Come to my pad

Veronica Shaw's Lily cushion is great for brightening up the outdoors

Knitted in a sleek cotton yarn with a pretty sheen, this gorgeous cushion is a really eye-catching make for your outdoor living area. It combines a range of different techniques including a simple, pretty crochet flower. A similar effect could also be made using lengths of i-cord if you haven't mastered the hook yet. The cushion is worked in the round in two separate halves and also features beading and eyelet techniques.

Lilly Pattern - Back

? Thread 96 beads onto yarn A
? Using 3.5mm dpns and yarn B cast on 24 sts. Distribute evenly across three needles and join in the rnd
? Rnd 1: k every st tbl
? Rnd 2: * kfb, k1, rep from * 11 more times. 36 sts
? Rnd 3 and every alt rnd: k
? Rnd 4: * kfb, k2, rep from * 11 more times. 48 sts
? Rnd 6: * kfb, k3, rep from * 11 more times. 60 sts
? Rnd 8: * kfb, k4, rep from * 11 more times. 72 sts
? Rnd 10: * kfb, k5, rep from * 11 more times. 84 sts
? Rnd 12: * kfb, k6, rep from * 11 more times. 96 sts
? Change to yarn A
? Rnd 13: k
? Rnd 14: * kfb, k7, rep from * 11 more times 108 sts
? Rnd 15: * k1, wyif sl 1 pwise, pb, yb, rep from * to end
? Rnd 16: * kfb, k8, rep from * 11 more times. 120 sts
? Rnd 18: * kfb, k9, rep from * 11 more times. 132 sts
? Cont inc as set 12 times on every even numbered rnd until Rnd 25. 168 sts Change to 40cm circular needle
? Cont inc as set 12 times on every even numbered rnd until Rnd 46. 300 sts
? Rnd 47: * k1, wyif sl 1 pwise, pb, yb, rep from * to end
? Rnd 48: * kfb, k24, rep from * 11 more times. 312 sts Change to 60cm circular needle and yarn B
? Cont inc as set until Rnd 55
? Rnd 56: k2tog to end
? Cast off loosely but do not break yarn

Front

? Thread 96 beads onto yarn A
? Using 3.5mm dpns cast on 24 sts. Distribute sts evenly over three needles and join in the rnd
? Rnd 1: k every st tbl
? Rnd 2: * yfwd, k2, rep from * 11 more times. 36 sts
? Rnds 3, 5 and 7: k
? Rnd 4: * yfwd, k3, rep from * 11 more times. 48 sts
? Rnd 6: * yfwd, k4, rep from * 11 more times. 60 sts
? Rnd 8: * yfwd, k3, wyif sl 1 pwise, pb, yb, k1, rep from * 11 times more. 72 sts
? Rnd 9: * k3, bb once, rep from * 11 times more
? Rnd 10: * yfwd, k6, rep from * 11 more times. 84 sts
? Rnd 11: k
? Rnd 12: * yfwd, k7, rep from * 11 more times. 96 sts
? Rnd 13: k
? Rnd 14: * yfwd, k5, pm, k1, yfwd, sl 1 pwise, pb, yb, k1, rep from * 11 more times. 108 sts
? Rnd 15: * k6, slip marker, bb once, rep from * 11 more times
? Rnd 16: * yfwd, k6, slip marker, k3, rep from to * 11 more times. 120 sts
? Rnd 17: k to end slipping all markers
? Rnd 18: * yfwd, k7, slip marker, k3, rep from * 11 more times. 132 sts
? Rnd 19: k to end slipping all markers
? NOTE: next six rows set sequence of patt. Use table (overleaf) to position beads, buds and eyelets
? Rnd 20: * yfwd, k9, wyif sl 1 pwise, pb, yb, k1, rep from * 11 more times. 144 sts
? Rnd 21: * k9, bb once, rep from * 11 more times
? Rnd 22: * yfwd, k12, rep from * 11 times more. 156 sts
? Rnd 23: k
? Rnd 24: * yfwd, k13, rep from * 11 times more. 168 sts
? Change to 40cm circular needle
? Rnd 25: k
? Cont using table as a guide until 55 rnds have been worked
? Next rnd: k2tog to end
? Cast off loosely

Flower - First Petal

? Thread 36 beads onto yarn A Using 3.5mm crochet hook and leaving a tail of 50cm work as folls:
? Row 1: 15ch, P3B, 1dc in third ch from hook to secure beads, 12dc to end of ch
? Rep last row 12 more times
? Fasten off yarn A

Flower - Second Petal

? Thread 36 beads onto yarn C Join yarn C into last ch of yarn A and work as folls:
? Row 1: 13ch, P3B, 1dc in third ch from hook, 10dc to end of ch
? Rep last row 12 more times
? Fasten off yarn C

Flower - Third Petal

? Thread 36 beads onto yarn D
? Join yarn D into last ch of yarn C and work as folls:
? Row 1: 11ch, P3B, 1dc in third ch from hook, 8dc to end of ch
? Rep last row 12 more times
? Fasten off yarn D Weave in loose ends. With tapestry needle gather up along straight edge of first petal and secure. Do the same for second and third petals and arrange and tie in a spiral

To make up

Using an 8mm needle, tease out eyelets made by yfwds on Front of cushion. Thread tapestry needle with 50cm of yarn A and beginning at centre of Front loosely chain stitch through each eyelet to create ‘stems’ of beaded buds. Weave in loose ends at colour changes, top and centre avoiding cast off ‘chain’. Gather up centres of Back and Front tightly and fasten off leaving tail. Attach 5mm button to Back with 1mm reinforcing button on WS

Outer edging

Using 3.5mm crochet hook, yarn A and with WS together sl st corresponding chains of cast-off edge on both sides of cushion to begin closing up seam at top of cushion. Work 1dc in each corresponding ‘ch’ until eight sections have been completed. Attach flower to front of cushion with a 1.5cm reinforcing button on reverse. Insert cushion pad and continue to finish off dc edge to end. Sl st in first sl st and fasten off. Weave in ends. Alternatively, blanket stitch around outer edge.

Chain gang
The green stems of the beaded buds look like crochet chains but are actually embroidered through the knitted eyelets. To work this stitch, thread a tapestry needle with yarn, and bring the needle through the eyelet to the front of the work. Reinsert the needle through the eyelet, leaving a loop remaining on the RS. Bring the needle up through the next eyelet and through the centre of the loop just left. Continue to work like this until the stem is complete.

Before making up: 19cm (approx radius from beg of inner circle to outer circle)
After making up: 38cm diameter