I designed a knitting pattern for a textured cube that features a purl texture pattern and is stretched around a cardboard frame. It is inspired by the character of Akiko from Aetherglow, and each face of the cube has a design based on one of her interests – there is a bug, a bird, a cat, a flower, a mushroom, and the Japanese character for Akiko’s name.

Using worsted weight yarn, this cube came out measuring 7’’ on each side. I recommend using thinner yarn at a tighter gauge if you want a smaller cube. Once you have knitted all six squares, measure one of the squares and cut six cardboard squares of the same measurement. Tape the cardboard together to form a cube, then sew the knitted squares into a cube around the cardboard frame.

Each square will be 28 stitches and 40 rows, knitted back and forth. To start, cast on 28 stitches and knit 4 rows (2 ridges of garter stitch). Then, follow the chart for the center 24 stitches and always knit the first and last two stitches, even if you are on a purl row. When you are finished with the chart, knit 4 rows. The colored stitches are purled on right side rows and knitted on wrong side rows. Here are the charts for the six knitted squares of Akiko’s cube.

Download the pattern here (PDF)

Mushroom:
Cast on 28 stitches
Knit 4 rows
Begin chart:
Row 1: Knit 28
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 3: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 9, Knit 6, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 6: Knit 2, Purl 9, Knit 6, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 8: Knit 2, Purl 9, Knit 6, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 9: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 10: Knit 2, Purl 9, Knit 6, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 11: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 12: Knit 2, Purl 9, Knit 6, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 13: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 14: Knit 2, Purl 9, Knit 6, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 15: Knit 4, Purl 20, Knit 4
Row 16: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 20, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 17: Knit 4, Purl 20, Knit 4
Row 18: Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 18, Purl 3, Knit 2
Row 19: Knit 5, Purl 18, Knit 5
Row 20: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 16, Purl 4, Knit 2
Row 21: Knit 6, Purl 16, Knit 6
Row 22: Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 14, Purl 5, Knit 2
Row 23: Knit 8, Purl 12, Knit 8
Row 24: Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 12, Purl 6, Knit 2
Row 25: Knit 9, Purl 10, Knit 9
Row 26: Knit 2, Purl 8, Knit 8, Purl 8, Knit 2
Row 27: Knit 11, Purl 6, Knit 11
Row 28: Knit 2, Purl 10, Knit 4, Purl 10, Knit 2
Row 29: Knit 28
Row 30: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 31: Knit 28
Row 32: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Knit 4 more rows
Bind off

Flower:
Cast on 28 stitches
Knit 4 rows
Begin chart:
Row 1: Knit 13, Purl 2, Knit 13
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 11, Knit 2, Purl 11, Knit 2
Row 3: Knit 13, Purl 2, Knit 13
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 11, Knit 2, Purl 11, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 13, Purl 2, Knit 13
Row 6: Knit 2, Purl 11, Knit 2, Purl 11, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 10, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 10
Row 8: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 10, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 9: Knit 8, Purl 12, Knit 8
Row 10: Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 12, Purl 6, Knit 2
Row 11: Knit 8, Purl 4, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 4, Knit 8
Row 12: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 13: Knit 13, Purl 2, Knit 13
Row 14: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 15: Knit 8, Purl 4, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 4, Knit 8
Row 16: Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 12, Purl 6, Knit 2
Row 17: Knit 8, Purl 5, Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 8
Row 18: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 3, Purl 4, Knit 3, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 19: Knit 10, Purl 1, Knit 6, Purl 1, Knit 10
Row 20: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 21: Knit 8, Purl 3, Knit 6, Purl 3, Knit 8
Row 22: Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 5, Purl 4, Knit 5, Purl 5, Knit 2
Row 23: Knit 7, Purl 6, Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 7
Row 24: Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 4, Purl 1, Knit 4, Purl 1, Knit 4, Purl 5, Knit 2
Row 25: Knit 8, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 8
Row 26: Knit 2, Purl 10, Knit 4, Purl 10, Knit 2
Row 27: Knit 12, Purl 4, Knit 12
Row 28: Knit 2, Purl 10, Knit 4, Purl 10, Knit 2
Row 29: Knit 13, Purl 2, Knit 13
Row 30: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 31: Knit 28
Row 32: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Knit 4 more rows
Bind off

Cat:
Cast on 28 stitches
Knit 4 rows
Begin chart:
Row 1: Knit 28
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 3: Knit 28
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 28
Row 6: Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 12, Purl 6, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 7, Purl 14, Knit 7
Row 8: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 16, Purl 4, Knit 2
Row 9: Knit 5, Purl 18, Knit 5
Row 10: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 20, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 11: Knit 3, Purl 22, Knit 3
Row 12: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 22, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 13: Knit 3, Purl 22, Knit 3
Row 14: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 22, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 15: Knit 3, Purl 22, Knit 3
Row 16: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 5, Purl 1, Knit 10, Purl 1, Knit 5, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 17: Knit 3, Purl 4, Knit 3, Purl 8, Knit 3, Purl 4, Knit 3
Row 18: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 5, Purl 1, Knit 10, Purl 1, Knit 5, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 19: Knit 3, Purl 22, Knit 3
Row 20: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 22, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 21: Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 16, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 3
Row 22: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 1, Purl 3, Knit 14, Purl 3, Knit 1, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 23: Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 4, Purl 12, Knit 4, Purl 1, Knit 3
Row 24: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 1, Purl 4, Knit 12, Purl 4, Knit 1, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 25: Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 10, Purl 2, Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 3
Row 26: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 12, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 27: Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 14, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 1, Knit 3
Row 28: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 18, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 29: Knit 28
Row 30: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 31: Knit 28
Row 32: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Knit 4 more rows
Bind off

