MAKE THE CUSHION
SHOPPING LIST
Paper (for hexagon templates)
Scissors Cotton fabric (grey print scraps for hexagons) Linen fabric (grey for cushion front and backs, 50 x 90cm) Basic sewing kit and sewing machine Matching sewing thread Darker sewing thread Zip (grey, 35cm)
Cushion pad (40 x 40cm)
A Start by cutting your templates and fabric. Create two paper hexagon templates, one with 1.5cm sides (for the paper) and another with 2cm sides (for the fabric). Decide which fabrics you’re going to use for your patchwork, then cut out hexagons from them using the 2cm template.
B Tack the fabric hexagons to the paper templates, then stitch all the hexagons together to form the patchwork. Remove the papers and press. For the ‘floating’ hexagons that aren’t part of the patchwork, remove the papers, press the edges underneath and pin them in place.
C Cut the linen fabric to the following sizes: one 43 x 43cm piece for the cushion front; two 23 x 43cm pieces for the back. Pin the patchwork to the top left corner of the front so that it’s 1.5cm in from the edges. Stitch the edge of the patchwork to the front by hand. Lay your ‘floating’ hexagons on the fabric so you’re happy with their positions, then stitch these into place. Work running stitches around the edge of each hexagon using a slightly darker thread. We used stranded cotton.
D Place the two cushion back pieces right sides (RS) together and stitch 3cm from each edge to make side seams. Tack between these side seams then press open. Pin the zip RS down centrally on top of this, then stitch it into place using a zip foot. Remove the tacking stitches. Place the front and back RS together, then stitch them together on all four sides. Press the seams open, clip the corners, then turn RS out and press. Put the cushion pad inside the cover, close the zip and you’re done.