How To Make My Easy (FAST) Extreme Crochet Cushion Using ' Wooltops ' Yarn
What you'll need :
- 500g Wool Tops in one or more colours (I used white - undyed - and then used Pale Yellow Olive in the Live Tutorial and some of the pics below)
- 30mm Crochet Hook
- 1 x Fat Quarter of Fabric (I used the Odile Singapore Blue)
- 2m pompom trim (I used Giant Cream)
- Mini Felt Bundle for the Flowers and Leaves
- Mother of Pearl Buttons for flower centres
- Needle & Matching Thread + back closure / fastening
Extreme Knitting or Extreme Crochet (also referred to as Giant Knitting and Giant Crochet) is now - understandably - very popular. Making snuggly oversized blankets and home accessories to cozy up to is definitely a worthwhile cause and let's face it, look inviting, textural plus not to mention rather chic too! :-)
And of course - using 'Wool Tops' for this process (as giant 'yarn') is sumptuously perfect. We stock this 100% soft, responsibly reared Merino Wool Tops in over 70 different colours - to match every possible interior.
There are are a number of fabulous projects for Giant Crochet and also Giant Knitting in my book "Easy Stuff to Make with Fluff" :
...including a couple of cute little rugs, a plant pot, a stole, and this rather fabulous floor cushion :
And now I've designed the cushion in this project too, which takes just 500g of Wool Tops, and is SUPER FAST to make! (No really - I'm talking about half an hour to crochet the front - if that!) :-)
To Crochet the Cushion Front:
1. Make a loop and another 4 chains (so 5 chains in all)
2. Slip stitch into the first chain to make a ring. You will now work around the ring using UK double crochet stitches (US: single crochet).
3. Work 2 double crochet into each chain or stitch for two 'rounds'. Keep you work as loose as possible so it lies as flat as possible (instead of becoming concave!)
4. Work 1 double crochet and 2 double crochet into alternate stitches for following round/s until you run out of yarn! Weave in ends at back. Et Voila! :-)
Making the Cushion Back, attaching it all together and adding the pompom trim:
1. Cut 2 x Deep semi circles from your fat quarter cotton (or felt) back fabric. I drew around the finished crochet front leaving about a 1" seam allowance for sizing.
2. Hem each straight edge. Place the right sides of the crochet cushion and the overlapping cotton pieces together. Pin, tack and sew - I hand sewed, but you could use a machine if you have the correct foot to fit the wool tops underneath!
3. Turn the cushion out the right way. Pin and then hand sew the pompom trim around the edge using a matching thread and taking care to make sure the pompoms hang in the correct direction! (I wanted mine hanging forwards).
4. Cut and sew on the little felt flowers : to make one flower, cut a circle of felt approx 1.5 - 2" in diameter. Snip in a 12, 3, 6, and 9 o clock to create 4 equal segments. Then snip in between each of those to create 8 segments. Carefully 'round off' each flower petal. Cut leaves from green. Pin then sew in place randomly around the crochet cushion, adding mother of pearl buttons for flower centres.
5. Add a round cushion pad OR stuff with polyester toy stuffing ( I used about 2.5 bags). Add a button closure or some velcro, or a couple of snap fasteners at the back where the fabric flap is.
{KNITTERS : To make a 'square' knitted version of this cushion - I'd cast on approx 7 stitches on 30mm knitting needles. Then knit until you run out of wool tops.}
To join two different pieces of wool tops or two different colours together, simply overlap the tapered ends by about 6 inches, then tie the two pieces together using some contrasting yarn. Carry on knitting or crocheting with it as normal, and then when your piece is finished remove the yarn holding it together. The two pieces should be well enough entwined in your crochet or knitting to stay put. If you feel like they aren't, then add a few stitches in a matching thread.
(Here is the crocheted "Granny Square" Giant wool tops rug from my book "Easy Stuff to Make with Fluff".) ENJOY! x