MOTIF HOMEWARES

Inspiration from traditional Talavera tiles provides the backdrop to radiant entertaining and decor

BEGUILING TILES

These mix-and-match cushions add a pinch of paprika to your home to create a southern climate in the depths of a grey winter.

LIGHTEN UP

Add character to your lampshade by giving it a makeover. It’s a thrifty way of freshening up your existing decor and adding a focal point to your room.

NIGHT ON THE TILES

Dinner parties and celebratory meals will be that bit more special with a unique, tiled table runner that neatly follows the curves of your tableware.

THINGS ARE SHAPING UP

Take three shapes: triangle, square, circle, and join them together to make dynamic geometric bunting that is so much more than the sum of its parts.

TIME FOR SIESTA

A quick afternoon snooze is all that’s needed to perk us up, and what better to cover our resting bodies than this Mediterranean-in uenced blanket?

CUSHIONS

Bright shades of blue and orange replicate a panel of tiles and create zesty stripes in Martine de Regt’s two cushion designs

▀ Scheepjes River Washed (78% cot ton, 22% acrylic, 50g/130m), 4 balls of each: Yarra (949), Wheaton (950), Nile (944)

▀ Scheepjes Stone Washed (78% cot ton, 22% acrylic, 50g/130m), 4 balls of Moon Stone (801), 2 balls of Morganite (834)

▀ A 3mm (US C /2 or D/3) hook

▀ 2 cushion pads, 45x45cm

TENSION

Small Square measure 11x11cm (4 x4 in) using a 3mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension

MEASUREMENTS

Cushions measure 45x45cm (17 x17 in)

ABBREVIATIONS

puff *Yrh, insert hook in st/sp indicated, yrh and pull loop up to height of current row; rep from * 4 times more, yrh and pull through all loops on hook

spiked dtr Yrh twice, insert hook in st/sp indicated, yrh and pull loop up to height of current row, (yrh and pull through 2 loops) 3 times

For a full list, see page 92

NOTES

Both Cushions are made up of a Front and Back Panel. The Front Panels are constructed from 16 Small Squares, which are sewn together. The Small Squares are worked in a mix of rounds and short rows. Short rows are worked over 2 sides of the Square only. The Back Panels are made in one piece and joined to the Front at the end.

PUFF STITCH CUSHION

SMALL SQUARE MAKE 16

The Puff Stitch Cushion is shown in the image on the bottom-left of this page.

Using Morganite, ch5 and ss in last ch from hook to form a loop.

Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), 2tr in loop, ch2, (3tr in loop, ch2) 3 times, ss to top of beg ch-3. [12 sts, 4 ch-2 sps] Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Yarra in any ch-2 sp.

Round 2 (RS) Ch3, (2tr, ch2, 3tr) in same sp, *(ch1, 3tr, ch2, 3tr) in each ch-2 sp around, ch1, ss to top of beg ch-3. [24 sts, 4 ch-2 sps, 4 ch-1 sps] Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Wheaton in any ch-2 sp.

Row 3 Ch3, 2tr in same sp, 3tr in next ch-1 sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in ch-2 sp, 3tr in ch-1 sp, 3tr in next ch-2 sp. [18 sts, 1 ch-2 sps] Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Nile in sp between 1st and 2nd tr from Row 3.

Row 4 Ch3, tr between posts of each st across to ch-2 sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in ch-2 sp, tr between posts of each st across to final st, turn. [22 sts, 1 ch-2 sp]

Row 5 (WS) (Ch4, skip 2 sts, ss in next st) 3 times, ch4, ss in ch-2 sp, ch4, skip 1 st, ss in next st, (ch4, skip 2 sts, ss in next st) 3 times, turn.

[8 ch-4 sps] Fasten off. With RS facing, join Morganite in first ch-4 sp.

Round 6 Ch3, (2tr, ch2, 3tr) in same ch-4 sp, 3tr in next 3 ch-4 sps, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in corner ss, 3tr in next 3 ch-4 sps, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in final ch-4 sp, turn to work in row-end, 3tr around post of final st from Row 4, 3tr in ch-2 sp from Round 2 (same sp as 3tr worked on Row 3), 3tr in next ch-1 sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in ch-3 sp, 3tr in next ch-1 sp, 3tr in ch-2 sp from Round 2, 3tr around post of first st from Row 4, ss to top of beg ch-3. [48 sts, 4 ch-2 sps] Fasten off.

With RS facing, join Moon Stone in any ch-2 sp.

Round 7 Ch2 (does not count as st), *(puff, ch3, puff) in ch-2 sp, 3dc in sp between each 3-tr group across to next ch-2 sp; rep from * 3 times more, ss to top of beg puff.

Fasten off and block to measurements listed.

Using Moon Stone, sew the Small Squares together in a 4x4 formation.

BUTTONS (MAKE 9)

Buttons are worked in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a slip stitch. Using Nile, ch2.

Round 1 (RS) 8dc in second ch from hook. [8 sts]