Wednesday 15 August 2012

Blooming flower cushion







Ah the good feeling of finishing something, right to the end. And something that brightens our nest : )
I learned a lot about colour making this, always so much more to learn about colour, it amazes me...even after so many years of painting. With yarn it's different again.
 This was a project made from the scraps basket. I started out very casually, just nonchalantly putting one colour beside another that it seemed to work with, and kept going that way till I looked at it at a day later and realised I just didn't like the overall feel of the colour combination. So I did a lot of ripping back til I understood how the colours needed to flow. Some of the yarns are wool, some cotton.
 It's my variation on Lucy's pattern over at the lovely Attic 24. I wrote about it in a  previous post here.
I took this with me in my work bag when I travelled to England a few months ago to observe for a week at a Steiner school there. It was a wonderful trip, I'll be writing about it here soon. 
As I sat in each classroom each day watching and listening, I made a few rows...also one day there on the beach. When I sat in my room each night trying to absorb all I'd taken in, I made a few more. When I got home and looked with a fresh eye, I ripped back some and added some more, been a bit of a journey this one!
 I mentioned previously that I had to fashion a round cushion from a square pad. If I get to crocheting more circular cushions, I would source the right cushion forms online, there's no doubt that it makes for a better finish. 
I'm already dreaming up the next cushion, an easy, cosy project to have on the go over the Winter months.

I'm happily joining with Ginny and the gang over at Small Things today for this week's Yarn Along.
Hey, remember my knitted gnome from last week's yarn along post? Well I made him that leather bag I thought he needed, it was so fun to figure out how really do-able this is.


What do y'all think he would carry in there..?
Do tell!
And thank you for reading x


23 comments:

  1. the gnome is so cute! love his little bag! - I think he's carrying some dandelion leaves and pine nuts he picked up for tonight's salad for dinner of course! :)

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    1. Love that Jarka : ) thank you, pine nuts might be hard to come by around here, but plenty dandelion leaves!

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  2. What a beautiful pillow! I love to see hand made items decorating houses, it isn't as typical in my friends' houses as it is at, say, my Nana's house :-) And the gnome is so cute!

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  3. Oh lovely! My Mum made a similar one inspired by Lucy, also.
    I can't wait to hear about your Steiner adventures from over here!

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    1. Look forward to sharing about that Hannah, thanks for your visit!

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  4. I love your cushion, its perfect!

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  5. You make me want to learn to crochet, I love the cushion.
    The little leather bag for your gnome is just the right touch for him.
    Goodness, you are one talented soul! :)

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  6. Oh my the cushion is gorgeous! I just learned to crochet at the beginning of the summer. I think I'll have to try this. I love it! The little gnome is absolutely adorable!!

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  7. Eeeep!! How wonderful is that gnome! Crystals, always crystals in little bags like those. ;)

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  8. Oh that cushion is lovely. I instantly recognized it as an Attic24 design. I posted on my 'Attic inspiration' this week too :o)

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  9. Oh my goodness, that cushion is amazing!!! The colours are so wonderful, I have just been staring into the screen.

    Your gnome is gorgeous!!

    Take care

    Linda

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  10. Oh, oh, oh! Love the cushion, absolutely beautiful. The gnome is rather handsome too.

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  11. Beautiful Mia! Wonderful Work! What yarn are the cushions made out of? x

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    1. Why mostly yarns from your shop of course! The yellow's Debbie Bliss,the pink and blue are your cotton, greens and deep blue are Donegal Tweed with a a few other random odds and ends in there. So thank you, as always for your gorgeous shop ; )so glad you're there x

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  12. Oh my goodness - your pillow - your gnome - just amazing work.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  13. Oh, your cushion is simply beautiful, and neat and perfect! And I really love the colour combo- I am always astounded how colours you would imagine would work, just don't sit together at all. A few crochet blankets are now needed for an Attic-Inspired home :))

    And your gnome... simply lovely (wouldn't mind a satchel like that myself!!)

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  14. And another thing, oh my gosh- everytime I see your banner with the body cast, I can feel my heart jump, it is just SO gorgeous XX

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  15. Gorgeous cushion!!!! very inspiring indeed. And mister gnome, well surely he has a lovely sandwich in there made of lovely leaves and some little tiny mushrooms and seeds for his lunch.

    xx

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  16. I love the colorful cushion, it is so pretty!

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  17. What a cushion!! Where do you find the time? That would take me at least a year if I knew how to knit! Really beautiful. I think gnomie swung by the drive thru at mcd's and is keeping a Big Mac for later....or maybe just a few veggies from the polytunnel...he gorgeous and the bag is fab!

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  18. hey beautiful mia,
    first i love your new header photo, your creativity is endless. lovely story about the cushion, it must brighten your home and make you smile every day. i've been wanting to knit cushions too, just looking for down inserts at the thrift shops.
    and your gnome makes my heart beat faster. love him and now his bag too. i think he's carrying a little biltong and rusk, foods that keep for the journey, as well as sustain. have a wonderful weekend.

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  19. Definitely worth the journey for your cushion cover, it turned out beautiful!
    And the little gnome bag is perfect; lucky little guy!

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  20. Lassies, thank you all so much for taking the time to stop by and drop me a line, loved reading your comments : ) I guess food is pretty high up on everyone's list of what one self-sufficient gnome carries around with him ; ) which is funny as I hadn't been thinking of that at all! I was thinking more of a carving knife in its sheath, or that he was gathering tufts of wool to take home and use. Love the crystals idea too Julie. Now let's see what the children at school come up with!X M

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