It's Cushion Day!

15/9/2020

I do love a good cushion!

Fruit Garden Cushion day has arrived at last! The pattern for the Kelmscott and Melsetter cushion covers are live on my web site and you can find it by following this link.

You can choose from a download version or a paper copy of the pattern. The download version is free with an option to make a donation via PayPal if you want to. The paper pattern is priced slightly lower than my other 12 page patterns at £3.95 and will incur a fee for postage and packing.

The patterns for the two cushion covers I have designed to match the Fruit Garden blanket are the Kelmscott cover, which matches Recipe 1 and Melsetter, which matches colour way 2.

I designed the cushions so that you can use up some of the left over yarns from your CAL projects. The yarn listings below show what you will need:

Kelmscott Cushion Cover (Caramel & Parchment - shown to the left in the image above)

Stylecraft Life DK
75% Premium Acrylic, 25% Wool, 298m (326yds) per 100g ball

2 balls (123g used) x Parchment (2445)
2 balls (116g used) x Caramel (2446)
1 ball (22g used) x Blue Haze (2346)
1 ball (5g used) x Cranberry Mixtures (2319)
1 ball (12g used) x Denim (2322)
1 ball (18g used) x Fern (2311)
1 ball (13g used) x Rose (2301)

Stylecraft Batik
80% Premium Acrylic, 20% Wool, 138m (151yds) per 50g ball

1 ball (17g used) x Graphite (1915)
1 ball (9g used) x Heather (1906)
1 ball (10g used) x Mint (1918)
1 ball (6g used) x Rose (1916)

Equipment:
3.5mm (US E/4), 4mm (US G/6) and 4.5mm (US 7) crochet hooks
Stitch markers
Knitters sewing needle

Other:
50cm x 50cm (19¾in x 19¾in) square cushion pad
7 x 15mm (½in) buttons (I used metal dome buttons, which will be available from the Janie Crow web site)

Measurement:
Made to fit 50cm x 50cm (19¾in x 19¾in) square cushion pad.

***

Melsetter Cushion Cover (Night & Dusk - shown to the right in the image above)

Stylecraft Naturals – Bamboo + Cotton
60% Bamboo, 40% Cotton, 250m (273yds) per 100g ball

3 balls (233g used) x Night (7160)
1 ball (17g used) x Canyon (7157)
1 ball (17g used) x Celery (7155)
1 ball (12g used) x Dusk (7159)
1 ball (29g used) x Peach (7131)
1 ball (16g used) x Pumice (7154)
1 ball (30g used) x Raisin (7158)
1 ball (18g used) x Rose (7165)
1 ball (1g used) x Seafoam (7143)
1 ball (27g used) x Thyme (7156)
1 ball (21g used) x Umber (7161)

Equipment:
3mm (US C-D/2-3) 3.5mm (US E/4) & 4mm (US G/6) crochet hooks
Stitch markers
Knitters sewing needle

Other:
45cm x 45cm (17¾in x 17¾in) square cushion pad
6 x 15mm (½in) buttons (I used metal dome buttons, which will be available from the Janie Crow web site)

Measurement:
Made to fit 45cm x 45cm (17¾in x 17¾in) square cushion pad.

Both cushion covers feature in the same 12 page pattern. Please note that paper brochure patterns will be dispatched from tomorrow 16th September.

I am aware that it is still tough to find yarn for the projects. If you are looking for Life DK, there is still some in stock over on Andy's Just Knots web site here. If you want to make the covers using the Naturals - Bamboo + Cotton yarn then you are in for a short wait as that is due to be back in stock within the next couple of weeks.

If you can't find the shades you want, then you could make a couple of substitutions: For example I suggest Special DK Parchment or Life DK Oatmeal in place of Life DK Parchment as this is one of the shades proving difficult to source.

William and May Morris were famous for mixing many of their designs together. In their interior designed rooms they would place tapestry cushions on printed fabrics and feature layers of wallpapers, friezes and borders on the wall, all with different patterns and colour palettes. I love to mix my patterns and colours too and think that the cushions would look fabulous made in alternative palettes to the blankets.

I have put a few examples together below, using some of May's wallpaper and fabric designs and have also found a couple of lovely suggested palettes on line:

The 2 cushion covers will be the focus of Stylecraft's September 'Make Along' and you can find the dedicated Facebook Group by following this link. The Make Along Facebook Group has been created by Stylecraft to provide a forum for knitters and crocheters to receive help and have a general chat about projects designed by the Stylecraft Blogstars. There are already nearly 10,000 members in the group and it is a hive of positive activity, so why not take a look?

The UK Knitting & Crochet Guild Unconvention

As one of the Patrons of the UK Knitting & Crochet Guild I am really proud to have been involved in their online event, which, for obvious reasons, takes the place of their annual convention this year. The Guild members have done an amazing job co-ordinating a whole week of virtual events, which started on Wednesday last week and will run through to today.

As I told you on Friday I have recorded a 'key note speech' where I give a brief history of the craft of crochet and talk about my own career, focussing on my design process at times, but also attempting to convey what I feel is the huge importance of passing on our skills to future generations. You can find the video here. You can also find a beaded flower workshop video here.

I also took over the Guild's Instagram account yesterday and will do so again today. I would love it if you would pop over there and give me and the Guild your support.