Buzzing By Cushion – Free Crochet Pattern

Now that the Garden Medley Blanket CAL has wrapped up, I thought it would be the perfect time to share the Buzzing By Cushion with you. This cheerful bee design fits right in with everything we just made together in the CAL. It has the same color palette, the same bold style, and the same cosy, modern vibe. If you have your blanket displayed on the sofa already, this cushion will look like it was always meant to sit beside it.

If you are brand new and found this pattern on its own, welcome. This is a lovely introduction to crochet colorwork and a great project if you want something graphic and eye catching without making an entire blanket. The bee motif is fun to work on a cushion because the shape feels big and bold without being complicated.

About the Buzzing By Cushion

The cushion front is made as a single colorwork panel using intarsia. If you joined the CAL, this will feel very familiar. The back of the cushion is worked in simple rows to create a square. The finished size fits an 18 inch cushion insert.

This is also a great project for experimenting with colour. I used the same shades as the Garden Medley Blanket, but you can use any palette that suits your home. If you want ideas, take a look at the Garden Medley CAL intro post where I shared lots of yarn substitutions and colour inspiration.

Bloom and Buzz Bundle

The Buzzing By Cushion is actually just one part of the full Bloom and Buzz Bundle, which includes two matching cushions, and the Garden Medley Blanket. All four designs share the same warm, garden inspired theme with bees, butterflies, flowers, and bold graphic shapes, so they look amazing displayed together in your home.

If you like having everything in one place, the bundle is such a good option. The PDFs are completely ad free, they include print friendly charts, full written instructions, and coloring pages so you can plan out custom palettes before you start crocheting. You also get direct links to the interactive Stitch Fiddle charts, which means you can use the built in row tracker without setting anything up yourself.

Everything is organised neatly and consistently, which makes it really easy to move from one project to the next. If you enjoyed working through the CAL or love the idea of a matching set , the bundle gives you all four patterns together at a discounted price.

Tools and Materials

Amigo XL, Hobbii (Worsted weight, 100% Acrylic; 109 yards / 100 meters, 50g):
A – Ecru (02), 1 skein
B – Black (12), 1 skein
C – Curry (38), 1 skein
D – Rust (40), 4 skeins

Or worsted weight yarn in the following quantities:
A – 92 yards / 84 meters
B – 20 yards / 18 meters
C – 11 yards / 10 meters
D – 408 yards / 374 meters

5mm crochet hook or size to obtain gauge
Scissors
Yarn needle
18” x 18” / 46 cm x 46 cm cushion insert

Gauge

4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm) = 13 sts x 15 rows in SC 

Size

18” / 46 cm wide x 18” / 46 cm long 

ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS)

ch = chain
st/s = stitch/es
sl st = slip stitch
FSC = foundation single crochet
SC = single crochet
RS = right side
WS = wrong side

Video Tutorials

If you would like some extra support while working on this cushion, here are the video tutorials that pair perfectly with this pattern. These are the same ones many people used during the Garden Medley CAL.

• How To Read A Chart
• How To Do Intarsia Colorwork
• Foundation Single Crochet Tutorial
• How To Work With Multiple Bobbins
• 5 Tips For Crocheting A Graphgan
• 5 More Tips For Crocheting Graphgans
• How To Weave In Ends On A Colorwork Project

You can follow the written pattern completely on its own, but the videos are there if you want them.

Pattern Notes

The front panel of this pattern can be worked either by following the written instructions or the color chart. 

Reading The Chart (Video Tutorial)

• The first row of the pattern is worked in FSC. 
• For every following row, work a SC into every stitch. 
• At the end of every row, ch 1 (not counted as a stitch) and turn.
• The ch 1 at the end of each row is not shown on the chart.
• The chart is worked flat. Read odd-numbered rows from right to left, and even-numbered rows from left to right.
• Each square is equal to one SC (or FSC for the first row).

Right and Wrong Sides

The front panel pattern is worked in single crochet back and forth in rows, which creates a smooth, reversible fabric. Because both sides look almost identical, the Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS) labels are used only to keep the chart orientation consistent.

The chart is read from the bottom up, starting in the bottom-right corner. Everyone follows the chart in this same way, no matter which hand you use to crochet. The only difference is which side you treat as the Right Side (RS):

• Right-handed crocheters: Odd-numbered rows are the Right Side (RS).
• Left-handed crocheters: Even-numbered rows are the Right Side (RS).

Following this setup keeps the chart orientation consistent for everyone so that the finished design faces the correct direction, no matter which hand you crochet with.

Color Changes (Video Tutorial)

When using the same color twice in a row, add multiple bobbins of color as necessary.  To change colors, work last st with the current color until 2 loops remain on the hook, yarn over with the new color, and pull through. Use bobbins to add new yarn, do not carry the yarn that is not in use under stitches. 

