Well there's not a lot I enjoy more than a colour-filled Ta-dah moment, and this afternoon I got to indulge in this very lovely pleasure. The kitty gave me a not-impressed wide-eyed cat-stare as I danced around taking pictures and generally enjoying myself from one end of the room to the other. I've noticed that Ta-dah moments make me move around a huge amount!
This has been a quick little stash-busting project to allow me to have a play with my new Neat Wave pattern. I'm using this same pattern for my Moorland Blanket, so although I've not yet shared it here on my blog, it will be coming at the start of January when the Moorland Crochet-A-Long begins.
These colours......what can I say? They delight me and make me kind of want to curl my toes at the same time. I didn't create a palette to start with for this cushion, I just filled a small bag with a collection of oddments left over from other projects. It's a very quirky mixture, twenty two shades of Stylecraft Special DK worked into a completely random sequence. I tried very hard not to be too precious about the way the colours went together, and only twice did I end up pulling back a partly completed row when I just couldn't stand the way it was making me feel.
I finished the last few rows sat up in bed last night, then spent this afternoon putting it all together. The cushion cover is made in two separate pieces which are stitched together round three sides, with a button fastening created on the fourth side.
As mentioned previously, there is no pattern for this project just yet, but I know that many of you have seen me working these stripes and have requested the colour information, which I'm more than happy to share....
CUSHION BACK
I'm making the cover to fit a 45 cm / 18 in cushion.
There are 33 stripes in total, using 22 colours of Stylecraft Special DK.
From the bottom upwards, as follows ::
❤ 1. Denim ❤ 2. Aspen ❤ 3. Fondant ❤ 4. Cloud Blue ❤ 5. Magenta ❤ 6. Spice ❤ 7. Lime ❤ 8. Aster ❤ 9. Lavender ❤ 10. Pale Rose ❤ 11. Sage ❤ 12. Copper ❤ 13. Magenta ❤ 14. Storm Blue ❤ 15. Grass Green ❤ 16. Mustard ❤ 17. Turquoise ❤ 18. Pomegranate ❤ 19. Fondant ❤ 20. Plum ❤ 21. Aspen ❤ 22. Empire ❤ 23. Tomato ❤ 24. Gold ❤ 25. Lime ❤ 26. Denim ❤ 27. Lavender ❤ 28. Cloud Blue ❤ 29. Magenta ❤ 30. Turquoise ❤ 31. Grass Green ❤ 32. Petrol ❤ 33. Copper ❤
CUSHION FRONT
The front is slightly taller than the back as there are three extra stripes which will fold over to make the button flap.
From the bottom upwards, as follows ::
❤ 1. Plum ❤ 2. Empire ❤ 3. Lime ❤ 4. Tomato ❤ 5. Turquoise ❤ 6. Cloud ❤ 7. Aspen ❤ 8. Mustard ❤ 9. Pale Rose ❤ 10. Magenta ❤ 11. Pomegranate ❤ 12. Lavender ❤ 13. Petrol ❤ 14. Grass Green ❤ 15. Spice ❤ 16. Plum ❤ 17. Fondant ❤ 18. Sage ❤ 19. Gold ❤ 20. Lime ❤ 21. Copper ❤ 22. Aster ❤ 23. Sherbet ❤ 24. Pale Rose ❤ 25. Pomegranate ❤ 26. Lavender ❤ 27. Aspen ❤ 28. Denim ❤ 29. Grass Green ❤ 30. Tomato ❤ 31. Mustard ❤ 32. Fondant ❤ 33. Magenta ❤ 34. Denim ❤ 35. Turquoise ❤ 36. Lavender ❤
To make up the cushion cover, I put right sides together, matching up the straight bottom/foundation edge. The cushion back is shorter than the cushion front (you can see me holding the top edge of it in the above picture).
I chose denim yarn to stitch with - it's a medium colour, not too light or dark. I simply made sure the ends of the stripes were matching up and made meat little whip stitches to join the two pieces together (stitching on the wrong/reverse side)
When the cushion is turned to the right side, you can only see teensy bits of the stitches showing, so it's a pretty neat finish.
The above picture shows the cushion after the first side seam has been stitched - you can see more clearly how the front piece is a little taller than the back piece, and how I matched the ends of the stripes neatly together as I stitched. I really like looking at all the colours jigging along together as they rise and fall in their neat waves. The sense of movement that this stitch pattern gives is fascinating, it's really lovely to gaze at.
The bottom edge of the cushion is stitched in exactly the same way using denim yarn and passing the needle through the single loops of the foundation chain. Then the second side is stitched up too, leaving just the top edges free.
Now it's time for...................
..............buttons!
