Yesterday we talked about outdoor thread and fabric. Now let's get started on a cushion for your favorite outdoor space.
Because outdoor fabric is quite heavy, I wanted to use simple design for my cushions. I went to one of my favorite reference books for modern quilt blocks, Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.
The 100 blocks in this book are all 6" x 6", but the simple designs are easy to re-size. I chose 3 different blocks for my outdoor cushions. Here’s the one I chose for cushion #1. I re-sized this block so the finished size would be 18" square.
For my 3 cushions I bought 1yd of green stripe and ½yd of black and solid green. I also bought 1yd of black fabric for the cushion backs.
Here’s what you’ll need to cut for an 18" cushion:
Green stripe
- 1 – 3½" x 6½" and 1 – 9½" x 15½"
- Bias strips 2⅝" wide. You’ll need about 74" in length. Join pieces as necessary to make this length.
Black
- 1 – 3½" x 3½" and 1 – 6½" x 9½" for the cushion front
- 1 – 18½" x 18½" for the cushion back
Green solid
- 1 – 3½" x 15½", 1 – 3½" x 9½" and 1 – 6½" x 6½"
18" pillow form
1 spool of Coats & Clark outdoor thread in the color of your choice
You'll also need about 74" of cording. I used a soft, ½" diameter cotton cording.
Using Coats & Clark outdoor thread, sew the pieces together to make an 18½" square. Finger-press seams open. You may press seams open with an iron if you wish. Be sure to test the setting on your iron on a fabric scrap to make sure it is not too hot.
I find that the finished cushion is a better shape if you round the corners or cut them on a slight angle. I made a cardboard template to use as a guide for cutting. I started the angle at 4½" from the corner and removed about ½" of fabric at the widest point.
Trim the black 18½" square to match the cushion front.
Come back tomorrow and I'll show you how to make the cording and add it to the cushion for a very professional look!
No comments:
Post a Comment