Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (4 page)

b.
On the front of the throw, fold the mitered corners, forming a 45-degree angle, and pin them in place.
(
FIGURE 11A, B, C
)

c.
Then, using the hand sewing needle, topstitch
*
the binding to the front of the throw, stitching close to the folded edge of the binding.
(
FIGURE 11A, B, C
)

*
See page 172
for an explanation of topstitching.

d.
To finish your throw, slip stitch
*
the folded edges of the mitered corners together by hand on both the front and the back of the throw.
(
FIGURE 11D
)

*
See page 171
for an explanation of slip stitching.

FIGURE 10E

FIGURE 10F

FIGURE 11A, B, C

FIGURE 11D

FLOOR CUSHIONS

SMALL FLOOR CUSHION FINISHED SIZE: 25″ WIDE × 25″ LONG | LARGE FLOOR CUSHION FINISHED SIZE: 25″ WIDE × 48″ LONG

Not just for teenagers’ rooms, these soft and comfy portable seats have so many uses. The big ones, sized for lounging friends and napping children, can be stacked or tossed wherever you need some extra seating. The small ones make smart chair cushions or pet beds.

FABRICS

FOR THE SMALL FLOOR CUSHION

• 1
³
/
₄
yards (44″-wide) heavyweight cotton fabric
or
³
/
₄
yard (60″-wide) heavyweight cotton fabric for the exterior

• 1
¹
/
₂
yards (44″-wide) muslin for the pillow form

• 1
¹
/
₂
pounds polyester polyfill

FOR THE LARGE FLOOR CUSHION

• 3 yards (44″-wide) heavyweight cotton fabric
or
1
¹
/
₂
yards (60″-wide) heavyweight cotton fabric for the exterior

• 3 yards (44″-wide) muslin for the pillow form

• 3
¹
/
₂
pounds polyester fiberfill

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Buttons to cover (size 1
¹
/
₂
); 2 for Small Floor Cushion, 4 for Large Floor Cushion

•
⁵
/
₈
″ flat 2-hole buttons; 2 for Small Floor Cushion, 4 for Large Floor Cushion

• Coordinating thread

• 5″ doll-maker’s hand sewing needle

• Carpet or upholstery thread

• Yardstick

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Sharp hand sewing needle

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₂
″ unless otherwise stated. (The
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.)

• Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project.

Step 1. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.

a.
FOR THE SMALL FLOOR CUSHION

First, fold the fabric in half lengthwise,
Wrong
sides together, matching the selvage edges, and press. Then, open out the fabric
Right
side down and, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil, measure and mark the following dimensions directly onto the
Wrong
side of your fabric.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE EXTERIOR

• Cut 2 panels: 26″ wide × 26″ long

FROM THE MUSLIN

• Cut 2 panels: 26″ wide × 26″ long

FOR THE LARGE FLOOR CUSHION

First, fold the fabric in half lengthwise,
Wrong
sides together, matching the selvage edges, and press. Then, open out the fabric
Right
side down and, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil, measure and mark the following dimensions directly onto the
Wrong
side of your fabric.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE EXTERIOR

• Cut 2 panels: 26″ wide × 49″ long

FROM THE MUSLIN

• Cut 2 panels: 26″ wide × 49″ long

b.
Using your scissors, cut out all of the pieces by cutting on the marked lines on the fabric. Save the scraps of fabric left over from the heavyweight cotton to use in covering the buttons.

Step 2. Make the pillow form.

NOTE:
The instructions in steps 2 and 3 are the same for both the small and the large pillow forms. The illustrations depict the large Floor Cushion.

a.
First, place the muslin panels
Right
sides together, matching the raw edges, and pin them in place.

b.
Measure 4″ in from one side edge on the short end of the muslin panel and make a mark. (On the small Floor Cushion, all sides are the same size.) Repeat this step for the other side of the panel. Starting at the 4″ mark, machine stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam to the corner, then down one long edge, along the short end, and back up the other long edge, turning at the corner and stitching to the second 4″ mark, backstitching at each end. Leave the raw edge between the 4″ marks open. Using your scissors, trim the corners, making sure not to clip into the stitching line.
(
FIGURE 2B
)

c.
Now, turn the pillow form
Right
side out and press.

d.
Fold under the
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance on each side of the form on the open end, toward the
Wrong
side, and press.
(
FIGURE 2D
)

e.
Stuff the pillow form with the polyester fiberfill, using small amounts at a time and filling the corners evenly.

f.
Pin the open end closed and slip stitch by hand using the sharp hand sewing needle or machine stitch close to the edge to close the opening.
(
FIGURE 2F
)

Step 3. Make the Floor Cushion.

a.
Place the 2 heavyweight cotton panels with
Right
sides together, matching the raw edges, and pin them in place.

b.
Repeat step 2b to stitch the Floor Cushion panels together.

c.
Now, turn the Floor Cushion
Right
side out and press.

d.
Fold under the
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance on each side of the form on the open end, toward the
Wrong
side, and press.
(REFER TO
FIGURE 2D
)

Step 4. Mark the button placement on the Floor Cushion.

FOR THE SMALL FLOOR CUSHION

a.
First, fold the sewn Floor Cushion panels in half, matching up the top and bottom edges. Gently press a crease along the fold on the panels. Then, unfold the sewn Floor Cushion panels.

b.
Starting at the left-side edge, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil, measure 8″ in along the center crease and make a mark. Then, from the right-side edge, measure 8″ in along the center crease and make another mark. These are the placement marks for attaching the buttons.
(
FIGURE 4B
SMALL CUSHION)

FOR THE LARGE FLOOR CUSHION

a.
First, fold the Floor Cushion panels in half across the width matching up long edges on the top and bottom. Gently press a crease along the fold on the panels. Then, unfold the Floor Cushion.

b.
Starting at the left-side edge, using your yardstick and chalk pencil, measure along the center crease and mark the following measurements; 6″, 18″, 30″, and 42″. These are the placement marks for attaching the buttons.
(
FIGURE 4B
LARGE CUSHION)

Step 5. Fill and close the Floor Cushion.

a.
Now, insert the pillow form into the Floor Cushion.

b.
Pin the open end of the Floor Cushion closed and slip stitch by hand or machine stitch close to the edge to close the opening.
(
FIGURE 2F
)

Step 6. Attach the buttons and tuft the Floor Cushion.

NOTE:
Adding the buttons and tufting the Floor Cushion will give it dimension and keep the pillow form from shifting.

a.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to cover the buttons with the leftover heavyweight cotton fabric.