PIECE BY PIECE
A simple quilted cushion is an easy way to try patchworking – no sewing machine required.
you will need: Lots of fabric in a mix of colours and patterns
Template (go to thesimplethings. com/blog/patchworktemplate to download)
Cotton thread
Sewing needle
Scissors
50x50cm cushion pad
2m pom pom trim
1m of plush or cotton fabric
Pins
Iron Repeat with all your hexagon pieces.
3 Pinch two of your hexagon shapes together with right sides facing.
Sew the edges together, using small stitches across the fabric. Your stitches should go straight across one side of your two patchwork pieces. When you’ve sewn one side of the two hexagons together, tie off your cotton, then get another piece and stitch to the opposite edge of the one you have just sewn. You can sew it in any order you like, but it’s easiest to sew three rows of five and four rows of six and then join them together to form a square using the same technique.
4 Remove the paper templates and press the hexagons with an iron.
5 To make the cushion, put the cushion pad on your 1m of fabric and carefully draw around it twice. Cut out two pieces of fabric, leaving a 5cm seam allowance around the edge.
6 Place one piece right side up and pin your hexagon pieces on top.
7 Using a small running stitch, sew around the edges of the patchwork attaching it to your cushion fabric. Once you’ve attached your hexagon pieces. Lay this patchwork side face up on a flat surface.
8 Cut the pom pom trim into four equal lengths and pin these to each side of the fabric with the pom poms facing inwards, leaving a 5cm seam.
9 Using a wide running stitch, stitch the pom pom trim to hold it in place when you then stitch the back piece of fabric to your cushion.
10 Place the other fabric piece on top (right side down) and pin the two pieces together with the pom poms on the inside. Stitch together through both layers of fabric, leaving a gap big enough to get the cushion pad in.
11 Now for the exciting bit! Turn your cushion the right way out, then fold your cushion pad in half and insert it through the gap. Fold over the edges of the gap and stitch them together neatly making sure the pom poms face out. Ta da, you’re done.
1 Print the hexagon template, and cut out 39 copies of it.
2 Pin the hexagonal templates to your fabric, then cut out leaving a 1.5cm border around the edge. Thread your needle and fold the edges of the fabric over the paper. Sew through both the paper and fabric layers with a tacking stitch to keep it in place.