More finished cushions... I'm having so much fun making these, and seem to be developing quite a collection.
A zigzag cushion in 8 ply yarn...
And a smaller one in 4 ply.
For the cushion below I used a wonderful harlequin tapestry crochet tutorial at Little Woollie, and it was surprisingly easy once I got used to it. I had never tried tapestry crochet, and now I have lots of ideas percolating in my head for using this technique.
More pictures, just for fun. I was quite enjoying this little photo shoot, and got a bit carried away!
... and now for some answers to a few frequently asked questions. This can be a work in progress, so if you have any questions I haven't addressed, please feel free to ask and I'll can add them.
Q. Do you have/sell crochet patterns?
A. None of these projects has a written pattern as my usual method of operation is to find a technique that I like and play around with it, creating my own pattern in the process. I try to put helpful information about each project on my Ravelry page. I'm not really a pattern follower myself, preferring to just experiment and see what I can come up with... but having said that... I'm currently teaching myself to write patterns and hope to have some available in the future. Watch this space!
Q. What kind of yarn do you use?
A. Most of my projects (and all of the ones pictured here) are made with Merino yarn from an Australian company, Biggan Design. I'm sure that crocheters all over the world have their own favourite yarns to work with, but this particular one is the perfect fit for me. They have an amazing colour range that never changes, and the yarn is really lovely to work with, machine washable and hardwearing. It's important for me to be able to make things for my home that can be used every day and will still look great after many years. Some of my early crochet projects that were made with lesser quality yarn haven't worn very well, and I found that very disappointing when so much time and love had gone into making them.
One exception to the quality yarn rule: I find that bunting can be made from cheaper yarns, as it doesn't get handled or washed as much.
Q. Why do the pillows have only one crochet side?
A. This is just a personal preference for me. I usually sew a plain cushion, with a button or zip opening, and hand stitch the crochet piece to it. All of the cushions above have a black corduroy back, and I sometimes use pompom trim, rather than make my own tassels or fringing. I guess I have a couple of reasons for doing this:
- It's economical. I save on yarn, because I only have to crochet one side.
- It's faster, and that's always a good thing.
- I like the neatness of the cushions... they have crisp edges and corners.
- A contrasting colour or black on the back of the cushion makes the colours stand out more.
