Cushion Cover

A N N D A V I E S

This design was adapted from a motif on a Chinese rug. By using strong colours it has been given a contemporary look but if you chose softer colours, the design would seem totally different and more oriental in appearance. The shape of the design could also be adapted easily for a round cushion. Alternatively, the motif used here could be repeated several times to make a rug. Tweeds, plaids and plain woolen materials were used in this cushion cover.

This may be a good hooked project with which to start, as a cushion cover obviously take less time to make, and its straightforward design is more accessible than other more ambitious pieces of work.

46 x 46 cm ( 18 x 18 in )

Materials and Equipment

• Floral design
• Tracing paper
• Transfer pencil
• 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in) hessian/burlap
• Ruler
• Medium felttip pen
• Iron
• Pins
• Staple gun and staples or drawing pins
• 4 x 61 cm (24 in) artist’s stretchers
• Rotary cutter, mat and metal-edge ruler or scissors
• Assortment of materials
• Hook
• 49 x 49 cm ( 191/4 x 191/4 in) backing material (to blend with cushion colours)
• Sewing machine
• Needle
• Matching cotton
• Thimble
• Pressing cloth
• 46 x 46 cm (18 x 18 in) cushion pad

Draw your design on to tracing paper, using a transfer pencil. Because the design is symmetrical, it is not necessary to reverse it. Keeping the threads of the hessian straight, use a ruler and felt-tip pen to mark the corners for the size of cushion cover you want. The drag your open down from one corner mark to another by pulling it between two threads (or use a ruler). You can mark the centre either by measuring across the width and length and length and marking with a pen, or by holding the hessian in half, first one way then the other, and lightly creasing it with a hot iron. Place the design, traced-side down, on the hessian, matching the centres, and pin down to prevent it from slipping. Go over the design with a hot iron, lifting a corner to check that the design is being transferred on to the hessian.

Staple or pin the hessian on to the assembled stretchers, leaving at least 10 cm (4in) all around the finished design and keeping the threads as straight as possible

Cut your material into strips about 5 mm (1/4 in) wide. You can either use a rotary cutter, mat and metal-edge ruler to cut several folds of material in one go, or cut single strips with scissors. Do not cut all your strips at once; you do not really know how much you will be using. Do, however, make sure you have enough material to finish the project.

Commence by hooking the outline.

Continue to build up the design. If you work some of the detail and then some of the background, you will avoid being left with all the boring background to complete at once. When the design is finished, remove the hessian from the frame and cut the hessian down to about 4 cm (1.5 in) all around the marked square.

Place the right side of the backing material against the right side of the work, and pin or tack all around. Using a sewing machine (or you could sew by hand, using strong thread), stitch round three sides very close to the last row of hooking, securing the beginning and end with an overstitch.

Cut the hessian and backing material to about 1 cm (0.5 in) on the three sides, leaving about 2.5 cm (1 in) on the fourth side (which has not been sewn down) Snip enough hessian from the corners to ensure there is no ‘bump’ when you turn the cushion cover right-side out. Having done so, paying particular attention to the corners, place the cushion cover right-side down on a towel or padded surface, cover with a damp cloth and press with a hot iron. Insert the cushion pad and slip-stitch the remaining side, turning the hessian and backing under so that they are not visible.