I love my garden and really enjoy watching how it changes throughout the year depending on the season. I would really like to have a more homely and functional mix of flowers and herbs in our outdoor space, typical of cottage gardens, which became popular in the 1870s as a reaction to more formal gardens. One of the positives of a garden of this type is that they are more easily maintained as the compact planting leaves little space for weeds - something I really like the idea of!

Crocheted flowers are pretty much my favourite thing to make and I adore adding beads into my work too, so this project was a real joy to design and make. I wanted to create a vintage feel and chose my yarn shades accordingly. I think the little lime green beads provide a lovely pop of colour on the leaves of the dainty crochet blooms. You could always use this pattern to make pretty brooches or to use as
part of a larger, fascinator style piece.

MEASUREMENT
Blocked Measurement: to fit 35cm (14in)
square cushion pad.

MATERIALS
Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo + Cotton
60% Bamboo 40% Cotton
250m/273yds per 100g ball
Natural (7146) 2 balls
Apricot (7130) 1 ball *
Raisin (7158) 1 ball *
Rose (7165) 1 ball *
Spring Green (7126) 1 ball

Note: I used very small amounts (less than
10g of yarn) of the shades marked with an
asterisk . For yarn shade Natural only a
very small amount of yarn was used from
the second ball.

EQUIPMENT
● 3mm (US C-D/2-3) & 3.5mm (US E/4)
hooks – see notes on tension
● Knitters sewing needle
● Sewing needle and thread for beading

OTHER
● Debbie Abrahams beads size 6/0 Lime
48 x 1 pack (approximately 500)
● 35cm x 35cm (14in x 14in) square
cushion pad
● 7 vintage buttons approximately
18mm diameter

Note: I used a duck feather cushion and
gave it a more vintage feel by painting it
with a weak tea solution and letting it dry
(twice) before inserting it in the cover