HEART CUSHION
With the royal wedding on its way, this colourful cushion by Emma Leith will help you celebrate in style!
YOU WILL NEED
■ Rico Creative Reflection Print (46% wool, 46% acrylic, 8% polyester, 50g/240m), 1 ball of Candy (001), used doubled
■ Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran (100% wool, 50g/100m), 1 ball of Black (090)
■ Rico Creative Lamé (62% polyester, 38% polyamide, 25g/135m), 1 ball of Gold (002)
■ Rico Fashion Light Luxury (74% alpaca, 22% wool, 4% polyamide, 50g/130m), 2 balls of Neon Fuchsia (022)
■ Rico Ricorumi DK (100% cotton, 25g/58m), 2 balls of White (001), 1 ball of each: Black (036), Pale Pink (011), Yellow (006), Orange (026), Deep Red (029), Pale Blue (033), Pale Green (046)
■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook
■ A 4.5mm (US 7) hook
■ A 6mm (US J/10) hook
■ Heart-shaped cushion pad, 40cm (16in) (available from www. cushionwarehouse.co.uk)
For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk MEASUREMENTS
To fit a heart-shaped cushion pad measuring 40x40cm (16x16in)
ABBREVIATIONS
5-trcl (5-tr cluster) (Yrh, insert hook in sp/st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and pull through 2 loops) 5 times, inserting the hook in the same sp/st each time, yrh and draw through all loops on hook
4-dtrcl (4-dtr cluster) (Yrh twice, insert hook in sp/st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and pull through 2 loops twice) 4 times, inserting the hook in the same sp/st each time, yrh and draw through all loops on hook
For a full list, see page 92 The event of the summer? For sure. The event of the year? Could be… Emma Leith’s amazing flowery cushion is the ideal way to mark the occasion. It’s also a chance to try out a host of different stitches and techniques as you piece together this ode to Harry and Meghan. Make all the elements separately and stitch them together to create this gorgeous floral, gold-trimmed delight.
NOTES
Make all the elements of this piece before sewing any of it together. Candy is used held doubled, so you will need to wind off half of the ball to be able to hold 2 strands together. Alternatively, pull out the end of the ball from the centre and use the beginning and end of the ball at the same time.
HEART MAKE 2
Using Neon Fuchsia and a 6mm hook, ch2.
Row 1 2dc in second ch from hook, turn. [2 sts]
Row 2 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 2dc into each st, turn. [4 sts]
Row 3 (Inc row) 2dc in first st, dc in each st to last st, 2dc in last st, turn. [6 sts]
Row 4 As Row 3. [8 sts]
Row 5 (Plain row) Ch1, dc in each st to end, turn.
Row 6 As Row 3. [10 sts]
Row 7 As Row 3. [12 sts]
Row 8 As Row 5.
Row 9 As Row 3. [14 sts]
Row 10 As Row 5.
Row 11 As Row 3. [16 sts]
Row 12 As Row 5.
Row 13 As Row 3. [18 sts]
Row 14 As Row 3. [20 sts]
Row 15 As Row 5.
Row 16 As Row 3. [22 sts]
Row 17 As Row 3. [24 sts]
Row 18 As Row 3. [26 sts]
Row 19 As Row 5.
Row 20 As Row 3. [28 sts]
Rows 21-24 As Row 5.
Row 25 As Row 3. [30 sts]
Rows 26-27 As Row 5.
Row 28 As Row 3. [32 sts]
Rows 29-30 As Row 5.
Row 31 As Row 3. [34 sts]
Rows 32-34 As Row 5.
CURVES AT TOP OF HEART
Row 35 Ch1, 17dc, turn leaving remaining sts unworked.
Row 36 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in each st to end, turn. [16 sts] Row 37 Ch1, dc in each st to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [15 sts]
Row 38 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in each st to end, turn. [14 sts]
Row 39 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in each st to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [12 sts]
Rows 40-43 Repeat last row. [4 sts]
Fasten off.
