Hold onto Summer with a Beach Hut Cushion

This is one of those projects I could see people in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere getting behind right now.

If you’re in the part of the world where summer is ending soon, you might want to hang onto that feeling a little bit longer with a cheery project like this that can make you smile through the cooler days.

And if you’re in the part of the world that is waiting impatiently for summer to come along, this is the perfect little bit of home decor to stitch up as you anticipate the arrival of warm temperatures.

Of course if you live in a beachy area or have a beach house, this is ideal decor any time of year. It would also be fun in a kids’ reading nook.

The beach hut cushion is a free pattern from Prima, and it’s about 46 by 31 cm (or 18 by 12 inches, give or take a little). Since you probably won’t find a pillow form that shape you can stuff it with batting or make your own pillow to slip inside this fun case.

It’s worked with DK weight yarn in four colors, but of course you can change up the colors as you like to make a beach hut that’s just to your liking.

The front and back of the pillow are each worked flat, and both sides are the same other than adding the door applique to the front of the pillow. The pieces are stitched together with an I-cord edging, though you could just sew them together in whatever way you like if you’d rather.

This pillow is super cute and easy to make, and it’s sure to bring a smile to your face whatever the weather outside.

You can get the free pattern for this sweet and colorful knit cushion from Prima.

[Photo: Prima]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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