I could have chosen blue buttons to blend, but where's the fun in that? This is me, Lucy the colour-junkie, and so I predictably choose All The Colours. Eight buttons in total (15mm ones), positioned along the fourth stripe down from the top edge of the cushion back.
I used turquoise yarn to stitch the buttons which matched the stripe I was stitching into.
I learnt this trick when I made my Colourblock cushion, it's very nifty indeed. I discovered that 15mm buttons can pass through the gaps between two treble crochet stitches, meaning there is no need to actually make button holes. Simply fold the flap over and button up the buttons through the gaps in between the crochet stiches....super neat eh?!
The 45cm cushion pad that I've got is very plump indeed and made the cover look quite different once it was stretched and buttoned up.
Oh, do check out that very pleasing PluMpNesS!!!!
You can see that my side seam does look pretty neat (if I say so myself), and I love how the different colours just bump along against each other without even trying to match up in any way.
As you would expect in a home full of crochet blankets, this crochet cushion immediately looked as if it belonged.
It looks so good plumped up there, ready and waiting to give a soft bit of comfort into the small of my back.
The colourful wavy cheer it brings to my grey sofa makes me very happy indeed, especially at this time of year when we need all the brightness we can get.
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Love it Love it Love it!!
Our summer school holidays started today and I'm excited to sort my yarn cupboard and try something similar.
Thanks for the inspiration.....again!!
Posted by: Melanie Loubser | December 09, 2016 at 11:39 AM
Such a happy cushion!!!! Love it!
Debbie x
Posted by: Debbie, Essex | December 09, 2016 at 09:29 AM
Wonderful colors!
Posted by: gracie | December 09, 2016 at 09:23 AM
Wow the colours!!! Lovely cushion <3
Posted by: Ana Lado B | December 09, 2016 at 08:52 AM
Lovely cushion. Can't wait for the CAL.
Posted by: Carol | December 09, 2016 at 08:15 AM
j'aime beaucoup
Posted by: francine b | December 09, 2016 at 06:54 AM
Perfect pillow! Love the colors and the size and the buttons.. great job, my friend! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | December 09, 2016 at 04:41 AM
Dear Lucy, you are so creative! I wish that I had your eye for colour. Your cushion is beautiful and I love the different coloured buttons too. I have been crocheting a throw rug and have thousands of ends to tie in, it takes a lot of patience! One day, when I have finished it, I will post it on my blog. Hugs Rose x
Posted by: Rose | Happy Ramblings blog | December 09, 2016 at 03:39 AM
Oh, oh, oh! I love it! And the buttons! I love the buttons! You're going to make me take up crochet again, aren't you?
Posted by: Barbara W. | December 09, 2016 at 12:42 AM
Just love this cozy and colourful display! Beautiful work, Lucy!
Posted by: Little Quiltsong | December 09, 2016 at 12:03 AM
It DOES fit right in there, doesn't it? Lovely!
Posted by: Misa | December 08, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Very nice !!!
Posted by: Maria | December 08, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Oh it is SO gorgeous, love it very much indeed! I can't wait to have a go, was going to do a raindrops one but this appeals even more!
Posted by: Vicky | December 08, 2016 at 10:20 PM
You are so talented and your use of colour is so bold and brilliant xx
Posted by: Linda Edge | December 08, 2016 at 10:14 PM
Bravo :)
Posted by: Mary | December 08, 2016 at 09:58 PM
Oh yes, it is plump and delicious indeed. The buttons are a really pretty touch. I do so love that wave stitch, I shall definitely give it a go. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | December 08, 2016 at 09:37 PM
This is gorgeous!
Posted by: Sarah | December 08, 2016 at 09:21 PM
Stunning ☺️🇦🇺
Posted by: Margaret Simpson | December 08, 2016 at 08:44 PM
Can't wait to make one, it looks amazing!
Posted by: Chris Smith | December 08, 2016 at 08:44 PM
Love this! Your picture tutorials are wonderful. Love the non-buttonhole trick!
Can't wait for the CAL. My yarn kit is just sitting in the corner....waiting....
Posted by: Liz | December 08, 2016 at 08:28 PM
Lucy the colour-junkie. That suits you just fine. love it though xxx
Posted by: tinke | December 08, 2016 at 08:26 PM
This is appealing to me in the shape of a tea cosy. It looks lovely Lucy. The waves and the colours just pop.
Posted by: Michelle | December 08, 2016 at 08:11 PM
This is just gorgeous! I don't leave comments very often, but I visit your blog regulary and I've tried many of your patterns. I just love all the colours you use, coming here makes my heart happy! <3
Posted by: Karen | December 08, 2016 at 08:00 PM
Love it!
Posted by: Sandra | December 08, 2016 at 07:55 PM