ENGLISH PAPER PIECING AND HAND QUILTING MAKE THIS A SOOTHING SOFA PROJECT!
YOU WILL NEED
■ Background fabric: 1yd
■ Twelve (12) solid fabrics for star appliqué: 10in square each
■ Lining fabric: 18in square
■ Batting: 18in square
■ Piping cord: 2¾yds
■ Zip: 14in long
■ 1½in foam: 14in diameter circle
■ Forty eight (48) copies of the Diamond EPP template
■ One (1) copy of Cushion Back template
FINISHED SIZE ■ 14in diameter circle
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ½in, unless otherwise noted.
■ Press seams to one side, unless otherwise instructed.
■ EPP = English Paper Piecing.
■ RST = right sides together.
■ EPP templates don’t include seam allowances.
■ For templates see p88.
■ Fabrics provided by Michael Miller (michaelmillerfabrics.com)
FABRICS USED
Fabrics are from the Cotton Couture collection by Michael Miller.
CUTTING OUT
1
From the background fabric cut:
■ One (1) 18in square for cushion front.
■ Two (2) pieces using the Cushion Back template.
■ One (1) 2½in x 43½in strip for gusset.
2
From each of the appliqué solid fabrics cut:
■ Four (4) 4¼in x 1¾in pieces for EPP.
■ Four (4) 1½in x 4in pieces for piping.
PIECING THE EPP
3
Pin or glue baste the Diamond templates to the wrong side of the 4¼in x 1¾in pieces. Trim around the diamonds, adding a ¼in seam allowance all the way around. Glue or thread baste the raw edges around the diamonds. 4
Arrange the diamonds into a star shape, ensuring an even mix of colours across the design. Begin sewing together, stitching the diamonds into wedges (Fig 1), then sew the wedges together (Fig 2). To join two pieces, place RST and whipstitch along the edge to be joined, knotting off the threads at each end.
5
Press the completed star well. Remove the paper pieces, and press again, paying attention to the outer edges (Fig A).
ASSEMBLING THE CUSHION FRONT
6
Centre the EPP panel right side up on the cushion front piece and pin into place. Stitch in place around the outer edge using small, neat slip stitches (Fig B).
7
Make a quilt sandwich by placing the lining fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the cushion front centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
8
Quilt as desired. Rebecca hand quilted around the diamonds, then diagonally through the centre to the outer edge (Fig C). Trim the quilted sandwich into a
14in diameter circle.
ASSEMBLING THE CUSHION BACK
9
Place the two cushion back pieces RST. Sew together along the straight edge, using a in seam allowance, as follows. Sew from each end to the dot, using a normal stitch length, and backstitch at the dot. Increase your stitch length for basting (approx. 5mm) and sew the seam between the two dots.
10
Press the seam open on the backing piece. With the backing piece wrong side up, centre the zip right side down on top of the seam. Pin and baste in place.
11
Using a zipper foot, sew the zip in place. Remove the basting stitches.
MAKING THE COVERED PIPING
12
Join twenty four of the 1 in x 4in solid rectangles end to end, using diagonal seams (Figs D–E). Repeat the process to make a second piping strip using the remaining rectangles.
13
Fold each strip from step 12 in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Cut your piping cord in half to make two equal lengths. Place one inside each of the folded strips. Baste the strips together around the piping cord, using a zipper foot to get close to the cord. Trim any excess cord from the ends.
ATTACHING THE PIPING
14
Pin and baste one length of covered piping around the edge of the cushion front, using a 1/8in seam allowance.
Leave 2in unsewn at the beginning and end. Note, you will have excess piping at this point.
15
Trim the beginning of the piping to
2in. Unbaste the edges of the piping along this section, and trim away approx.
1in of the cord, being careful not to cut the fabric strip. Press the short edge under ¼in to the wrong side.
16
Nest the remaining end of the piping inside the beginning end, and mark where it meets the trimmed cord. Trim the covered end at the mark. Refold the beginning over this end, pin and then baste in place.
17
Sew the piping in place using a zipper foot (Fig F).
18
Repeat steps 14–17 to sew the remaining piping to the cushion back (Fig G).
ASSEMBLING THE COVER
19
Sew the 2½in x 43½in gusset strip together along the short edges, using a ½in seam allowance, to make a circle. Press the seam open. Pin RST with the cushion front and baste in place. Stitch RST, close to the piping. 20
Open the zip in the cushion back at least halfway, then join the other long edge of the gusset RST to the cushion (Fig H).
21
Turn the cover right side out and press. Put the foam inside the cushion cover and close the zip to complete.