Desert Cushion

Lately it seems there is a lot to be grateful and thankful for.

Today it is once again because of all of you that I feel that way.  I posted my new shawl pattern last week and you've  been absolute darlings about it, you really have.  Wonderful, supportive and just plain brilliant.  Thank you so much to everyone who has brought a copy, I really hope you enjoy making and wearing your shawls too!



In other news, it's been slow going on the crafty front around here lately.  There seems to be a lot going on and a lot to think about in our little family at the moment and peaceful crochet time has been in shorter supply than usual.  I have been very busy beavering away at my computer screen though.  Working up patterns, tutorials and other exciting crafty related treats for the weeks to come.

In the meantime though, do you find, like I do, that's it's actually incredibly hard to finish up all those left over bits and bobs of yarn from other projects?  I seen to have great difficulty with this.  Either I don't have the right colour, or the right weight, or quite the right amount to do what I have in mind.  So when I do dip into stash, I often either end up buying another colour, or running out something and needing a new ball, which then of course, has some left over at the end.

So my aim with this cushion was to make it completely from stash, working just from what I have and nothing else.  I had quite a collection of Baby Cashmerino at one time and I have lots of old bits and pieces left over, mostly in old discontinued colours, so I can't buy more even if I wanted too.

So I set about making squares.  The palette was mostly dictated by the colours I had, rather than my choices, with the exception of a few omitted on the grounds that I felt they really wouldn't work.  It was a quirky mix that I ended up with, but have a look what it made...



Do you like it?  I really, really do.  I think it's kind of zesty and zingy.

What amazes me is how good it manages to look with so little consideration of the colours.  I mean, you agonise over these things sometimes, pondering your choices, removing this colour, adding another, changing them back again, never quite sure what to do for the best.  Then, there's this, where I pulled out all the colours I had that I didn't have enough to do anything else with and shoved them in a basket and set to work and that was it.  It makes me wonder why I think so long and hard about these things the majority of the time - perhaps winging it is the way forward.

The other thing I love about this cushion is the way I joined the squares together.  It's nothing fancy, just through the back loop with double crochet (that's sc's for my US friends).  It's something I've been wanting to do for ages but I've just never found the right thing to use it on.  I've seen it used by other people a million times and to great effect, but  I've always ripped it out whenever I've tried it before.

It's those ridges  it creates that get me, they seem like vast mountain ranges that turn each square into a deep valley.  I almost, almost ripped it out this time too, but I'm so glad I didn't.  I love the white gridline effect and I even love the mountains and valleys, on this cushion at least.


And to show that this is really and truly a project of odd and ends only, take a look at the back.  A mismatched and 'grandma's old granny square blanket' piece of crochet as you'll ever see I think.  I very nearly raided my stash to find a nice new ball to make the back entirely cream but then I stopped myself.  No, the idea was to use up pieces of leftover yarn only and so I forced myself to work only with what I had left.

I confess, my neat, ordered, logical mind really wants that back to be all cream still.  It screams a little tiny bit to see the randomness of those colours, the disorder of one row in a colour and then three in another with no pattern or sense or cohesion to it at all.  It unsettles me.  But in another way I do love that it means it really is a true scrap cushion.  Left overs only.  Nothing new was brought, the cushion pad is from another cushion, it makes use of only what I already have.

Waste not, want not.  Nanna would be proud.

  






: : DESERT CUSHION : :

Pattern:
Squares from a pattern by Sidsel J. Høivik
Tutorial for Tiny Little Coat Squares by Lucy of Attic 24

Yarn: Scraps of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (mostly)
Hook: 3.5mm (3 USA)

Ravelry Page

  



S x





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Comments

  1. Such a pretty cushion Sandra.
    Kate x

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  2. Oh I love that, and I especially love the idea of limiting yourself to only use what you have, it actually resonates with me at this moment :-) I do like the back as well, I understand what you mean about the cream, but the back is pretty in itself, really.

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  3. I love it! I'm just starting your loopy lou poncho, exciting! x

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  4. I also love your cushion join! AND... I have felt the exact same way about joining that way myself. I'm not sure why but it has also been my experience to rip it out and go back to join as you go but lately I've really really been wanting to produce a pillow with tiny little squares JUST as you have - and maybe after reading your post I will follow through. Sher

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  5. It's wonderful! I don't know why but the dc fames make me think of thimble display cases! Not sure why my mind jumped there lol. Very inspired to have a go at one myself :)

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  6. Your cushion is so pretty, and the colours go so well together!

    Carys x
    http://thenimblemouse.blogspot.co.uk/

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  7. The cushion is so cute. All these little squares with lots of colors. I love it.

