As a designer living in the Hebrides, I take inspiration from my stunning natural environment. One of my happiest places in summer time is on the machair, the raised beach area between the hill and shore. At this time of year, the machair is full of wild flowers – corn-marigolds, field poppies and ox-eyed daisies all of which grow amongst the crops sown by island crofters. This cushion pattern is inspired by the varied flora of the machair with the patterns depicting the leaves and buds of the wild flowers amongst seed heads of rye.

My Hebridean Machair cushion is constructed in three separate parts: front and back (lower and upper). The pattern’s main stitch is reversed stocking stitch but it also includes cables, travelling stitches, bobbles, button-holes and yarn over stitches. This is a charted pattern.