COLOURFUL COMFORT

Measurements

Cushion: 38cm/15in square to fit a 40cm/15¾in cushion pad.
Throw: 114cm/45in square.

Materials

Blue Cushion: 1 x 100g ball in Blue
(Empire 1829); 1 x 100g ball in Grey
(Graphite 1063); 1 x 100g ball in Cream
(1005); 40cm cushion pad.
Blue Throw: 5 x 100g balls in Blue
(Empire 1829); 3 x 100g balls in Grey
(Graphite 1063); 3 x 100g balls in Cream (1005).
Pair of 3.75mm (No. 9) knitting needles.

Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk.

Tension

24 stitches and 48 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over garter stitch, using 3.75mm needles. Each square measures 19cm.

Abbreviations

St(s), stitch(es); k, knit; tog, together (decrease, by working as many sts together as stated); inc, increase 1 st (by working into same st twice); up1, pick up loop lying between needles and k into back of it (to increase 1 st); k2togb, k2tog through back of sts; sk2po, slip 1 st, k2tog, pass slipped st over the k2tog (to decrease 2 sts).

Note: Each cushion is made of 8 squares and each throw is made of 36 squares. Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Instructions in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket.

Method

With 3.75mm needles and Blue, cast on 93 sts.
1st row: K45, sk2po, k45 – 91 sts.
2nd row: K to end.
3rd row: K44, sk2po, k44 – 89 sts
4th row: K to end.
5th row: K43, sk2po, k43 – 87 sts
6th row: K to end.
Continue in this way, following the colour sequence below, working one less st before and after centre decrease on alternate rows.
7th to 18th rows: Work 12 further rows – 75 sts.
19th to 34th rows: With Grey, work 16 further rows – 59 sts

35th to 38th rows: With Cream, work 4 further rows – 55 sts.
39th to 50th rows: With Blue, work 12 further rows – 43 sts.
51st to 54th rows: With Grey, work 4 further rows – 39 sts. Change to Cream.
55th to 88th rows: Work 34 further rows – 5 sts.
89th row: K1, sk2po, k1 – 3 sts.
90th row: K3.
91st row: K3tog – 1 st.
Fasten off remaining st.

To make up

Cushion: Using image as a guide, join four squares together to form one large square for front. Join four squares together in same way for back. Sew bottom and side seams. Insert cushion pad. Join remaining seam.

Throw: Using image as a guide, join four squares together to form one large square, then make eight more large squares in the same way. Join nine large squares together in three rows of three squares.