If my experience of Newnes Home Management has taught me anything, it is to be wary when the authors use the words ’simple’, ‘inexpensive’ and ‘gay’ in the same sentence. In addition, the opening lines of “Cushioned in Wool” failed to reassure me – “All you need is a piece of curtain net, some wool and a bodkin”. How times have changed! I actually don’t think I have ANY of these items in my house (I’m not even sure I know what a bodkin is) – I need to be ashamed.

What an impact this lemon yellow cushion would have made against the purple of that chair! If only there were more colour pictures in Newnes Home Management. I have reproduced the full instructions so that those of you who might be a bit more ‘crafty’ can actually have a go. For Christmas I would really like one in chartreuse with fuschia daisies and a “fringe in a gay contrasting colour”. When you give it me, include the bodkin so I can stab my eyes out Oedipus-style.