Bug:
Cast on 28 stitches
Knit 4 rows
Begin chart:
Row 1: Knit 28
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 12, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2
Row 3: Knit 6, Purl 2, Knit 12, Purl 2, Knit 6
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 12, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 6 Purl 2, Knit 12, Purl 2, Knit 6
Row 6: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 4, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 3
Row 8: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 6, Purl 2, Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 9: Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 14, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 3
Row 10: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 12, Purl 3, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 11: Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 10, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 3
Row 12: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 3, Purl 3, Knit 10, Purl 3, Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 13: Knit 4, Purl 3, Knit 2, Purl 10, Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 4
Row 14: Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 18, Purl 3, Knit 2
Row 15: Knit 6, Purl 16, Knit 6
Row 16: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 10, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 17: Knit 7, Purl 14, Knit 7
Row 18: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 16, Purl 4, Knit 2
Row 19: Knit 6, Purl 16, Knit 6
Row 20: Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 8, Purl 2, Knit 3, Purl 3, Knit 2
Row 21: Knit 4, Purl 3, Knit 4, Purl 6, Knit 4, Purl 3, Knit 4
Row 22: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 3, Purl 5, Knit 6, Purl 5, Knit 3, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 23: Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 5, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 5, Purl 2, Knit 3
Row 24: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 25: Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 8, Purl 2, Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 3
Row 26: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 2, Purl 8, Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 27: Knit 3, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 10, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 3
Row 28: Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 10, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 29: Knit 28
Row 30: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 31: Knit 28
Row 32: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Knit 4 more rows
Bind off

Bird:
Cast on 28 stitches
Knit 4 rows
Begin chart:
Row 1: Knit 28
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 3: Knit 3, Purl 21, Knit 4
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 21, Purl 1, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 8, Purl 2, Knit 18
Row 6: Knit 2, Purl 16, Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 9, Purl 14, Knit 5
Row 8: Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 13, Purl 8, Knit 2
Row 9: Knit 15, Purl 1, Knit 4, Purl 1, Knit 7
Row 10: Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 1, Purl 4, Knit 1, Purl 12, Knit 2
Row 11:Knit 13, Purl 6, Knit 9
Row 12: Knit 2, Purl 6, Knit 8, Purl 10, Knit 2
Row 13: Knit 11, Purl 10, Knit 7
Row 14: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 15, Purl 5, Knit 2
Row 15: Knit 3, Purl 20, Knit 5
Row 16: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 19, Purl 3, Knit 2
Row 17: Knit 3, Purl 21, Knit 4
Row 18: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 15, Purl 7, Knit 2
Row 19: Knit 7, Purl 17, Knit 4
Row 20: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 18, Purl 4, Knit 2
Row 21: Knit , Purl 17, Knit 4
Row 22: Knit 2, Purl 3, Knit 13, Purl 8, Knit 2
Row 23: Knit 10, Purl 13, Knit 5
Row 24: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 11, Purl 9, Knit 2
Row 25: Knit 12, Purl 12, Knit 4
Row 26: Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 6, Purl 10, Knit 2
Row 27: Knit 13, Purl 5, Knit 1, Purl 5, Knit 4
Row 28: Knit 2, Purl 5, Knit 8, Purl 11, Knit 2
Row 29: Knit 14, Purl 6, Knit 8
Row 30: Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 5, Purl 12, Knit 2
Row 31: Knit 15, Purl 3, Knit 10
Row 32: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Knit 4 more rows
Bind off

Akiko Name Kanji:
Cast on 28 stitches
Knit 4 rows
Begin chart:
Row 1: Knit 28
Row 2: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 3: Knit 28
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 5: Knit 17, Purl 2, Knit 9
Row 6: Knit 2, Purl 8, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 5, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 7: Knit 4, Purl 5, Knit 6, Purl 2, Knit 11
Row 8: Knit 2, Purl 10, Knit 2, Purl 8, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 9: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 8, Purl 10, Knit 4
Row 10: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 8, Purl 1, Knit 11, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 11: Knit 4, Purl 11, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 12: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 13: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 7, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 14: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 15: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 7, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 16: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 17: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 7, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 18: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 8, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 19: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 7, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 8, Knit 4
Row 20: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 11, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 21: Knit 4, Purl 11, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 22: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 23: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 7, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 24: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 25: Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 7, Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2, Knit 4
Row 26: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 4, Knit 2, Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 7, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 27: Knit 4, Purl 11, Knit 1, Purl 8, Knit 4
Row 28: Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 8, Purl 1, Knit 11, Purl 2, Knit 2
Row 29: Knit 28
Row 30: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Row 31: Knit 28
Row 32: Knit 2, Purl 24, Knit 2
Knit 4 more rows
Bind off