Strawberry Cushion

Strawberry Cushion by Little Doolally

Project Overview

The Strawberry Cushion is an intermediate-level crochet project designed to create a decorative 16" x 16" cushion cover. This downloadable PDF pattern from Little Doolally provides instructions for crafting a charming cushion featuring a strawberry motif, complete with a button-closure back panel for easy insertion of a standard cushion pad.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete cushion cover measuring 16 inches by 16 inches, designed to fit a standard 16" x 16" cushion pad. The cushion features a decorative strawberry design on the front panel and includes a functional button-closure backing, making it both decorative and practical for home décor applications.

Crochet Techniques Used

The Strawberry Cushion employs fundamental crochet techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The primary construction method involves working in rows of double crochet stitches from a grid pattern, allowing crafters to follow a visual chart to create the strawberry design. The pattern incorporates color work techniques, with a helpful tip recommending the use of separate yarn balls for background colors on each side of the strawberry motif to minimize yarn stranding across the back of the work. This approach creates a neater finished appearance on the reverse side.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern utilizes the following essential crochet stitches:

• Double crochet (dc) – the primary stitch used throughout the entire cushion construction
• Chain stitch (ch) – used for foundation chains and turning chains
• Slip stitch (slst) – used for joining and finishing

The pattern follows standard crochet abbreviations, with turning chains incorporated at the end of each row to maintain proper stitch height and structure.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The recommended gauge for this project is 16 stitches by 20 rows measuring 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters when worked in double crochet with a 4mm hook. The finished cushion cover measures 16 inches by 16 inches, accommodating a standard cushion pad of the same dimensions.

Materials Required

Yarn: Approximately 350 grams of aran or worsted weight yarn is needed to complete this project. The pattern specifies Rico Creative Cotton Aran, a 100% cotton yarn, in the following color quantities:

• 4 x 50g balls of Natural (color 60) – for the primary background
• 2 x 50g balls of Smokey Blue (color 31) – for secondary background sections
• 1 x 50g ball of Cherry (color 65) – for the strawberry design
• Scraps of Banana (color 68), Pistachio (color 41), and Light Pistachio (color 44) – for accent details such as strawberry leaves and seeds

Tools and Notions: A 4mm crochet hook is required for working with the aran weight yarn at the specified gauge. The project also calls for 3 buttons measuring 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter for the cushion closure mechanism, and a 16" x 16" cushion pad to insert into the finished cover.

Pattern Construction

The cushion front is constructed by chaining 60 stitches plus one additional chain for turning, then working entirely in double crochet rows while following a provided grid chart. Each square on the grid represents one double crochet stitch, with the chart beginning at position '1'. Crafters work row by row, following the color changes indicated on the grid to create the strawberry motif. The inclusion of a grid-based pattern makes this project accessible for intermediate crocheters who are comfortable reading charts and managing color changes.

Design and Finishing

The Strawberry Cushion combines functional home décor with decorative appeal, featuring a charming strawberry design worked in contrasting colors against a coordinating background. The button closure on the back panel allows for easy removal of the cushion cover for washing or storage. Using 100% cotton yarn provides a breathable, washable option suitable for cushion covers that may require regular cleaning.