POPCORN AND FRIES CUSHIONS

These larger-than-life finger foods are just the thing to get you in the cinematic mood on film nights. By Natalie Beard

■ DROPS Paris (100% cotton, 50g/75m), 5 balls of each: Raspberry (38), Vanilla (35), 2 balls of Off White (17), 1 ball of Brown (44)

■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook

■ Toy stuffing

TENSION

Tension is not critical for this project, but it may affect the yarn quantities required

MEASUREMENTS

Popcorn Cushion measures approx 32x42cm (12 x16 in)

Fries Cushion measures approx 32x38cm (12 x15in)

ABBREVIATIONS

pc (popcorn) 5tr in same st, remove live loop from hook, insert hook in first tr, place loop on hook and pull through st, ch1 to secure

reverse dc Insert hook in next st to right (or left if left-handed), work standard dc in st

For a full list, see page 94

NOTES

Popcorn Cushion is made up of 4 pieces: 2 Striped Panels, a Popcorn Top and a Plain Top. Each piece is made separately and sewn together at the end.

Fries Cushion is made up of 2 Panels and the Fries Top.

Fries are worked in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a slip stitch. You may find it helpful to mark the first st of each round, moving the markers up as you go. The main Panels for both Cushions are worked side to side in rows.

POPCORN CUSHION STRIPED PANELS (MAKE 2).

Using Off White, ch41.

Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [40 sts]

Row 2 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in each st across, turn.

Rows 3-4 As Row 2.

Change to Raspberry.

Rows 5-52 As Row 2, changing between Raspberry and Off White after every 4 rows. Fasten off.

POPCORN TOP

Using Vanilla, ch53.

Row 1 (WS) Dc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [52 sts]

Row 2 (RS) Ch1, dc in first st, (dc in next 2 st, pc in next st, dc in next st) 12 times, dc in final 3 sts, turn.

Row 3 Ch1, dc2tog first 2 sts, dc in each st to final 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [50 sts]

Row 4 Ch1, dc in first st, (dc in next 3 sts, pc in next st) 11 times, dc in final 5 sts, turn.

Row 5 As Row 3. [48 sts]

Row 6 Ch1, dc in first st, (pc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) 11 times, pc in next st, dc in final 2 sts, turn. Row 7 As Row 3. [46 sts] Row 8 Ch1, dc in first 2 sts, (pc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) 11 times, turn.

Row 9 As Row 3. [44 sts]

Row 10 Ch1, dc in first 3 sts, (pc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) 10 times, dc in final st, turn.

Row 11 As Row 3. [42 sts]

Row 12 Ch1, dc in first 2 sts, (dc in next 3 sts, pc in next st) 9 times, dc in final 4 sts, turn.

Row 13 As Row 3. [40 sts]

Row 14 Ch1, dc in first st, (pc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) 9 times, pc in next st, dc in final 2 sts, turn. Row 15 As Row 3. [38 sts] Fasten off.

PLAIN TOP

Using Vanilla, ch53.

Row 1 (RS) Dc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [52 sts]

Row 2 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn. Row 3 Ch1, dc2tog first 2 sts, dc in each st to final 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [50 sts]

Rows 4-15 Rep Rows 2-3 another 6 times. [38 sts at end of Row 15] Fasten off.

LABEL

Using Off White, ch13.

Round 1 (RS) 5tr in fourth ch from hook (skipped chs count as tr), tr in next 8 ch, 6tr in last ch, turn to work in opposite side of foundation ch, tr in next 8 ch, ss to top of beg ch-3. [28 sts]

Round 2 (RS) Ch3, tr in st at base of ch-2, 2tr in next 5 sts, tr in next 8 sts, 2tr in next 6 sts, tr in next 8 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3. [40 sts]

Round 3 Ch3, tr in st at base of ch-3, 2tr in next 11 sts, tr in next 8 sts, 2tr in next 12 sts, tr in next 8 sts, ss to top of beg ch-3. [64 sts]

Change to Brown.

Round 4 Ch1, dc in each st around, ss to beg dc. Fasten off.

Using Brown, embroider POP! onto the Label with chain stitches.

POPCORN APPLIQUÉ (MAKE 3)

Using Vanilla, make a magic loop.

Round 1 (RS) Ch3, 11tr in loop, ss to top of beg

ch-3. [12 sts] Round 2 (RS) Ch3 3tr in st at base of ch-3, ch3, ss in st at base of ch-3, ss in next st, (ch3, 3tr, ch3, ss) in next 2 sts.

Fasten off leaving rem sts unworked. TO MAKE UP

Weave in all ends.

Sew the Popcorn Top to one of the Striped Panels and then sew the Plain Top to the rem Panel. The stripes should sit vertically.

Sew the 2 pieces together, filling with toy stuffing as you go.

Sew the Label and the Appliqués to the front of the Cushion.

FRIES CUSHION

FRONT PANEL

Using Raspberry, ch41.

Row 1 (WS) Dc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [40 sts]

Row 2 (RS) Ch1, dc2tog first 2 sts, dc in each st to end, turn. [39 sts]

Row 3 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.

Rows 4-17 Rep Rows 2-3 another 7 times. [32 sts at end of Row 17]

Rows 18-37 As Row 3.

Row 38 Ch1, 2dc in first st, dc in each st to end, turn. [33 sts]

Row 39 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.

Rows 40-51 Rep Rows 38-39 another 6 times. [39 sts at end of Row 51]

Row 52 As Row 38. [40 sts] Fasten off.

BACK PANEL

Using Raspberry, ch41.

Row 1 (WS) Dc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [40 sts]

Row 2 (RS) Ch1, 2dc in first st, dc in each st to end, turn. [41 sts]

Row 3 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.

Rows 4-17 Rep Rows 2-3 another 7 times. [48 sts at end of Row 17]

Rows 18-37 As Row 3.

Row 38 Ch1, dc2tog first 2 sts, dc in each st to end, turn. [47 sts]

Row 39 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.

Rows 40-51 Rep Rows 38-39 another 6 times. [41 sts at end of Row 51]

Row 52 As Row 38. [40 sts] Fasten off.

Sew the Front and Back together over the 3 straight edges, leaving the shaped edges open at the top.

Using Raspberry, work a round of reverse dc around the open edge at the top.

FRIES (MAKE 6)

Using Vanilla, make a magic loop.

Round 1 (RS) Ch1, 6dc in loop. [6 sts]

Round 2 (RS) 2dc in each st around. [12 sts] Round 3 (Dc in next st, 2dc in next st) 6 times.

[18 sts] Rounds 4-20 Dc in each st around. Fasten off the first 5 Fries only.

The Fries are joined together over the next round.

Round 21 Dc in next 9 sts on current Fry, (dc in next 9 sts on next Fry) 4 times, dc in each st around final Fry, (dc in next 9 unworked sts on next Fry) 5 times. [108 sts]

Round 22 (Dc2tog, 47dc, dc2tog, 3dc) twice.

[104 sts] Rounds 23-25 Dc in each st around. Fasten off.

LABEL

Work as Label for Popcorn Cushion. Using Brown, embroider FRIES onto the Label with chain stitches.

Sew the Label to the Front Panel.

TO MAKE UP

Whipstitch the Fries to the inside of the Panels, approx 3cm below the Edging. Stuff the Cushion as you join.

Weave in any rem ends.