Chroma Canal Houses Cushion in Scheepjes Catona - Downloadable PDF

Chroma Canal Houses Cushion in Scheepjes Catona – Free Crochet Pattern (PDF Download)

The Chroma Canal Houses Cushion is a charming crochet cushion cover pattern designed by Esme Crick and published as part of the Scheepjes After Party series (Number 58). The finished cushion cover is sized to fit a 52 x 32 cm (20½ x 12½ in) cushion pad, making it a striking rectangular accent piece. The design features a repeating canal house motif — a nod to the iconic stepped-gable architecture of Dutch canal-side buildings — rendered in a bold two-colour graphic style. Crocheters can choose between a solid-coloured house version or a multicoloured house version, giving the pattern excellent versatility and replay value.

Technique: Mosaic Crochet

The defining technique used throughout this pattern is mosaic crochet, a method of creating intricate colourwork using only one colour per row. Unlike traditional colourwork where multiple yarns are carried simultaneously across a row, mosaic crochet achieves its graphic, geometric effect by alternating between two colours every two rows and using a combination of worked stitches and skipped stitches (replaced by chain spaces) to reveal the colour below. This makes it far more accessible than stranded or intarsia crochet, while still producing a visually impressive result.

The pattern includes a dedicated "How to Follow a Mosaic Crochet Chart" section, which walks crocheters through reading the chart row by row. This makes the technique approachable for those new to mosaic crochet, and the pattern is rated advanced beginner in difficulty — ideal for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to explore structured colourwork for the first time.

How Mosaic Crochet Works in This Pattern

• Colour changes occur every two rows once the main pattern begins, creating a clean, rhythmic workflow.
• The first row of each colour establishes the pattern; the second row reinforces it by repeating the same stitch placements.
• Where a double crochet (dc) or treble crochet (tr) is worked in the first row, a dc is worked into that same stitch in the second row — crocheters are reminded to watch carefully for treble crochet stitches, which can be easy to miss.
• Where a chain space (ch-sp) is made in the first row, the same chain space is repeated in the second row, allowing the colour beneath to show through and create the mosaic effect.
• Yarn is not fastened off at colour changes; instead, the unused colour is left hanging at the side of the work, ready to be picked up again two rows later. This keeps the work neat and avoids excessive weaving in of ends.
• To change colour, the final stitch in the old colour is worked to the last two loops on the hook, then the new colour is drawn through to complete the stitch — a clean and professional finish.

Stitches Used

• Double crochet (dc) — the primary stitch used throughout the pattern body
• Treble crochet (tr) — used within the mosaic pattern rows to create the tall stitches that form part of the canal house motif
• Chain (ch) and chain spaces (ch-sp / ch-1 sp) — integral to the mosaic technique, creating the gaps through which the contrasting colour is visible

Materials: Yarn and Hook

The pattern is designed specifically for Scheepjes Catona and Scheepjes Catona Chroma, both 100% mercerised cotton yarns in a 4-ply weight, each ball containing 50g / 125m. Mercerised cotton is known for its smooth, lustrous finish and excellent stitch definition — qualities that make it particularly well suited to mosaic crochet, where crisp stitch clarity is essential for the graphic motif to read clearly.

Solid-Coloured House Version

• Yarn A (base colour): Scheepjes Catona 248 Champagne — 5 balls
• Yarn B