Designed by William Morris in 1876 as a cotton chintz, African Marigold was block-printed by Thomas Wardle using natural Prussian blue dye.
This interpretation for needlepoint recaptures the faded look of Morris's preliminary watercolour sketch which is in the collection of the William Morris Gallery at Walthamstow.

African Marigold Rug

African Marigold Cushion

Beth Russell took the centre of the lovely watercolour for the cushion and later the whole painting was slightly adapted to turn it from a repeating pattern to an almost symmetrical rug, with a leaf border added.

Rug
CANVAS: 7/8#/in Zweigart Cream Rug Canvas,
48x67" (122x170cm).
DESIGN: 42x61" (106.5x155cm).
WOOLS: Appleton tapestry.
STITCH: Cross.
INSTRUCTIONS: Original William Morris painting of the African Marigold design

Cushion
CANVAS: 12#/in Zweigart White mono De Luxe,
20x20" (51x51cm).
DESIGN: 15½x15½" (39x39cm).
WOOLS: Appleton tapestry.
STITCH: Tent/Basketweave.
INSTRUCTIONS:

The cushion and rug designs both appear in Beth's books Traditional and William Morris Needlepoint respectively, although sadly the latter is out of print at the moment.