STAR CUSHION
After a long day of shopping, wrapping gifts or making festive plans, flop onto this jumbo star cushion by Zoe Potrac
■ Scheepjes Colour Crafter (100% acrylic, 100g/ 300m), 2 balls of Weert (1001), 1 ball of each: Knokke (2012), The Hague (1256), Groningen (1259), Leuven (2008), Hilversum (1257)
■ Scheepjes Softy (75% polyester, 25% nylon,
50g/145m) , 1 ball of White (494)
■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook
■ Toy stuffing
■ A pompom maker
TENSION
17 sts and 22 rows measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over double crochet using a 4mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension
MEASUREMENTS
Cushion measures 80cm (31½in) in diameter across widest points
NOTES
Each Panel is made of 10 Segments: 5 Plain and 1 in each of the rem colours. The 5 Plain Segments are worked first. The Coloured Segments are then worked onto the piece, and slip stitched to the Plain Segments at the beginning and end of each row. There is no RS or WS as one Panel will be flipped over to align colours before joining.
STAR CUSHION PANEL (MAKE 2)
Using Weert, make a magic loop.
Round 1 Ch1, 5dc in loop, ss to beg dc, turn.
[5 sts]
FIRST PLAIN SEGMENT
Row 1 Ch1, dc in first st, turn leaving rem sts unworked. [1 st]
Row 2 Ch1, 2dc in st, turn. [2 sts]
Row 3 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 4 Ch1, dc in each st to final st, 2dc in final st, turn. [3 sts]
Row 5 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.
Rows 6-49 Rep Rows 4-5 another 22 times.
[25 sts] Row 50 Ch1, dc in each st to final 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [24 sts]
Row 51 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.
Rows 52-97 Rep Rows 50-51 another 23 times.
[1 dc] Fasten off.
NEXT PLAIN SEGMENT
*With WS facing, join Weert in next unworked st from Round 1.
Rep Rows 1-98 of First Segment. Fasten off.
Rep from * until 5 Plain Segments have been completed.
COLOURED SECTIONS
With RS from Round 1 facing you, join Knokke in any st from Round 1 (these sts have all been worked into with the 5 Plain Segments).
Row 1 Ch1, ss in first row-end on Plain Segment to right (or left if left-handed), dc in st at base of ch-1, ss in first row end on Plain Segment to Left (or right if left-handed), turn. [1 st]
Row 2 Ch1, ss in next row-end up, 2dc in st, ss in row-end on next Segment, turn. [2 sts]
Row 3 Ch1, ss in next row-end up, dc in each st across, ss in row-end on next Segment, turn.
Row 4 Ch1, ss in next row-end up, dc in each st across to final st, 2dc in final st, ss in row-end on next Segment, turn. [3 sts]
Row 5 Ch1, ss in next row-end up, dc in each st across, ss in row-end on next Segment, turn.
Rows 6-49 Rep Rows 4-5 another 22 times. [25 sts]
From here to the end, ss are only worked across the straight edge and not the decreasing edge.
Row 50 Ch1, ss in next row-end up, dc in each st to final 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [24 sts]
Row 51 Ch1, dc in each st across, ss in next row-end up, turn.
Rows 52-97 Rep Rows 50-51 another 23 times.
[1 dc] Fasten off.
Rep Rows 1-97 on each st from Round 1 using The Hague, Groningen, Leuven, Hilversum for each rem Segment. Ensure you work the same order on both Panels so they line up once joined.
TO MAKE UP
Weave in all ends.
With WS facing out, ss the Panels together until half a side is unjoined. Turn so RS is facing out, stuff firmly and sew the opening closed. Using White, make 5 pompoms. Tie pompoms off using Weert, as the Softy yarn can be fragile. Sew a pompom to each point of the Cushion.