Maz and Coral

Go for a spot of retro styling with Maz and Coral, our gorgeous granny square cushions by Susie Johns

Granny squares are fantastic for newbies to crochet. Instead of working into a stitch, you insert the hook through a hole which makes it much easier to see what you're doing. These fab designs by Susie Johns show two different ideas for making a granny square cushion. Maz features one large square, while Coral comprises nine smaller shapes sewn together. As the cushion covers have holes you will be able to see the cushion pad underneath, so why not make a simple cotton fabric cover in a contrasting colour. We used pale blue for Maz and red for Coral, and it helps give the cushions a really professional finish.

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK, Maz: (A) shade 157 Yellow Submarine, (B) shade 138 Waterbaby, (C) shade 156 Sailboat, one 50g ball of each, (D) shade 150 Dungaree Denim, two 50g balls; Coral: (A) shade 128 Tigger, (B) shade 157 Yellow Submarine, (C) shade 155 Limey, one 50g ball of each (D) shade 154 Poppy, two 50g balls
Hook: 3.5mm
Tapestry needle
Cushion pads: 35cm x 35cm, two
Fabric: cotton, pale blue and red (to cover cushion pads)
NOTE: one ball of shade 157 Yellow Submarine is enough for both cushions

About the yarn
Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK is a popular and versatile yarn, which blends 80% bamboo viscose with 20% wool. These cushion covers can be machine washed on a gentle cycle at up to 40°C but should not be tumble dried. With more than 30 lovely shades to choose from, you can easily make these cushions in the colours of your choice!

Need an alternative?
Few yarns have the vast range of shades as the stated yarn, but any soft cotton DK would work well as a substitute. Twilley’s Freedom Sincere comes in much paler shades but is a fab organic option, as the cotton has been grown on land which has been free of chemicals for at least three years and is then coloured using non-toxic dyes.

MAZ PATTERN

Cushion panel (make two)
NOTE: do not turn the work when changing colour Using 3.5mm hook and yarn A, make 4ch, join with sl st to first ch to make a ring
❑ Rnd 1: 3ch, 2tr in ring, 3ch, (3tr in ring, 3ch) three times, join with sl st to third of 3ch, turn
❑ Rnd 2: 3ch, 2tr in 3-ch sp, 3ch, 3tr in same 3-ch sp, 1ch, * (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in next 3-ch sp, 1ch, rep from * twice more, join with sl st to third of 3ch
Cut yarn A and join yarn B to any 3-ch corner sp
❑ Rnd 3: 3ch, 2tr in 3-ch sp, 3ch, 3tr in same 3-ch sp, 1ch, 3tr in 1-ch sp, 1ch, * (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in next 3-ch sp, 1ch, 3tr in next 1-ch sp, 1ch, rep from * twice more, join with sl st to third of 3ch, turn
❑ Rnd 4: 3ch, 2tr in 1-ch sp, 1ch, 3tr in next 1-ch sp, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in corner sp, 1ch, * (3tr in next 1-ch sp, 1ch) twice, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in corner sp, 1ch, rep from * twice more, join with sl st to third of 3ch, turn
❑ Rnd 5: 3ch, 2tr in 1-ch sp, 1ch, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in corner sp
❑ Cont as in previous rnds, working (3tr, 1ch) in each 1-ch sp along each straight edge and (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in each corner sp
Cut yarn B and join yarn C to any corner sp
❑ Work four rnds
Cut yarn C and join yarn D to any corner sp
❑ Work nine rnds
❑ Fasten off

To make up

Press all pieces lightly on the reverse, using a damp cloth. Place back and front together, right sides out and, using a contrasting colour (yarn C), work a row of dc all round (1dc in each st and 3dc in each corner), inserting hook through corresponding edge stitches on both pieces and creating a neat raised seam.
Before completing fourth side, slip cushion pad inside cover then close the gap

CORAL PATTERN

Granny squares (make 18)
NOTE: do not turn the work for this design
Using a 3.5mm hook and yarn A, make 4ch, join with sl st to first ch to make a ring
❑ Rnd 1: 3ch, 2tr in ring, 3ch, (3tr in ring, 3ch) three times, join with sl st to third of 3ch
Cut yarn and join yarn B to any 3-ch sp
❑ Rnd 2: 3ch, 2tr in 3-ch sp, 3ch, 3tr in same 3-ch sp, 1ch, * (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in next 3-ch sp, 1ch, rep from * twice more, join with sl st to third of 3ch
Cut yarn B and join yarn C to any 3-ch corner sp
❑ Rnd 3: 3ch, 2tr in 3-ch sp, 3ch, 3tr in same 3-ch sp, 1ch, 3tr in 1-ch sp, 1ch, * (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in next 3-ch sp, 1ch, 3tr in next 1-ch sp, 1ch, rep from * twice more, join with sl st to third of 3ch
Cut yarn C and join yarn D to any 3-ch corner sp
❑ Rnd 4: 4ch, * (3tr in next 1-ch sp, 1ch) twice, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in next corner sp, 1ch, rep from * twice more, (3tr in next 1-ch space) twice, (3tr, 3ch, 2tr) in corner sp; join with sl st to third of 4ch
❑ Rnd 5: sl st in next 1-ch sp, 3ch, 2tr in same sp, 1ch, (3tr in next 1-ch sp, 1ch) twice, * (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in corner sp, 1ch, (3tr in next 1-ch sp, 1ch) three times, rep from * twice more, (3tr, 3ch, 3tr in rem corner sp, 1ch, join with sl st to third of 3ch
❑ Fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn for sewing up

To make up

Press all pieces lightly on the reverse, using a damp cloth. Using a grafting technique for the neatest finish, join nine squares to make the front and do the same for the back.
Using yarn D, work a border of two rnds, working (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in each corner sp and (3tr, 1ch) in each sp along straight edges, as before.
Place back and front together, right sides out and, using a contrasting colour (yarn A) finish as for Maz.

Pattern Images

Click any of the images below to see a larger, clearer shot

Measurements and sizes

Finished size: 36cm x 36cm
Tension: One finished square on Coral meas
11cm x 11cm, using a 3.5mm hook

Copyright notice

All items from patterns published by http://www.letsknit.co.uk are for personal use only and cannot be sold. Copies of patterns and tutorials published by http://www.letsknit.co.uk cannot be sold

Cover up
Due to the holes in the granny squares you are able to see the cushion pad beneath so make a simple cover out of fabric – budget polycotton or lining fabric will suffice. Aim for a close colour match to the yarn used or why not choose a contrasting shade to make it part of the design. Measure the cushion pad, then cut out two panels of fabric the same size, adding a couple of cm for the seam allowance. With RS facing, pin and sew around the edges, leaving a gap in one side to insert the pad. Clip the corners then turn out the right way. Push in the pad, then hand sew the gap closed.

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