Neat Wave Cushion :: Ta-dah!

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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Comments

[Lorna Truscott]

This cushion cover is gorgeous Lucy. I am having trouble subscribing to this conversation so apologies if you've already answered this question, what size is the starting chain for this please?

[Julia]

It looks like 80 stitches across? Anyone else worked it out? I just need to know how many to chain to start 😞 Thanks for any help xxxx

[Julieanne]

I'm fairly new at crocheting besides Flowers & trims & im looking for some easy to follow patterns for blankets & cushions using basic stitches, just wondering if you could help as your work is gorgeous. I found your blog from a group on Facebook & I was looking for your raindrop cushion pattern.

[Di Childs]

Sorry, should have said Thank You for giving me the solution to a recent problem. I was knitting a blanket in Fisherman's rib for a great grandson born last year. It became too difficult because of pain in my hands so I'm going to try to make a crochet blanket instead, with the stitch pattern of your Moorland Blanket. I love working with multi colours and I'm sure that little Bernard Hektor will like them too.

[Di Childs]

I started life not far from you nearly 73 years ago, in Keighley. I knit, crochet and embroider. I'm fascinated by your design of the Moorland Blanket. I love the stitch instructions, especially for the first few rows. The shades of green and the rippling lines make me think of Nessy.

[Hilary Minter]

Hi Lucy , I am loving your patterns and got the pack for the moorland blanket, but as am new to crochet I am going to start with a cushion. How many chain did you start with? I may have missed it but noted number of stripes etc.

Thank you in advance

Hilary

[Lisa]

I love all the colors and the wave pattern! Beautiful!

[Linda ward]

Hi from pa USA. Was wondering if you are putting together a"bundle "of colors to make a blanket with this pattern and colors or do we need to order each color separately?? Thanks so much linda

[Lynn]

It's so You! I love it! Your unplanned random colors are beautiful together. You really have a gift with color.

[Lori]

Hi Lucy,
I am having difficulty subscribing by email to your blog here in U.S. Can you advise me?
Lori

[Zoe]

So lovely!

[Veronica]

I was directed to this site by a penpal in South Africa, and here I am on the south coast of England in Essex how amazing.
Just loving the colours you use and your skill in matching them up, I am filled with inspiration now so looking forward to having a go myself, thank you, thank you from Veronica

[AnnieS]

What can I say....except wow! Fab-u-lous!

[Julie Marris]

Hi Lucy
Do you have the instructions for this cushion please it lovely and I have lots of atyle craft wool to use up.

[Yvonne]

Love this cushion!!! Got to make one...another added to my long long list of makes! Keep the inspiration coming...I love seeing what you are up to. Von xx

[Brenda Cupryna]

love the mixed button look

[Lindyloufromoz]

Beautiful as always Lucy! I love a plump cushion ❤️👏

[Sharrie]

It's a lovely mix of colors. The wave design looks lovely.

[bekki]

This looks so bright and comfy. I'm totally loving the plumpness. Your tip about the buttons is getting logged away. Very handy to know!

[Susan]

Gorgeous. Just the thing to snuggle against in winter with a kitty on your lap. Take care.

[Nora McGRANN]

LOVE your cushion, Lucy....and your gorgeous wee buttons plus all the tips ...

Enjoy your weekend!

Nora

[Deborah Robinson]

Bravo! The pillow looks fantastic and blends so well with the other beautiful crocheted gems. You inspire me. Love it!

[Melanie]

Just finding your blog and love it! Can't wait to join, but when I "subscribe," I failed. :o( Lovely colors, lovely projects.

[Angela-Southern USA]

It is lovely indeed! I too find it very hard to just let random rule, I always tweak just a bit. lol xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Lynne Gill]

Can't wait to begin mine! I have lots of spare Stylecraft so it won't be a problem matching yours, Lucy.

I love that some of the colours blend in together and some pop out in contrast to their next-door-neighbours!