Knitting holidays in France Stitch along - a knitting and crochet project designed by Carol Meldrum and Sue Culligan

This is the stitch along project that we designed for the first Lockdown in Spring 2021. The free patterns are still available to download below.

The designs are worked in double knit yarn and are great stash busters, using up lots of oddments of yarn.

Materials needed to complete one panel of 9 squares - approx 270g DK weight wool or wool mix yarn. Some of the knitted squares require a few Debbie Abrahams beads size 6.

You can back the cushion cover with fabric, or make a knitted or crochet backing.

You can vary the colours according to your stash, we have used mainly neutrals, green and blue with splashes of colour. See what everyone is doing here on the blog.

Pattern queries sueculligan@gmail.com

10th June Week 10 - Instructions for making up the cushion cover

It is the final week of the Stitchalong. You can download the instructions for making up the cushions below. What are we going to do next week? 

A huge thank you to Carol for all her hard work on the crochet design, it has certainly given me something to think about for the last 10 weeks instead of worrying about when we will be able to restart the holidays here. 

The response from everyone has been terrific, we are so glad you have enjoyed the project, don't forget to send in photos of the completed cushions. We will post all the images on the blog and Facebook.

Also, remember to check Carol's website for new patterns on Ravelry and her lovely ready made garments and accessories in her Etsy shop. 

3rd June Week 9 - Sunflowers

Well here we are on the last square! It had to be the iconic sunflower one of my best loved flowers. This week you have the option to add a bit of your own design to the square, or you can follow our instructions. Next week we will post instructions to make up the cushions. Carol has opted for a fabric backing for hers and I have made a knitted back. Really looking forward to seeing all those completed cushions.

27th May Week 8 - Time for a gin & tonic

Correction - if you downloaded the knitting pattern before mid-day Sunday 31st May, there is a mistake! The special abbreviation should be:

C4F – sl 2 sts on to cable needle at front of work, k2, then k2 from cn.

and Row 5 should be C4F and not C4R. The correct pattern is now available to download below.

It is time for a G&T and a few cheese straws, one of our favourite times of day at Knitting holidays in France. Carol and I both enjoy a little tipple, along with many of our regular guests and Culli's gin mixing skills are secondary to none. Another fan of a G&T is the lovely Tania from TJfrog, who I am very grateful to for letting me use her Dorset button diagrams, so this one is dedicated to you Tania! Visit the TJfrog website here to see some of Tania's gorgeous button designs, kits and yarn. 

20th May Week 7 - Stained glass

This week we have both chosen a picture of a stained glass window for our inspiration. Carol has gone for the lovely window in the little church in Brizambourg, just up the road from us and I have chosen one of the contemporary windows in the church in Royan.

13th May Week 6 - Wandering the streets

Carol has picked the bunting in St Jean d'Angely for her crochet inspiration this week and I have used the ancient Roman arch of Germanicus in Saintes. Both towns are favourite places to visit with our guests, providing a mix of shopping and sightseeing. Saintes is packed with Roman history with a well preserved amphitheatre at the top of the town dating back to 41 AD.

6th May Week 5 - Pattern repeat under my feet and above my head

This week we have chosen repetitive patterns for the squares. Carol's crochet square is a really striking geometric design and I have made a colourful intarsia design.  Don't forget the crochet terms are UK and not US!

29th April Week 4 - Cognac

Cognac is home to many of the major distilleries, it also has some lovely shops including a fabulous little yarn shop My little Stitches, which is surviving lockdown by providing home deliveries. After a bit of retail therapy the square is the place to relax with a drink, both Carol and I have picked the carousel as our inspiration for this week. Don't forget the crochet terms are UK and not US!

22nd April Week 3 - Market Day

St Jean d'Angely has a lovely open market every Wednesday and Saturday morning. It is a good chance to wander around the beautiful old town and soak up the atmosphere, this always includes a visit to Amalgame the gorgeous interiors shop. 

15th April Week 2 - Route de la Nougerée 
We have some lovely walks around the Barn. The little hamlet is full of ancient houses and barns built with soft grey and pale gold stone. Just at the end of our lane the vineyards spread out across the countryside, the hedgerows along the quiet lanes are bursting with wild flowers and fruit.
Click on the links below to download the free patterns for this week.

8th April Week 1 - Brocante. Click on the links below to download the free crochet pattern by Carol Meldrum and the free knitting pattern by Sue Culligan