Knit a cushion or throw

Time taken and skills needed: Cushion takes one weekend, throw takes two weekends. Easy to do

What you'll need

Cushion

● Three 100g balls of Denim Ultra, £4.25 a ball, Sirdar
● Pair of 10mm knitting needles
● Coloured thread
● Four buttons
● 40cm x 40cm cushion pad

Throw

● Eight 100g balls of Denim Ultra, £4.25 a ball, Sirdar
● Long 10mm circular knitting needle

Before you begin

To get the size right, first check your tension. Cast on nine stitches and knit 12 rows in stocking stitch. You should end up with a 10cm x 10cm square.

Cushion cover:

A 40cm sq cushion cover costs just £12.75

With 10mm needles cast on 36 stitches and continue with a stocking stitch (knit one, purl one), starting with a knit row, until the piece is 80cm long. End with a purl row, and mark it with coloured thread before working a further four rows.

To make the buttonhole row knit three stitches. Knit two together. Bring the yarn forward (yf) over the right-hand needle to make a stitch. *Knit seven stitches, knit two together, yf. Repeat three times from *. Knit four stitches. Work a further three rows in stocking stitch, as before, then cast off.

To make up, fold over from top and bottom so that the last eight rows overlap the first eight, using the coloured thread as a guide. Tack in position along the ends of the rows. With wrong sides together, join the side seams. Turn to right side, sew buttons to the front and insert the cushion pad.

Throw:

A 114cm sq throw costs just £34

With 10mm circular needles, cast on 102 stitches. Knit one row. Next row, knit to end. Next row knit one stitch, purl to last stitch and knit one stitch.

Repeat the last two rows until you have 112cm. End on a right side row, knit one row and cast off.

Look out for regular knitting workshops at branches of John Lewis. See in store for details and call 0845 604 9049 for your nearest branch.