Rejoin yarn in the next unworked st of Row 34 and repeat Rows 35-43.
HEART BORDER
The Border is worked around the Front Heart only.
Rejoin Neon Fuchsia at the bottom centre of one Heart.
Round 1 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 2dc in point of Heart, work a further 57dc evenly around outside edge to top centre of Heart, dc3tog over centre ‘indent’ of Heart (centre st), 57dc evenly around other side of Heart, working (2dc, ch2) into base of first st, ss to top of first dc, fasten off. [119 dc, ch-2 sp]
Change to Soft Merino Aran Black, and a 4.5mm hook.
Join in ch-sp at bottom of Heart with a ss. Round 2 Ch1, 2dc in ch-2 sp, dc in next 35 sts, (2dc in next st, dc in next st) 10 times, dc in next 3 sts, dc3tog over next st, centre st, and next st, (2dc in next st, dc in next st) 10 times, dc in each st to end, 2dc in ch-2 sp, ch2, ss to first dc. [141 dc, ch-2 sp]
In the following round, use 2 strands of Candy held together for the cluster sts only. Continue with Black for the other sts, changing between Candy and Black in the last yrh of the previous st.
Round 3 Ch2 (counts as htr), htr in next 2 sts, 5-tr cl in next st, (htr in next 3 sts, 5-tr cl in next st) 8 times, (htr in next st, 2htr in next st, htr in next st, 5-tr cl in next st) 7 times, (htr in next 3 sts, 5-tr cl in next st) htr in next st, htr3tog over next 3 sts, htr in next st, 5-tr cl in next st, htr in next 3 sts, (5-tr cl, htr in next st, 2htr in next st, htr in next st) 7 times, (5-tr cl in next st, htr in next 3 sts) 9 times, (5-tr cl, ch2, 5-tr cl) in ch-2 sp using Candy for all.
Round 4 With Black only, ch1, 7dc, (2dc in next st, 4dc) 7 times, 12dc, (2dc in next st, 4dc) 7 times, 2dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch-2 sp, ss to first dc, fasten off.
Round 5 Using 2 strands of Candy, ss into ch-2 sp, ch1, dc in each st around working (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch-2 sp, ss to first dc.
Fasten off.
SASH
MAIN PART
Using White and a 3.5mm hook, ch3, turn.
Row 1 Dc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, turn. [2 sts]
Row 2 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 2dc in first st, 1dc, turn.
Row 3 Ch1, dc in first 2 sts, 2dc in next st, turn. [4 sts]
Row 4 Ch2 (counts as htr), htr in same st, dc in next 3 sts, turn. [5 sts]
Row 5 Ch1, dc in next 4 sts, 2htr in last st, turn. [6 sts]
Row 6 Ch2, 2htr in next st, htr in next st, dc in next 3 sts, turn. [7 sts]
Row 7 Ch1, dc in next 5 sts, htr in each st across to last st, 2htr in last st, turn.
[8 sts]
Row 8 Ch2, 2htr in next st, htr in next st, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [9 sts]
Row 9 Repeat Row 7. [10 sts]
Row 10 Ch2, 2htr in next st, htr in next 3 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [11 sts]
Row 11 Repeat Row 7. [12 sts]
Row 12 Ch2, 2htr in next st, htr in next 5 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [13 sts]
Row 13 Repeat Row 7. [14 sts]
Row 14 Ch2, 2htr in next st, htr in next 7 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [15 sts]
Row 15 Ch1, dc in next 5 sts, htr in each st across, turn. [15 sts]
Row 16 Ch2, htr in next 9 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [15 sts]
Rows 17-30 Repeat Rows 15 and 16 seven times more.
Rows 31-46 Ch1, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 47 Ch2, htr in next 9 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [15 sts]
Row 48 Ch1, dc in next 5 sts, htr in each st across, turn. [15 sts]
Rows 49-60 Repeat Rows 47-48 six times.
