MAKE AN EXTRA QUILT BLOCK TO SEW INTO A CHIC COORDINATING CUSHION

CUTTING OUT

1 From Fabric A cut:

■ Two (2) 2½in x WOF strips. From one of the strips, subcut four (4)

2½in x 6½in rectangles.

2 From Fabric B cut:

■ Two (2) 2½in x WOF strips. From one of the strips, subcut four (4)

2½in x 6½in rectangles.

3 From the background fabric cut:

■ Four (4) 2½in x WOF strips. From two of the strips, subcut four (4)

2½in x 6½in rectangles, four (4)

21½in x 4½in rectangles and two

(2) 2½inx 2½in rectangles.

4 From the backing fabric cut:

■ Two (2) 20½in x 14in rectangles.

MAKING THE CUSHION FRONT

5 Follow steps 5– 8 of the quilt tutorial to piece one centre block.

6 Follow steps 10–14 of the quilt tutorial to piece two side borders and two top and bottom borders.

7 Join the borders to the centre block, as outlined in step 15 of the quilt tutorial.

QUILTING AND FINISHING

8 Make a quilt sandwich by placing the lining square right side down, the batting on top of the backing, and then the cushion top centred right side up. Baste the layers together and quilt as desired. Sherry used a walking foot to stitch in the ditch of the seam lines. Trim any excess batting and backing fabric and square up the cushion.

9 Take the two 20½in x 14in cushion back rectangles. On one of the long edges of each rectangle, press under a ¼in seam to the wrong side. Press under ¼in again to enclose the raw edge and topstitch in place.

10 Place the quilted cushion front right side up. Matching up the raw edges, place one of the cushion back pieces on top, with the hemmed edge running across the centre of the cushion. Align the second cushion back piece on top, so that the hemmed edges overlap. Pin or clip to secure.

11 Sew around the cushion with a ¼in seam, sewing a double line of stitching where the cushion back pieces overlap for extra strength. Clip the corners. Turn right side out and press, then insert the cushion pad to finish.