Waffle cushion pattern

I am jumping in at the deep end and writing up my first pattern - for my waffle cushion. I have finished the front and embarked on the back and simply cannot wait any longer!

I used: New Lanark Mills DK 4 x 50g balls. One each of Sky, Blossom, Copper Blue (Green) and New natural. Anything you totally love would do!

3 3/4 mm knitting needles, 3mm crochet hook.

For each mitred square:

Cast on 30 stitches using a stretchy cast on.

R1 and every odd row: k
R2: k13, slslk, k2tog, k13 (28 stitches)
R4: k12, slslk, k2tog, k12 (26 stitches)
R6: k11, slslk, k2tog, k11 (24 stitches)
Continue like this until
R28: k1 slslk, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches)
R29: k4
R30: slslk, k2tog
R31: k2tog
Cast off remaining stitch.

Make 16. If using 3 colours for the squares make 5 in two of the colours and 6 in one colour. Or use four colours and make 4 of each. Or some other combination that pleases you.

Edging each square:

Using your border colour crochet around each square. 1htr in each of 14 stitches along each side, 3htr in each corner stitch.

To join the squares:

Arrange the squares in a pleasing fashion. All facing the same way or not - what ever you like. Pick up the square at the bottom right corner and the one above it. Holding them back to back insert the hook into the right hand most stitch of each edge, slip stitch along this edge. Without cutting the yarn pick up the two squares immediately to the left of the first two and continue to join. Continue in the same manner across the bottom eight squares. Cut the yarn. Join on two more rows of squares in the same way. Turn your work at right angles and join the squares in the other direction.

Border:

Cast on 80 stitches.
R1 and every odd row: k
R2: k1, slslk, k to last 3 stitches (74), k2tog, k
R4: k1, slslk, k to last 3 stitches (72), k2tog, k
R6: k1, slslk, k to last 3 stitches (70), k2tog, k
Cast off all 74 stitches loosely.

Make 4.

Crochet the four border pieces to the edges of the squares using a slip stitch, sew up the mitres at the four corners.

Sit back and admire the beautiousness of your creation, feel its fabulous texture, inhale the lovely woolly smell...

Then figure out what to do on the back since by now you will have hardly any of the border colour left.

xx