Finishing a crochet cushion

Hi everyone, hope you are all well.  I have only just got into crochet although I have been trying to master it since I was 10!  A friend at school introduced me to the delights of crochet when I was in top juniors and I was quickly able to crochet on the round. Unfortunately my friend moved house and school so I was left high and dry.  I could crochet no end of circles but had no ideas about increasing or decreasing.  The result was that all my circles would start to turn under so I had the bright idea of making them into chic little French berets for my dolls.  However there are only so many berets even the most fashionable doll needs and before long I think they must have been thinking 'For goodness sake not another one!'.  I also made them into tiny mats for the table but you can imagine they weren't even big enough for a sandwich plate.  So I gave up the ghost on crochet.

Then, many years later whilst on holiday in Cumbria I chanced upon a lovely craft shop selling fantastic crochet kits and I was particularly taken with a rather nice shopper.  The assistant assured me that even a child could follow the pattern so I duly handed over my money and couldn't wait to start it.  It wasn't long before I was stuck, for some reason I do find it so hard to follow a crochet pattern.  I mastered the stitches ok but the tension was obviously very wrong as it kept growing and growing and growing.  I think I could have eventually made it into a coal sack so I cut my losses and made it up to the best of ability.  It looked ok but nothing like the lovely picture on the front of the kit.  I was determined to use it but the yarn was so rough, more like string, that every time I went out it snagged all my tights - not a pretty sight I can assure you.

I am not one to give up so last year decided I had to overcome my fear of crochet and took someone's advice and had a look on the internet where I found no end of blogs and websites.  I found Lucy's wonderful blog Attic 24 which I visit every day and she gives such wonderful advice and tutorials.  Have a look at Lucy's flower cushion, I lust after this on a regular basis and so want to make one just like it.  It is on my to do list before the end of this year, so watch this space readers.

  I also fell upon some great tutorials on a blog called momof5daughters which gave some great little youtube clips.  I followed one of these to make a flower, watched it over and over with crochet hook and yarn in hand.  After much perspiration and sighing I finally mastered it - wonderful!  I did the same routine with the granny square and now can finally say that I can do this too..................still cannot read a pattern or do anything else but can cope with granny square.  I have made a few cushions and this is my latest which needs finishing.  Here is a close up of my squares, I love doing them but they take time to sew in all the ends so I tend to pick them up when I have a few minutes to spare.



A basket of grannies!







Close up of granny squares





Cushion back - still to be sew up and tidied!





One side of the finished cushion





Well lovely readers it is amazing the effect my blog is having on my motivation and drive to finished things.  I just hope I can keep it up and don't end up in a sad heap on the floor.  I do hope you all have a wonderful weekend and get to do some nice things.  Thank you for popping by, it was so lovely to see you all.xx