeat Repeat II with B.
5th Repeat Repeat I with A.
6th Repeat Repeat II with B.
7th Repeat Repeat I with C.
8th Repeat Repeat II with B.
9th Repeat Repeat I with A.
10th Repeat Repeat II with B.
11th Repeat Repeat I with C.
12th Repeat Repeat II with B.
13th Repeat Repeat I with A. End with two rows in stockinette stitch with MC. Bind off loosely.

Second side
Work exactly the same as first side.

Finishing
With tapestry needle and right side of front and back facing out, seam together three sides. Put pillow form in and back-stitch fourth side.

Care
Dry-clean only.

Page 3 of 4 -- Learn how to knit a chevron pillow on page 4

Chevron Pillow
Intermediate

Knitted measurements
20"/51 cm x 20"/51 cm

Materials
• Classic Elite Temptation (100% silk) each skein 3.5 oz/100 g, 110 yds/100 m
• 2 skeins Green (MC); 1 skein each in Red (A), Pastel Pink (B), Kitty Pink (C), Pearl Blue (D), Alpine (E) and White (F)
• Size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• One 20"/51 cm x 20"/51 cm pillow form
• Crochet hook
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
16 stitches and 19 rows over 4"/10 cm in pattern stitch.

Pattern (multiple of 11 stitches + 2)
Rows 1-4 With MC, work in stockinette stitch.
Rows 5, 7, 9 Change to CC and work in garter as follows: K1, (SSK, K3, Increase 2 by knitting into the front and back of the next two stitches, K2, K2tog) 7 times, K1.
Rows 6, 8, 10 Knit.

Related: Knit an Aran afghan with matching pillow

First side
With MC, cast on 79 stitches.
First Sequence (10 rows)
Work Pattern using the following colours:
Rows 1-4 MC.
Rows 5-6 A.
Rows 7-8 B.
Rows 9-10 C.
Second Sequence (10 rows)
Work Pattern using the following colours:
Rows 1-4 MC.
Rows 5-6 D.
Rows 7-8 E.
Rows 9-10 F.

Subsequent Sequences
Repeat First and Second Sequence two more times each. Repeat First Sequence one last time. End with 4 rows of MC in stockinette stitch. Bine off loosely.

Second side
Work exactly the same as first side.

Finishing
With tapestry needle and right side of front and back facing out, seam together three sides. Put in pillow form and back-stitch fourth side.

Care
Dry-clean only.
 

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Excerpted from Luxury Knitting: The Ultimate Guide to Exquisite Yarns by LInda Morse. Copyright 2005 by Sixth & Spring Books. Excerpted with permission from Sixth & Spring Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.