A KNITTED CUSHION

Hi everyone,

I’ve been a tad remiss in getting some blog posts up this week, but finally I have something.

I may have mentioned that I wanted to knit a cushion, you know like those lovely ones you can buy that are all cable knit.  I know you can buy old sweaters at thrift stores, but I did worry about cutting the knitted garment and if all the wool would unravel, so I forced myself to knit.

Now to get this into perspective you gotta realize I haven’t knitted anything for 30 years!  I so relied on the grandparents to do the knitting for our children!

Another confession – I can knit plain stitch and purl, but don’t ask me to do them together! And follow a pattern – that aint going to happen as I’m definitely challenged in that department.

 

So I got me some needles and wool and knitted – plain stitch all the way.  I had no idea how big to make it, etc, which really was a big oopsie on my part because realistically I had no idea what I was doing. But I just kept on knitting and it was rather therapeutic to be doing a craft while my life was chaotic with bereavements and STUFF.

Then there was the saga of how to stitch it together.

Well, I eventually figured I would crotchet it together.  That worked. Doesn’t look too bad.

Next problem.  How to attach the little crocheted loops I was going to use for the toggle buttons I also had to figure out how to attach.  – Seriously I think I’m challenged, but I did eventually get it sorted.

Only then I lost the toggle buttons I had specifically brought. Couldn’t find them anywhere.  So I went out and brought some more and oh, yeah, my daughter found the lost toggle buttons after I got home with the new ones.

Dilemma – I liked both styles. Which do I use?

Finally the loops are in place, the toggles are in place, and I used an old cushion inner, cutting it down to fit.  I think my cushion has that homemade rustic look don’t you think?  Not perfect, but I made it and that's what counts.

Next it’s onto finishing the crotchet blanket my mother was doing.  That is coming along nicely, once I figured out how to go around the corners!

Happy days and hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.

Jane

PS - okay yes, that is cat hair on the sofa and shock, horror some grit in the grooves of the dining table.  See, definitely perfect, but it is the home we all love.

A LITTLE ADDICTION

Hi everyone

I have a confession.  A secret addiction… well not so secret to my family though.  I am addicted to cushions.  All colors, styles, sizes, shapes. Blinged up, or not.  With frills, sequins, lace, embroidery, or just plain.  I love them.  The Hubby of course just dumps them rather unceremoniously onto the floor.  He thinks they’re simply bits of unnecessary fluff while I however think they give that extra little bit of  ‘pretty’ to a room.  They are of course rather helpful to moi.  I’m short, so a little bit of added puff from behind in the shape of a cushion does not go amiss.

The oldest cushions I appeared in one of my first posts.

This was my mother in laws and is ever the more special as she passed away just two weeks ago. 

The other vintage cushion was embroidered by my mother.  

 But there is one that is rather special.  It’s tatty, the picture that was once on it now long gone.  But I’ll never throw it out.  

This was given to me by The Hubby – before he had that title.  We’d only just met, (on a blind date) and I came down with the flu.  He arrived with a big box and inside was this heart shaped cushion.  That was 32 years ago!

The next rather special cushion is this one.

It’s patterned fabric that is then embroidered over the pattern and this was made by my daughter, Yana.

Here is a sampling of the cushions from around the house.  

 And the cushion covers that are in storage

My most recent purchase 

Cushions can be expensive so I definitely look out for them in sales.  I have been known to sew them of course.  There were the scarlet and purple velvet cushions that went on my black leather sofa in the 90s.  Then there was the floral and frilly things that were part of my country theme in the 80s. 

Then of course there are the themed cushions  - well I only have one, but...

Now I have a penchant for another type of cushion.  Something knitted.  Me knitting.  I mean I’ve only ever knitted four times in my life and one of those was sitting beside my Nana as she taught me.  Please don’t ask me to follow a pattern, or to knit plain and purl stitch at the same time.  It’ll be one, or the other.  That’s it.  But then, it doesn’t have to be perfect, does it.  It’s all about the journey, the doing, and it has to be fun.

When my youngest daughter arrived home last night  this was the response

Mum, you’re knitting.

Well, yes, I can do it you know

Would you knit me a scarf?

You could do it yourself

Oh, but mum, you’re so good at knitting.

Hah!   I looked down at the wool in my lap.  I am aren’t I?  I haven’t dropped a stitch yet!

Happy days – and knitting

Do pop back to see the progress.

Jane