DNA CUSHION
Researching your family tree? Find genetic science fascinating? Celebrate the building blocks of life with Alice Tarry’s DNA cushion
■ Rico Essential Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/120m), 6 balls of Black (090), 1 ball of each: Natural (051), Banana (063), Grass Green (066), Azalea (068), Dark Turquoise (071), Violet (111)
■ A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook
■ 16in (40.5cm) cushion pad
■ Stitch Markers
TENSION
22 stitches x 14 rows measures approx 10cm (measured over pattern)
MEASUREMENTS
Cushion measures approx 42x42cm (16½x16½in)
ABBREVIATIONS
FPdtr Yrh twice, starting at the front, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated st, complete as for dtr
FPdtr2tog (Yrh twice, starting at the front, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated st, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops, yrh and draw through 2 loops) twice, yrh and draw through all loops on hook
reverse dc Insert hook in next st to right (or left if left-handed), yrh and pull up a loop, yrh and pull through 2 loops on hook
For a full list, see page 78
NOTES
The DNA cables are worked on the RS rows. When changing colour mid-row, twist the ends of the colours together. Pick up the new colour in the last yrh of the previous stitch. Carry the unused strands of yarn across the top of your sts, enclosing it as you work. Only carry each DNA cable colour within the stitches of the cable.
When working the front post stitches, you are working around the post of the front post stitches two rows down.
DNA CUSHION
FRONT PANEL (6 DNA STRANDS)
Using Black, ch92.
Row 1 (WS) Tr in fourth ch from hook and each ch to end. [90 tr]
Row 2 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in first 3 sts, change to Violet, FPtr around next tr, 7dc, FPtr around next tr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Dark Turquoise, FPtr around next tr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Banana, FPtr around next tr, 7dc, FPtr around next tr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Azalea, FPtr around next tr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Natural, FPtr around next tr, 7dc, FPtr around next tr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Grass Green, FPtr around next tr, change to Black, 7dc, turn. [90 sts]
Row 3 (WS) Using Black, ch3 (counts as tr throughout), tr in each st across, turn. [90 tr]
Row 4 (RS) Work all FPdtrs around FPts in Row 2. Ch1, 3dc, change to Violet, FPdtr, 7dc, FPdtr around FPtr in Row 2, change to Black, 10dc, change to Dark Turquoise, FPdtr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Banana, FPdtr, 7dc, FPdtr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Azalea, FPdtr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Natural, FPdtr, 7dc, FPdtr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Grass Green, FPdtr, change to Black, 7dc. [90 sts]
Row 5 Repeat Row 3.
On this, and all even rows, work all FPdtrs around nearest FPdtrs 2 rows below. Using Black, ch1, 4dc, change to Violet, FPdtr, 5dc, FPdtr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Dark Turquoise, FPdtr, dc, FPdtr around same FPdtr just worked, change to Black, 10dc, change to Banana, FPdtr, 5dc, FPdtr, change to Black, 10dc, change to Azalea, FPdtr, dc, FPdtr around same FPdtr just worked,
