BARGAIN HUNTER:Warm up your home with knitted yarn textures. Their tactility continues to enthrall homeowners. Cork-born, London-based Claire Anne O'Brien kick-started this trend with her highly-sculptural pieces (above), which have been constructed into three-dimensional forms through a combination of hand- and machine-knit stitches.
Her second collection has been picked over by design blogs across the planet. If her work is haute couture then a very accessible alternative is available from Habitat. Its 100 per cent cotton cord and line pouffes will perk up any room. They cost around €124.55 (£100). Delivery is an additional €15 (£12) online from Habitat.co.uk. The interior is a polystyrene bead filling.
Habitat is doing gorgeous floor cushions for £13 so keep them in mind especially if you've a gaggle of kids in the house. UK-based Melanie Porter has created a collection of woolly creations including Dot, a set of five crochet lampshades in three colour combinations; black and canary; soft grey and coral; and red and turquoise. It costs €635 (£510). Hugo is a deliciously textured cushion, that comes in amber, soft grey, apple, hot pink, soft white and black. It costs €193 (£155) from Melanieporter.co.uk. For more inspiration visit the Knitting and Stitching Show which takes place at the RDS and runs from today until Sunday, November 4th.
