I’ve been wanting to do something with this traditional leaf/petal design for a while, as it reminds me of a common Polynesian design motif. I’ve found quite a few vintage patterns for pram covers and quilts but I don’t have the patience to knit dozens of squares so I’ve gone for just 4 squares in a bulky wool.

I was originally thinking about the bright colours and stylised flowers of Cook Island Tivaevae quilts, but then this combination of brown and cream is so perfectly like tapa cloth that I’ve gone with that. The symmetry, contrasting light and dark colours, diagonal lines and flower motif are all typical of Polynesian tapa designs.

I dyed the creamy wool with lichen collected in our friends’ orchard. It’s true, the smell lingers on the wool a long time, but it’s a nice woody smell.

And you should see the buttons I’ve found for this!

• This is common blanket square that appears in many publications over the years, and more recently in Debbie Bliss magazine.

• I worked my square out from a pattern that turns up several times in my vintage Patons books (Woolcraft and Stitchcraft), and from looking at some of these squares here, here, here, and here.

• To make up the cushion I crocheted the 4 squares together, knitted the back on the diagonal (CO 3 sts, increase each row until you have twice the maximum number of sts in each square, then decrease back to 3sts and BO), I crocheted the back to front leaving one side open (crocheted along edges of open side) which I have fastened with coconut buttons.