    Lisa

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  8. You have made something truely beautiful from odds and ends x

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  9. I love it. It's a great way to use up those pesky scraps. I may have to git this a go soon. I think I have lots of bits of yarn right now.

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  10. I love your little scraps of yarn cushion of tiny squares and the ridge formed by joining that way is so pretty. Well done! I'm making a scrapghan topping for an ugly footstool at the moment. It's looking good too and I'm using up all my odd ends and joining on the third row with dark grey. Very satisfying.

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  11. It's beautiful and I really like the back, especially the way you didn't stick to just one round for each color. It's eclectic and interesting.

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  12. Iam loving these teeny squares that make up your cushion and those colours are just lovely and bright and fresh looking great job!

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  13. I really like your cushions.- The small square one looks particularly fetching.
    I have also before been rather intimidated by a crocheted finish, as opposed to sewing them together, but it works very well on your small square pillow cover! I might just give it a go one day. It is good with some inspiration as to what to do with scraps of yarn, thank you:)

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  14. Sandra, this is absolutely beautiful and a perfect way to use up the odds and ends. Gorgeous xx

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  15. Love it! I'm a big fan of not planning colours ahead of time - my philosophy is that if you use enough colours (i.e. 30+) then they stop clashing and just look awesome together! I have been told that my taste is a bit bright though ;)

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  16. Oooh, I love it! The colours are so cheerful, and the square pattern is lovelyl. I'm a fan of the ridged join in general, but I think it works especially well here - gorgeous!
    Maria x
    dinkidots.blogspot.com

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  17. Such a pretty cushion, and now you've made space to buy some more yarn!! x

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  18. It's beautiful, you're right, it's fresh and zingy! I love the way all the colours work together.

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  19. That is a great idea to make a cushion or any project using only stash, I love it :) xx

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  20. It is very pretty and really good colour combinations for having been made from what you had. I like the back and the fact that it isn't all even in terms of numbers of rows and so on as I think that just adds to the look of the whole thing! Great job I think!! I hope that you love it too. xx

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  21. Gorgeous cushion, the colours are fabulous. I great use of odds and ends of yarn. Beautiful.

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  22. It is gorgeous, you did a fantastic job.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  23. I have difficulties using my leftover stash too, and for the same reasons. Your cushion is very inspiring and so cheerful :-)
    Tracey xxx

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  24. So lovely! I think a big reason why the random colours work here is because of your raised joins - it's like each square has its own little frame, so is a tiny work all on it's own, joined with all the other pretty framed squares. Brilliant! Chrissie x

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  25. Congratulations Sandra, I feel for you, you were obviously working far out of your 'comfort zone'. I think its good to know you can pick up the left over pieces and put them together to create such a wonderful thing and feel so good about it. Goes without saying 'that's life'. We all need to practice the lesson. Thank you.

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  26. I loved your shawl, but I Absolutely love the cushion! It is so lovely and bright and the colors look fabulous together, against the white. Well done! xxoo

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  27. It is so lovely-I too have always been scared of joining this way because of those ridges, but it looks amazing!

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  28. It's very beautiful, a new subscriber, Cil

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  29. Simply adorable...and the colour choices glorious as always!
    xx

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  30. I'm loving that this has such a regular texture ... your mountains and valleys certainly work for me :)

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  31. I do the same thing, agonizing over color choices. I drive myself so mad that I never even get the project started. This is beautiful and the fact that you have discontinued colors makes it even more precious. It reminded me of a color chart of yarn, and, isn't that what gets us so excited? All those colors??? I love it!

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  32. You are so right about letting go with the colours - I over-think my colour choices way too much when trying to be random. Yours have worked beautifully here - you do have quite a distinctive palate in your work and your scraps represent this, so this cushion still feels very you. I love the ridged effect and may try it on my next cushion. x

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  33. That cushion is so pretty - the colours are so bright and fresh!

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  34. I'm doing that but with a blanket. Not sure it's going to get very big though....

    Love your cushion, so cheerful x

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  35. Its just beautiful and I love the way the white brings out the vivid colours.

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  36. I am proud!lol I think this is the best yet but then again, I say that about every new project of yours, Sandra! I love the colourwork in this one especially.x

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  37. Pretty cushion! And how lovely to put to such a pretty use all of those leftover bits of wool...

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  38. It is absolutely lovely! Very impressed with the way it turned out! I am currently working on puff stitch flowers with all of my scraps. I will sew them into a blanket when I'm done. Quite the undertaking!

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  39. Man do
    I love this cushion. Been working on my squares every night after work
    and it is so much fun. I have been resisting the urge to lay them out and
    see out they look because I know if I do, I will try to control the color
    selection and I really want it to be as random as possible. Your color
    choices really produced a bright design and I really hope mine is even half as
    pretty.

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