I always used to love watching my mother crocheting because the results are so immediate.
In a single evening she would always produce something significant. I’m very keen on having a couple of these funky cushions for myself, so I’ll have to persuade her to pick up that crochet hook again – or learn how to do it myself!
Materials
Panda Cotton Blend 8 ply 50g balls
To make a single motif cushion
1 ball each of: Yellow (colour 6), Lolly (colour 14), Natural (colour 4), Sky (colour 10), Orange (colour 7), Red (colour 8), Black (colour 2).
To make a multi-motif cushion
1 ball each of: Yellow (colour 6), Lolly (colour 14), Taupe (colour 5), Cream (colour 3), Natural (colour 4), Sky (colour 10), Pink (colour 15), Orange (colour 7), Navy (colour 11), Petrol (colour 12), Red (colour 8), Black (colour 2).
4mm (UK 8 ) crochet hook or size needed to give correct tension
Tapestry needle for sewing seams
30cm x 30cm cushion insert for single motif cushion
40cm x 40cm cushion insert for multi-motif cushion
Measurements
Single motif cushion measures (approx) 30cm x 30cm
Multi-motif cushion measures (approx) 40cm x 40cm
Tension
Six rounds of basic motif measures 13cm square, using 4mm hook. Check your tension carefully. If motif is larger than 13cm, use smaller hook; if motif is smaller use bigger hook.
Abbreviations
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
lp/s = loop/s
rep = repeat
sl st = slip stitch
sp = space
st/s = stitch/es
tr = treble
yoh = yarn over hook
Special abbreviations
Cluster A = yoh and draw up a lp in next st, yoh and draw through 2 lps, rep from twice more in same st, yoh and draw through all 4 lps on hook.
Cluster B = yoh and draw up a lp in next st, yoh and draw through 2 lps, rep from 3 more times in same st, yoh and draw through all 5 lps on hook.
Basic motif
Using 4mm hook and selected colour, make 8ch and join with a sl st in first ch to make a ring.
1st round – 1ch, 1dc in same st as sl st, 1dc in each of next 7ch, sl st in fi rst dc.
2nd round – 2ch, Cluster A in same st as sl st, 3ch, Cluster B in next dc, rep from to end, 3ch, sl st in top of Cluster A. Fasten off.
Join next colour with a sl st in any 3ch sp.
3rd round – (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same 3ch sp, 3tr in next 3ch sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in next 3ch sp, 3tr in next 3ch sp, rep from to end, sl st in 3rd ch at beg. Fasten off.
4th round – Join next colour with a sl st in any corner 2ch sp, (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same corner 2ch sp, 3tr between each 3tr group to corner, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in corner 2ch sp, 3tr between each 3tr group to corner, rep from to end, sl st in 3rd ch at beg. Fasten off.
Rep 4th round twice, using next 2 colours… 6 rounds in all.
Single motif cushion
Make two sides alike. Using 4mm hook and orange, work rounds 1 and 2 of Basic Motif. Join red with a sl st in any 3ch sp.
3rd round – (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same 3ch sp, 3tr in next 3ch sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in next 3ch sp, 3tr in next 3ch sp, rep from to end, sl st in 3rd ch at beg, sl st in each of next 2tr, sl st in corner 2ch sp.
4th round – (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same corner 2ch sp, 3tr between each 3tr group to corner, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in corner 2ch sp, 3tr between each 3tr group to corner, rep from to end, sl st in 3rd ch at beg. Fasten off.
Join natural with a sl st in any corner 2ch sp.
5th round – (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same corner 2ch sp, 3tr between each 3tr group to corner, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in corner 2ch sp, 3tr between each 3tr group to corner, rep from to end, sl st in 3rd ch at beg, sl st in each of next 2tr, sl st in corner 2ch sp.
6th round – As 4th round.
Rep 5th and 6th rounds, working in stripes of 2 rounds each of yellow, sky, lolly, then black…
14 rounds worked in all. Fasten off.
To make up:
Don’t press. With wrong sides of cushion pieces together, using 4mm hook and black, working through both thicknesses, work 1 round dc evenly around all edges, adding cushion insert before working last edge, sl st in first dc. Fasten off.
Multi-motif cushion
Using 4mm hook make 2 Basic Motifs in each colourway as folls –
Use navy then petrol, cream, sky and pink.
Use black then lolly, taupe, orange and red.
Use natural then yellow, petrol, black and taupe.
Use cream then orange, petrol, red and black.
Use orange then black, cream, sky and pink.
Use yellow then natural, navy, orange and sky.
Use yellow then sky, navy, cream and orange.
Use taupe then black, petrol, yellow and natural.
Use petrol then orange, taupe, lolly and black.
18 motifs in all.
To make up:
Using a running stitch seam, join motifs together to form 2 cushion sides 3 motifs by 3 motifs.
With right side facing, using 4mm hook and black, work 1 round dc evenly around each cushion side, working 3dc in each corner, sl st in first dc. Fasten off.
With wrong sides together and working through both thicknesses, join sides together as folls –
Using 4mm hook and natural, work 1 round of dc evenly around all edges, working 3dc in each corner, adding cushion insert before working last edge, sl st in first dc. Fasten off.
