USE YOUR LINES OF QUILTING AS INDICATION FOR WHERE TO POSITION YOUR LETTERS
YOU WILL NEED
Makes one (1) cushion:
■ Background fabric (white)
17in square
■ Black fabric: one (1) fat eighth
■ Batting: 20in square
■ Lining fabric: 20in square
■ Cushion pad: 16in square
■ Backing fabric: one (1)
22in x 16in piece and one (1)
14in x 16in piece
■ Pompom trim: 1¾yds
■ Fusible web (20in wide) ¼yd
■ One (1) copy each of the Letter templates
FINISHED SIZE
■ 15in square
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in throughout, unless otherwise noted.
■ For templates see page 79.
CUTTING OUT
1 Decide on your phrase, then trace the required letters onto the paper side of the fusible web. Note, they will be reversed. If you wanted to make your own quote, do the same with a clear font of your choosing. Cut out roughly (with at least 1/8in extra around the edge) and fuse to the wrong side of the strips of black fabric, placing them as close together as you can, to conserve fabric. Now cut out the letters and numbers neatly.
PREPARING THE BACKGROUND
2 Press the cushion background. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the lining fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the background fabric centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
3 Quilt as desired. Sarah has quilted simple straight lines vertically across the whole panel in coordinating white thread, spaced about ¼in apart. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the cushion top to 15½in square.
APPLIQUE THE LETTERS
4 Peel off the paper backing on your letters and position the sentiment across the quilted cushion top, ensuring they're all evenly spaced out (Fig A). When they are arranged to your satisfaction, press in place with an iron.
5 Once firmly fused in place, stitch around the letters with a small stitch in matching thread to secure. You can do so by hand or machine, depending on your preference.
PREPARING THE CUSHION BACK
6 Take the 22in x 16in backing fabric panel and fold in half so it measures 11in x 16in. Stitch a ¼in topstitch along the fold, and press. Trim to 15½in wide. Repeat with the 14in x 16in backing fabric panel, folding to 7in x 16in. Topstitch and trim to measure 15½in wide.
ASSEMBLING THE CUSHION
7 Baste the length of pompom trim around the edge of the cushion front to secure in place, positioning the pompoms so that they're facing inwards towards the sentiment, as shown (Fig B).
8 With right sides together, align the raw double edge of the larger backing fabric panel with the top edge of the cushion front. Position the smaller backing fabric panel on top, aligning the bottom edge of the cushion front.
9 Stitch all the way around the edge of the cushion using a ½in seam, reinforcing where the backing fabric panels overlap. Be careful to move the pompoms out of the way while you stitch, to achieve a neat finish.
10 Clip the corners and turn the cushion cover right side out. Insert the cushion pad to finish.