Simple Cushion Using Children’s Art

Sewing:

This project was very easy-to-do, and not much sewing skill was required at all! The concept is quite similar to another project that I did last year using children’s artwork.

I just love the simple shapes and designs of the things that children draw. And it’s nice to try and use their pictures where possible, rather than putting them away in a drawer.

Firstly, I made this cushion the same way as my No-Zip Cushion Cover, and I just made it out of different scraps of white material that I had lurking in my cupboard. The only difference with THIS cushion is that I put two pieces of material together to make the front panel, so that the front of the cushion was going to be strong enough to 'hold' the sewing. This is a view of the cushion from the back.

Then I chose one of my daughter Poppy’s drawings to use – the bird! I’d also like to have a go at doing this horse too at some stage in the future. Isn’t it lovely? 

Just make sure you choose something simple, and something that will be easy to sew the outline of.

So, I traced the outline from the original picture onto some tracing paper.

Then I went over the outline on the other side, then flipped it over again and traced the outline again onto the material. I had to go through this process so that the duck was pointing the way I wanted it to be on the cushion!

Once I had the outline traced onto the material, it was just a matter of sewing over the pencil marks. I just used a basic cotton thread that I had purchased previously at Big W for one of my Christmas projects.

I went around once, sewing the outline, and then I went back over it and ‘sewed in’ the gaps. 

Not very technical, and I’m sure it’s not even the proper way to do it. Someone asked me, “is that called back-stitch?”, and I said “no, it’s called rough-stitch” !!

And I’m very pleased to say that my cushion won a Highly Commended in the Handicraft at my local Show over the weekend.

Happy sewing!

Emma

'A Little Bit of Love' Cushion

Sewing:

This week I thought I might get back to some basic embroidery. I used to embroider all the time when I was younger - but I guess now working and having a little boy to look after there isn't as much spare time anymore...but I miss it.

So I thought I would start small. I made this cushion by first embroidering in chain stitch the word 'love' onto a nice natural linen. 

To get the lettering looking nice i just tried out different fonts on the computer and then printed one off in the size i wanted and traced it onto the linen with a water soluble marker.

To make this into a cushion I used the following:

• a 16 inch zip
• 2m of 20mm white ric-rac
• 1m of this cool flora print that coordinates with my aqua 'love'
• 1 - size 18 cushion insert

I won't go through the detail of how to assemble the cushion - it's a pretty basic process and there are many blogs that already go into the tiny details. But I will pass on some of my tips I found useful:


TIPS
1. If you want to have cushions with that nice plump look always buy a cushion insert one size larger than the finished cushion size you want to make. 

2. When assembling the cushion if you are a little nervous about the rid-rac ending up where it should be just sew it onto the reserve side of the front cushion piece first just inside the edge. Then when you assemble the cushion if you follow just inside the line you have already attached the binding with it will be in the perfect spot.

3. Make sure you use colours that contrast well for the font and the background - you want your text to stand out!

4. Before turning the cushion to the right side clip the seams around the corners at 1cm intervals - this will help them achieve that nice soft curve you are hoping for on the ric-rac corners.

5. When you choose backing fabric you don't decide halfway though that you'd actually like to use this fabric on the front of a cushion and wander off and start another project like I did(results to come soon!).

Enjoy your sewing....I know I will!


Caity x