Part 1: Create your template

Introduction

In this project you will need:

Cushion, size: 50 x 50 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in).

Materials

• Cushion front and envelope back: you need enough fabric to cut two cushion backs based on the size of the template. For a 50 x 50 cm then half a metre square of fabric will be enough.
• Backing fabric for quilted cushion front: 55-60 cm square (21.7 -23⅝ in)
• Wadding (batting): 55 cm square but doesn't need to be precise, just 3 - 5 cm (13/16 - 2 in) wider and longer than the cushion front.
• Binding: At least 3 m (3⅜ yd) of 7.5 cm (3 in) wide straight binding in a contrasting colour to the cushion
• Sewing thread: Strong sewing thread to match your chosen fabric. (Examples of strong thread are…)
• Quilting thread: 10 g ball of Pearl Cotton
• Crochet thread size 8 or similar in the colour of your choice.
• 60 cm (24 in) square cushion pad

Tools and equipment

• Metre ruler (yardstick) or quilter's rule
• Tailor's chalk, fabric marker or quilter's crease
• Fabric scissors
• Rotary cutter and cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Sewing needles and quilting needles
• Iron and ironing board
• Craft paper/wrapping paper/large sheet of paper you can use to make a template for your cushion.

Part 1 - Create Your Template

In this lesson you will need:

Batting

Quilt top

Quilter's pins

Thread

No 8 Cotton Pearl thread

Sewing machine

Iron

Pressing mat

Scrap fabric for your binding

Rotary cutter

Scissors

Tailor's chalk

1. The cushion is 50 cm x 50 cm.
2. Fold your craft paper in half, lining up your straightest edges, getting a nice crease in the middle.
3. With the fold you've already created, fold your paper in half again to create a corner. Make sure the corner fold is nice and neat and the paper has been folded into a quarter of its original size.
4. Using a ruler, measure 25 cm (9⅞in) on either side of your folded paper and mark it with a pencil.
5. Using your ruler, draw a straight line connecting your 25 cm (9⅞in) marks together.
6. Following the lines you have drawn, cut out your template.
7. From the centre line of your template, measure 10 cm (3 15/16 in) down from your centre line. Repeat this on the other side.
8. Join those two lines together, drawing across the template.
9. From the 10 cm (3 15/16 in) line, measure 2 cm (13/16 in) down. This will create a seam allowance for the envelope back. Draw a line connecting these two points, and fold the template under this line.

Cut Out Your Cushion Top

1. Grab the template you've created and enough fabric to make the cushion top and back, this should be around half a metre square.
2. Grab some weights to weigh down your template.
3. Using a ruler and some chalk, draw an outline around your template on your cushion top. Cut around the template using a rotary cutter.
4. Remove the weights and your template.

Cut Out the Cushion Backs

1. Grab a remnant piece of fabric big enough to cut out the backs of your cushion, and fold it in half.
2. Grab your template and line it up, making sure there is enough fabric around the outside, lining it up as close as possible to the edge of your fabric.
3. Grab some weights to weigh down your template.
4. Using a ruler and some chalk, draw an outline around your template on your cushion top.
5. Line up the edges of the fabric, and grab your iron and press the fabric.
6. Line up the fold of your fabric on your cutting mat to make sure you are getting straight lines. Make sure the warp and weft of your fabric are straight.
7. Grab your template and line it up, making sure there is enough fabric around the outside, lining it up as close as possible to the edge of your fabric.
8. Grab some weights to weigh down your template.
9. Cut around the template using a rotary cutter.