Appliqué a cushion

These special cushions are easy to make and you’ll have fun doing the appliqué and embroidery.

You will need
• caravan design
• bull denim fabric for the cushion cover
• printed fabrics of your choice for the appliqué
• embroidery threads in various colours
• fabric pen
• embroidery needle
• embroidery hoop
• inner cushion, in the size of your choice
• machine thread in a colour matching the bull denim

To make
Note Our cushion is 53cm long by 40cm wide; you can use any size you prefer.

1 Cut your bull denim fabric in one long strip so you will have seams only along the long sides of the cushion. The strip must go lengthwise around the inner cushion and overlap at the centre back as you do with the usual cushion cover; this is much easier than inserting a zip fastener or closing with buttons. remember to add 1,5cm seam allowances and cut your overlap at the back long enough to prevent the inner cushion from showing at the opening when inserted.
2 Complete all your embroidery and appliqué before you sew up the cushion cover to make it easier to do. Measure your strip to find the front of the cushion and mark the area off for the appliqué and embroidery.
3 Draw the caravan design on page 129 with a fabric pen onto the cushion cover. Pin all your appliqué pieces to the fabric and sew down first. We used quite large stitches to add to the cushion’s charm.
4 Embroider the remainder of the design using different stitches and colours as we did on our cushion cover. Pull the fabric taut in the embroidery hoop to ensure easier and neater embroidery.

To complete the cushion After finishing the appliqué and embroidery, hem the short ends of the cushion cover with narrow hems. With the right side on the inside, stitch the side seams with the hemmed short ends overlapping at the centre back. Press open the seams and turn over to the right side. insert the inner cushion.