How to Knit a Toadstool Cushion

* Cotton Blend Plain yarn - red x2

* Cotton Blend Plain yarn - white x2

* 5mm Knitting needles

* 5.5mm/80cm Circular knitting needles

* Scissors

* Yarn needle

* Crochet hook

* Removable stitch markers

* Toy stuffing

This 3D cushion is knitted in the round, using the magic loop technique, from the bottom up, in one piece. Scales are knitted separately, so they don’t create holes in the fabric and can be added or changed at any time. Yarn is held double throughout.

Abbreviations:

k – knit

p - purl

Ssk - slip, slip, knit – single decrease

Sssk – slip, slip, slip, knit – double decrease

k2tog – knit two stitches together – single decrease

BOR – beginning of round

yo – yarn over

ryo - reverse yarn over –yarn over from back to front of right-hand needle

ktbl - knit through the back loop

ptbl - purl through the back loop

k1b – knit one below – for joggles colour change

Make 14 or more, leaving 15cm tails on both ends.

Using 5mm needles cast on 2 stitches, leaving a 15cm tail.

Row 1[RS]: Kfb, yo, kfb

Row 2[WS]: P2, ptbl, p2

Row 3: K5

Row 4: P5, pass 4 stitches over the last stitch on the needle

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Pull the tail through the loop, pull tight.

Using 5.5mm circular needles, Co 12 sts.
Divide sts in half, join in the magic loop method

Increases
Rnd 1: (K1, yo, k1, ryo, k2, yo, k1, ryo, k1) x2 (20sts)
Rnd 2: K1, ktbl, k4, ktbl, k3 x2
Rnd 3: (K2, yo, k1, ryo, k4, yo, k1, ryo, k2) x2 (28sts)
Rnd 4: K2, ktbl, k6, ktbl, k4 x2
Rnd 5: (K3, yo, k1, ryo, k6, yo, k1, ryo, k3) x2 (36sts)
Rnd 6: K3, ktbl, k8, ktbl, k5 x2
Rnd 7: (K4, yo, k1, ryo, k8, yo, k1, ryo, k4) x2 (44sts)
Rnd 8: K4, ktbl, k10, ktbl, k6 x2
Rnd 9: (K5, yo, k1, ryo, k10, yo, k1, ryo, k5) x2 (52sts)
Rnd 10: K5, ktbl, k12, ktbl, k7 x2
Rnd 11: (K6, yo, k1, ryo, k12, yo, k1, ryo, k6) x2 (60sts)
Rnd 12: K6, ktbl, k14, ktbl, k8 x2
Attach a removable stitch marker to the first stitch to mark BOR.
Move the marker up as you go.
Rnd 13 - 21: Knit around

Decreases
Rnd 22: (K5, k2tog, k1, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1, ssk, k5) x2 (52sts)
Rnd 23 - 25: Knit around
Rnd 26: (K4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1, ssk, k4) x2 (44sts)
Rnd 27 - 29: Knit around
Rnd 30: (K3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1, ssk, k3) x2 (36sts)
Rnd 31 - 35: Knit around
Rnd 36: (K2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2) x2 (28sts)
Rnd 37 - 41: Knit around
Work should be approx 20cm tall
Using a yarn needle sew the tail around the opening at the bottom of the stem and tighten it up to close the hole. Weave in the end.

Increases
Rnd 42: (K1, yo) around
Rnd 43: K1, ktbl around (56sts)
Rnd 44: Knit around
Rnd 45: (K1, yo) around
Rnd 46: K1, ktbl around (112sts)
Rnd 47 - 52: Knit around
Rnd 53: Purl around
Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm tail.

Attach red yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Knot two tails together on the inside of work.
Rnd 54 - 56: Knit around (first stitch of the second row – k1b)
Rnd 57: K10, k2tog, k1, ssk, k23, k2tog, k1, ssk, k23, k2tog, k1, ssk, k23, k2tog, k1, ssk, k13 (104sts)
Rnd 58 - 59: Knit around
Rnd 60: K9, k2tog, k1, ssk, k21, k2tog, k1, ssk, k21, k2tog, k1, ssk, k21, k2tog, k1, ssk, k12 (96 sts)
Rnd 61 - 62: Knit around
Rnd 63: K8, k2tog, k1, ssk, k19, k2tog, k1, ssk, k19, k2tog, k1, ssk, k19, k2tog, k1, ssk, k11 (88 sts)
Rnd 64 - 65: Knit around

Start adding previously knitted scales, scattering them around the cap as you go, and make knots on the inside of the work.

Rnd 66: K7, k2tog, k1, ssk, k17, k2tog, k1, ssk, k17, k2tog, k1, ssk, k17, k2tog, k1, ssk, k10 (80 sts)
Rnd 67 - 68: Knit around
Rnd 69: K6, k2tog, k1, ssk, k15, k2tog, k1, ssk, k15, k2tog, k1, ssk, k15, k2tog, k1, ssk, k9 (72 sts)
Rnd 70 - 71: Knit around
Rnd 72: K5, k2tog, k1, ssk, k13, k2tog, k1, ssk, k13, k2tog, k1, ssk, k13, k2tog, k1, ssk, k8 (64 sts)
Rnd 73 - 74: Knit around
Rnd 75: K4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k11, k2tog, k1, ssk, k11, k2tog, k1, ssk, k11, k2tog, k1, ssk, k7 (56 sts)
Rnd 76: Knit around
Rnd 77: K3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1, ssk, k6 (48 sts)
Rnd 78: Knit around
Rnd 79: K2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1, ssk, k5 (40 sts)
Rnd 80: Knit around
Rnd 81: K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, k4 (32) sts
Rnd 82: Knit around

Before finishing off the cap completely, stuff the mushroom firmly, starting from the stem, and shaping the mushroom as you add more stuffing.

Rnd 83: K2tog, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k3 (24 sts)
Rnd 84: Knit around
Rnd 85: K2tog (first and last stitch of previous round), k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1 (16 sts)
Rnd 86: Knit around
Rnd 87: K2, sssk, k1, sssk, k1, sssk, k1, sssk (two last stitches together with the first stitch of the next round) (8 sts)

Cut yarn and add more stuffing to shape the top if needed. Using a yarn needle sew the tail through the remaining stitches and tighten it up to close the hole. Weave in the end.

Close the holes at the bottom and top of the mushroom. Cut yarn, and weave in the end.