Foxgloves and Bees cushion

Foxgloves and Bees Cushion by Kate Eastwood

Project Overview

The Foxgloves and Bees cushion is a crochet design that brings the charm of an English cottage garden into your home year-round. This intermediate-level project features statuesque foxglove flowers and bees set against a simple plain background. The design allows for creative color customization, making it a versatile addition to any interior décor.

What Is Being Made

This project creates a decorative cushion cover featuring appliqué flowers, a beehive, and bees. The cushion cover itself forms the foundation, while the botanical elements are crafted separately and then stitched onto the finished cover. The cushion features a practical overlap opening on the reverse side for easy insertion of a cushion pad.

Construction Techniques

The Foxgloves and Bees cushion employs a modular construction approach. The main cushion cover is worked in rows using a straightforward stitch pattern, while the decorative elements—the flowers, hive, and bees—are created as separate components. This technique allows crafters to work on individual pieces before assembling them together, making the project more manageable and allowing for precise placement of design elements. The separate pieces are then stitched onto the finished cover to create the final design.

Stitches Used

• Double Crochet (dc): The primary stitch used throughout the main cushion cover, worked in rows to create a dense, structured fabric suitable for a cushion cover

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This project uses two different yarn weights to achieve its design goals:

• Main Cushion Cover: DROPS NEPAL yarn, an Aran weight yarn composed of 65% wool and 35% alpaca. The pattern calls for 9 x 50g balls in shade 0100 (Off White). Any Aran weight yarn can be substituted for this component.
• Flowers and Details: DROPS ALPACA yarn, a 4ply weight yarn made of 100% alpaca. The pattern requires 2 x 50g balls in shade 9029 (Pickle Green). Any 4ply weight yarn can be used as an alternative.

Tools and Tension

A 4.5mm crochet hook is recommended when working with DROPS NEPAL yarn. The pattern specifies a tension of 18 stitches by 21 rows worked in double crochet, which should measure 10cm square. Achieving the correct tension is important for ensuring the cushion cover reaches the intended finished size.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for crocheters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The combination of working the main cover in rows and creating separate appliqué elements requires familiarity with fundamental crochet skills and the ability to follow a structured pattern.