I love cushions (expect them to be a recurring theme). A cushion is a small canvas on which to inject some personality, to have some fun with and take the risk of being a bit bolder, of trying something a bit different.
I wanted to create something
special to give to a friend for her birthday.
Knowing she’s a fan of red and white spots I quickly decided that I
would make her a cushion on this theme. But
I felt it needed something more. A
sprinkling of buttons might just be what was needed to lift this cushion to be
a little bit special. A quick raid on my
and Mum’s button boxes supplied a good variety of red and white buttons. Then it was just the small matter of finding
the fabric.
My need to constantly make the
“right” decision makes choosing fabrics for any project tricky, especially when
I am making something to give as a present.
I have to work hard to remind myself that there is no right and wrong when it comes to fabric choices!
The initial idea in my mind had
been plain red with perhaps a white fabric with small red spots. However, it is rare that you will find
exactly what you are looking for, and you need to enter a fabric shop with an
open mind; flexibility is your friend here.
Enter with an open mind and
time invested browsing the aisles of a well-stocked fabric shop can reward you
with a winning combination of fabrics you would never have imagined walking
away with. Having
pulled out various fabrics, holding up different whites to various reds to try
to find that elusive “perfect” combination, I eventually made a decision. A red/purple tinged stripe and an off-white
with purple spots was not what I had planned on buying at all, but that was the
combination that struck a chord. I think
it works; the patterns contrast but do not clash and I think it adds another
layer of interest to the overall look of the cushion. But judge for yourself…
First the planning:
Then the assembly:
The spots were pinned and tacked
in place before being machine appliquéd.
The buttons were sewn on by hand.
I then machined three and a bit sides of the cushion cover (correct sides
together) before turning through, easing over the cushion pad and then hand
stitching the fourth side closed.
And the finished cushion:
This is a cushion that is all
about its looks. And, perhaps
surprisingly for a cushion adorned with buttons, it doesn’t scrimp on comfort
either. Most importantly, my friend
seems to love it.
I went with a sprinkling of buttons to give this birthday cushion
an extra little something; but what would you have adorning your ideal
cushion? I’d love to hear your ideas.