Row 61 Ch2, htr2tog, htr in next 7 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [14 sts]
Row 62 Ch1, dc in next 5 sts, htr in each st across to last 2 sts, htr2tog, turn. [13 sts]
Row 63 Ch2, htr2tog, htr in next 5 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [12 sts]
Row 64 Repeat Row 62. [11 sts]
Row 65 Ch2, htr2tog, htr in next 3 sts, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [10 sts]
Row 66 Repeat Row 62. [9 sts]
Row 67 Ch2, htr2tog, htr in next st, dc in next 5 sts, turn. [8 sts]
Row 68 Repeat Row 62. [7 sts]
Row 69 Ch2, htr2tog, dc in next 4 sts, turn. [6 sts]
Row 70 Ch1, dc across to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [5 sts]
Row 71 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, turn. [4 sts]
Row 72 Ch1, dc across to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [3 sts]
Row 73 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in next st, do not fasten off. [2 sts]
BORDER
Round 1 Using White ch1, dc evenly around edge of Sash, ss to first dc to join, fasten off.
Round 2 Join Gold in first st, ch1, dc in each dc around, ss to first dc to join. Fasten off.
SASH ENDS MAKE 2
Using White and a 3.5mm hook, ch16, turn.
Row 1 (RS) Dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn. [15 sts]
Rows 2-4 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in each dc across, turn. [15 sts]
Row 5 (RS) Ch1, dc in first 7 dc, turn leaving remaining sts unworked. [7 sts]
Row 6 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in each dc across, turn. [6 sts]
Row 7 Ch1, dc in each dc across to last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. [5 sts]
Rows 8-9 Repeat Rows 6-7. [3 sts]
Row 10 Repeat Row 6. [2 sts]
Row 11 Ch1, dc2tog, fasten off.
With WS facing, join yarn in first st of Row 4, repeat Rows 5-11, do not fasten off.
BORDER
Round 1 Using White, ch1, dc evenly around edge of Sash End working (2dc, ch2, 2dc) into each point and skipping the unworked dc in Row 4 in the centre of the Sash End, ss to first dc to join, fasten off. Round 2 Join Gold in first st, ch1, dc in each dc around working (2dc, ch2, 2dc) into each ch-2 sp, ss to first dc to join. Fasten off.
LETTERS ‘H’ AND ‘M’
All elements of letters are worked with Ricorumi Black and a 3.5mm hook with WS facing when positioning to form letters.
LEFT SWIRL OF ‘H’ AND ‘M’
Ch58, ss in 3rd ch from hook to make picot, skip next 2 ch, tr in next ch, htr in next ch, dc in next 24 ch, ss in next 2 ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to Sash.
RIGHT VERTICAL OF ‘H’
Ch39, ss in 3rd ch from hook to make picot, skip next 2 ch, tr in next ch, htr in next ch, dc in next 11 ch, ss in next 11 ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to Sash.
HORIZONTAL OF ‘H’ AND RIGHT VERTICAL OF ‘M’
Ch20, ss in 3rd ch from hook to make picot, skip next 2 ch, tr in next ch, htr in next ch, dc in next 11 ch, ss in next 2 ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to Sash.
RIGHT SIDE OF THE ‘V’ IN ‘M’
Ch16, ss in 3rd ch from hook to make picot, skip next 2 ch, tr in next ch, dc in next 7 ch, ss in next ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to Sash.
LEFT SIDE OF THE ‘V’ IN ‘M’
Ch15.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to Sash.
SMALL HEART
Using Deep Red and a 3.5mm hook, make a magic ring.
Round 1 Ch2 (counts as htr), 9htr into ring, ss to top of beg ch-2 to join. [10 htr]
Round 2 Ch3, (tr, 2dtr) in same st, 2tr in next st, htr in next st, 2dc in next st, htr in next st, ch3, ss to 3rd ch from hook, htr in next st, 2dc in next st, htr in next st, 2tr in next st, (2dtr, tr, ch3, ss) in last st, fasten off.