Buzzing By Cushion – Free Pattern

Chart

Written Pattern

A – Ecru
B- Black
C – Curry
D – Rust

Row 1: (D) 50 FSC, ch 1, turn.
Rows 2-12: (D) 50 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 13: (D) 22 SC, (A) 6 SC, (D) 22 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 14: (D) 21 SC, (A) 8 SC, (D) 21 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 15: (D) 20 SC, (A) 10 SC, (D) 20 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 16: (D) 19 SC, (A) 2 SC, (B) 8 SC, (A) 2 SC, (D) 19 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 17: (D) 18 SC, (B) 14 SC, (D) 18 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 18: (D) 18 SC, (B) 14 SC, (D) 18 SC, ch 1, turn.
Rows 19-23: (D) 17 SC, (B) 16 SC, (D) 17 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 24: (D) 12 SC, (A) 3 SC, (D) 2 SC, (B) 16 SC, (D) 2 SC, (A) 3 SC, (D) 12 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 25: (D) 11 SC, (A) 5 SC, (D) 1 SC, (B) 4 SC, (C) 8 SC, (B) 4 SC, (D) 1 SC, (A) 5 SC, (D) 11 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 26: (D) 10 SC, (A) 7 SC, (B) 2 SC, (C) 12 SC, (B) 2 SC, (A) 7 SC, (D) 10 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 27: (D) 10 SC, (A) 7 SC, (C) 16 SC, (A) 7 SC, (D) 10 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 28: (D) 10 SC, (A) 8 SC, (C) 5 SC, (B) 4 SC, (C) 5 SC, (A) 8 SC, (D) 10 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 29: (D) 10 SC, (A) 8 SC, (C) 3 SC, (B) 8 SC, (C) 3 SC, (A) 8 SC, (D) 10 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 30: (D) 11 SC, (A) 7 SC, (C) 2 SC, (B) 10 SC, (C) 2 SC, (A) 7 SC, (D) 11 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 31: (D) 11 SC, (A) 8 SC, (B) 12 SC, (A) 8 SC, (D) 11 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 32: (D) 12 SC, (A) 7 SC, (B) 12 SC, (A) 7 SC, (D) 12 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 33: (D) 14 SC, (A) 4 SC, (B) 14 SC, (A) 4 SC, (D) 14 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 34: (D) 18 SC, (B) 14 SC, (D) 18 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 35: (D) 11 SC, (A) 7 SC, (B) 14 SC, (A) 7 SC, (D) 11 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 36: (D) 9 SC, (A) 9 SC, (B) 14 SC, (A) 9 SC, (D) 9 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 37: (D) 8 SC, (A) 10 SC, (C) 2 SC, (B) 10 SC, (C) 2 SC, (A) 10 SC, (D) 8 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 38: (D) 7 SC, (A) 12 SC, (C) 3 SC, (B) 6 SC, (C) 3 SC, (A) 12 SC, (D) 7 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 39: (D) 6 SC, (A) 13 SC, (C) 12 SC, (A) 13 SC, (D) 6 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 40: (D) 6 SC, (A) 12 SC, (D) 2 SC, (C) 10 SC, (D) 2 SC, (A) 12 SC, (D) 6 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 41: (D) 6 SC, (A) 11 SC, (D) 4 SC, (C) 8 SC, (D) 4 SC, (A) 11 SC, (D) 6 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 42: (D) 6 SC, (A) 10 SC, (D) 5 SC, (B) 8 SC, (D) 5 SC, (A) 10 SC, (D) 6 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 43: (D) 6 SC, (A) 9 SC, (D) 6 SC, (B) 8 SC, (D) 6 SC, (A) 9 SC, (D) 6 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 44: (D) 6 SC, (A) 8 SC, (D) 7 SC, (B) 8 SC, (D) 7 SC, (A) 8 SC, (D) 6 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 45: (D) 7 SC, (A) 5 SC, (D) 10 SC, (B) 6 SC, (D) 10 SC, (A) 5 SC, (D) 7 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 46: (D) 22 SC, (B) 6 SC, (D) 22 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 47: (D) 22 SC, (B) 1 SC, (D) 4 SC, (B) 1 SC, (D) 22 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 48: (D) 21 SC, (B) 2 SC, (D) 4 SC, (B) 2 SC, (D) 21 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 49: (D) 20 SC, (B) 2 SC, (D) 6 SC, (B) 2 SC, (D) 20 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 50: (D) 19 SC, (B) 2 SC, (D) 8 SC, (B) 2 SC, (D) 19 SC, ch 1, turn.
Rows 51-61: (D) 50 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 62: (D) 50 SC. Fasten off and weave in ends,

Back Panel

Row 1: (D) 50 FSC, ch 1, turn.
Rows 2-61: (D) 50 SC, ch 1, turn.
Row 62: (D) 50 SC. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Adding a Border

Before joining, we will add a simple single crochet border around each panel. This helps create clean edges and makes seaming easier later. It is recommended that you block each individual square before adding the border.

Using Ecru (A) and with the right side facing you, attach your yarn in any corner.

*Work 1 SC in each st/row along the edge. At the corner, work 3 SC all into same st. Repeat from * around. When you reach the corner where you began, work 2 SC into the same st as your first SC, then sl st to the first SC to join. Fasten off, weave in your ends and block the panels.

Joining The Squares

Hold the two panel with wrong sides facing each other, matching stitches along the edges. Insert your hook through the outer loop of the middle single crochet of the corner (the second of the three corner stitches) on both panels and slip stitch to join the yarn.

Work 1 single crochet in the same space as the slip stitch, then continue to work 1 single crochet through the outer loops only of both panels across the edge.

At the corner stitch, work 3 single crochets into the same stitch, still using the outer loops only. Continue along the next edge, repeating this at each corner.

Before you start the final edge, place your cushion insert between the two panels. Work single crochets along the last edge. When you reach the stitch where you first joined your yarn, work 2 single crochets into that stitch, then slip stitch to the first single crochet to close the seam. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Share Your Cushion

I would love to see your finished Buzzing By Cushion. Whether you follow the original colors or try something completely different, please share your photos and tag me so I can admire your work. Seeing everyone’s projects come together is always one of my favorite parts of designing new patterns.