How many times have you splurged out on a gorgeous skein of colourful sock yarn, or beautiful hand-dyed 4ply, only to have it languish at the bottom of your stash basket awaiting the perfect project to make the most of its beauty? If it’s more than you care to mention, then this cushion cover might just be the one to finally tempt you into winding one or two of those precious skeins into a ball. The popcorn stitches – an absolute joy to crochet – are so good at making the most of variegated yarns by showing off every colour to maximum effect, and the white background really makes those popcorns pop! I’ve used a wonderfully soft, pure merino yarn for a cushion cover that feels as good as it looks.
pc = popcorn stitch
In this pattern popcorn stitches are worked using 5 treble stitches followed by 1 chain stitch. Also, in following rounds when working into the top of popcorn stitches, crochet into the first treble stitch and not the chain stitch.
6 rnds in tr sts (12st increase each rnd) = 10cm (4in)
35cm (14in) diameter
If you prefer to keep track of your increases and pattern repeats with stitch markers, place them before each repeat sequence as indicated by the first * in each round of the written pattern. Small safety pins or snippets of contrasting yarns are good alternatives to shop-bought stitch markers.
Foundation ring: using yarn and 3mm hook, ch5, ss to form ring
Round 1: s-tr, 11tr into ring, ss into top of s-tr (12sts)
Round 2: s-tr, tr into base of s-tr (counts as first 2tr inc), 2tr inc into each st around, ss into top of s-tr (24sts)
Round 3: s-tr, tr into base of s-tr (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into next st, *2tr inc into next st, tr into next st* rep from * to * around, ss into top of s-tr (36sts)
Round 4: s-tr, tr into base of s-tr (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into 2 sts, *2tr inc into next st, tr into 2 sts* rep from * to * around, ss into top of s-tr (48sts)
Round 5: s-tr, tr into base of s-tr (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into 3 sts, *2tr inc into next st, tr into 3 sts* rep from * to * around, ss into top of s-tr (60sts)
Rounds 6–11: rnds 1 to 5 set the pattern, continue increasing in this way in rnds 6 to 11 (132sts), fasten off
Round 12: join yarn B in first st of any 2tr inc of prev rnd, ch3, tr into base of ch3 (counts as first 2tr inc), *†[pc, tr into 2sts] 3 times, pc†, 2tr inc* rep from * to * 11 times, rep from † to † once more, fasten off invisibly
Round 13: join yarn A in first st of any 2tr inc of prev rnd, ch3, tr into base of ch3 (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into 11sts, *2tr inc into next st, tr into 11sts* rep from * to * around, ss into 3rd of starting ch3 (156sts)
Round 14: s-tr, tr into base of s-tr (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into 12 sts, *2tr inc into next st, tr into 12 sts* rep from * to * around, ss into top of s-tr (168sts), fasten off
Round 15: join yarn C in first st of any 2tr inc of prev rnd, ch3, tr into base of ch3 (counts as first 2tr inc), *†[pc, tr into 2sts] 4 times, pc†, 2tr inc* rep from * to * 11 times, rep from † to † once more, fasten off invisibly
Round 16: join yarn A in first st of any 2tr inc of prev rnd, ch3, tr into base of ch3 (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into 14sts, *2tr inc into next st, tr into 14sts* rep from * to * around (192sts), fasten off invisibly
Round 17: join yarn B in first st of any 2tr inc of prev rnd, ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into next st, *pc, tr into 2sts* rep from * to * around, pc into last st, fasten off invisibly
Round 18: join yarn A in any tr st of prev rnd, ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into each st around (192sts), fasten off invisibly
Round 19: join yarn C in any st of prev rnd, ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into next st, *pc, tr into 2sts* rep from * to * around, pc into last st, fasten off invisibly
Round 20: join yarn B in any pc st of prev rnd and work as given for rnd 19
Round 21: join yarn C in any pc st of prev rnd and work as given for rnd 19
Round 22: rep rnd 20
Round 23: join yarn A in any st, ch3, tr into base of ch3 (counts as first 2tr inc), tr into 15sts, *2tr inc into next st, tr into 15sts* rep from * to * around, ss into 3rd of starting ch3 (204sts)
Round 24: s-tr, tr into each st around, ss into top of s-tr (204sts)
Row 1: ch1, dc into base of ch1, dc into back loop only of 64sts, turn
Rows 2–5: ch1, dc into 65sts, turn, fasten off
Work as given for the front panel to the end of rnd 24.
Row 1: ch1, dc into base of ch1, dc into 9sts, *ch2, miss 1st of prev rnd, dc into 10sts* rep from * to * 5 times, ss into next st, fasten off
Gently steam block the front and back panels to approx. 34cm (131⁄2in) diameter without over stretching the edges as they should cup to fit the cushion insert.
All edging sts are worked through corresponding sts of both the front and back panels together.
First: place the front and back panels together, with WS facing, and line up the button flap and buttonhole section
Next: with the front section facing, join yarn C in first st (of both front and back panels) after button flap, ch1, dc into base of ch1, dc into each st around to the beginning of the button flap, dc into front loop of 65sts in front of button loop, ss into first dc
Next: pull working loop through same space just worked ss to back of work, turn work and *dc into 10sts of back panel, 5dc into ch-sp* rep from * to * 5 times, dc into 10sts, ss into first edging st after button flap, fasten off and weave in loose ends
On row 2 of the button flap, mark 11th, 22nd, 33rd, 44th and 55th sts with a pin. Sew a button onto each of the marked sts with the sewing needle and thread.
Front and back panels