Round 3 Join Gold in first st, (dc, ch1) in each st around, working (dc, ch3, ss to 3rd ch from hook into point at bottom of Heart, ss to first dc to join.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to Sash.
SMALL FLOWERS MAKE 11
Make 11 Flowers, varying the colours of Petals in Round 2 using the image as a guide.
Using Ricorumi Black and a 3.5mm hook, make magic ring.
Round 1 Ch3 (counts as tr throughout) 11tr into ring, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join,
fasten off. [12 sts]
Round 2 Join your choice of Ricorumi yarn in any st, *ch3, 4-dtrcl in next st, ch3, ss in next st; repeat from * 5 times more. [6 petals]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Using Gold and a tapestry needle, embroider 6 French knots into the centre of the Flower using the image as a guide.
LARGE FLOWERS MAKE 2
Make 2 Flowers using Deep Red for the petals. Round 3 Working with the back of the Flower facing, join Deep Red around the post of any stitch in Round 1 with a 3.5mm hook, ch1 (does not count as st), dc around same post, *ch2, skip next post, dc around next post; repeat from *4 times more, ch2, ss to first ch-2 sp to join. [6dc and 6 ch-2 sp] Round 4 Ch2 (counts as htr) 3htr in same ch-2 sp, (4htr in next ch-2 sp) 5 times, ss to top of beg ch-2 to join.
Round 5 *Ch3, 4-dtrcl in next st, ch3, ss in each of next 2 sts; repeat from *7 times more, fasten off. [8 petals]
With RS facing, turn all petals so they curve into the centre of the Flower.
LEAF MAKE 19
Make 6 in Pale Green and 13 in Gold. With a 3.5mm hook, ch11, ss in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch, htr in next ch, tr in next ch, dtr in each of next 3 ch, tr in next ch, htr in next ch, dc in in last 3 ch, rotate to work along opposite side of starting ch, htr in next ch, tr in next ch, dtr in each of next 3 ch, tr in next ch, htr in next ch, dc in in next ch, ss to next ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
LARGE ROSE
Using Deep Red and a 3.5mm hook, ch27, turn.
Row 1 Dc in 3rd ch from hook, (ch2, skip next ch, dc in next ch) 12 times, turn.
Row 2 Ch2 (counts as htr) 4htr in next ch-2 sp, ss in next dc, (5htr in next ch-2 sp, ss in next dc) 4 times, (5tr in next ch-2 sp, ss in next dc) times, turn.
Row 3 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in same st, (2dc in each of next 5 sts, ss in next ss) 12 times.
Fasten off, leaving a 20cm tail for sewing Rose together.
Row 4 Join Gold in first st, ch1, dc in first st, 2dc in next st, (dc in next st, 2dc in next st) 4 times, spike st in dc directly below in Row 1, *(dc in next st, 2dc in next st) 5 times, spike st in dc directly below in Row 1; repeat from * across. Fasten off.
TO MAKE UP ROSE
Starting with the small petal in the middle wrap the strip around itself to form the Rose. Carefully turn the Rose over, thread yarn needle with long tail and sew Row 1 together to keep the rose in shape.
TO MAKE UP
Take the Front Heart (main piece with the Border), with RS facing, work surface crochet around the perimeter of the Pink Heart using Gold and a 3.5mm hook, Fasten off.
Using the image as a guide and with all pieces of the Letters with WS facing up, pin the Letters into place on the Main Sash leaving a central space for the Small Heart. Using the tails of the Letters, sew securely into place and weave in all ends. Sew Small Heart to the centre of the Sash and the Large Flowers and 4 green Leaves at either edge.
Position the Sash across the Front Heart ensuring the edges meet up. Sew securely into place.
Position the Sash Ends, using the image as a guide, and sew securely into place. Position the Flowers and Leaves onto the Heart using the image as a guide and sew securely into place. Weave in all ends. Using Neon Pink and a tapestry needle, sew the Front and Back Hearts together around the perimeter with WS facing leaving an opening for inserting the cushion pad. Insert pad and sew the remaining edge closed.