Patchwork Cushion Cover

This is a good project to make with fabric left over from other projects.

 

Materials needed

one 12in zipper

17in striped fabric

5in navy fabric

8in floral fabric

Finished size 16in square pillow

Instructions

Cut  the following-for the front one 7in square from floral fabric, two 7in x 2 in from navy fabric, two 10in x 2 in from navy fabric, two 9 ½ in x 4 in from striped fabric and two 16 ½  x 4 in from striped fabric. For the back cut one 16in square from striped fabric.

Sew the 7in navy strips to the top and bottom of the floral square. Follow this by sewing the 10in navy strips to the sides of the floral square. The square should now be framed by the navy fabric and measure 9inches.

Next repeat the same steps with the striped fabric. Sew the shorter strips to the top and bottom and the longer strips to the sides. The square should now measure 16inches.

To attach the zipper place the front and back pieces together with right sides facing centre the zipper on the bottom raw edge measure the zipper  pin and stitch a 1in seam leaving the section were the zipper will be unstitched. Tack the zipper opening closed. Place the zipper face down on the zip seam tack into place. Using a zipper foot stitch the zipper into place starting about 1in down from the pull tab. When you reach the  opposite side of  where you started stop and slide the pull tab down and behind the zipper foot. To do this leave  the needle in the down position and lift the foot so as to not lose your place. Once you have the pull tab behind the zipper foot release the foot and finish stitching.

 

Open the zipper place front and back pieces right sides together stitch the other three sides to complete the cushion cover. Turn right side out stuff with cushion pad and enjoy.

Crossstitch Bookmark

Bookmarks could be considered outdated and redundant by many especially if they have totally embraced e-books but for me who goes back and forth between the two bookmarks are relevant and necessary.
The following project is easy and quick even for a beginner and depends on what is available in your scrap fabric basket.

Materials needed:
scrap fabric
fusible interfacing
small cross stitch* ( no larger than 5x5cm)

1. Gather fabric scraps, cut two pieces to measure 5x5cm and one to measure 4x4cm. Arrange and stitch to cross stitch top and sides. Cut another piece of fabric 13x8cm  and stitch to cross stitch bottom.
2. Cut backing fabric and interfacing 8x18cm iron on the interfacing onto the wrong side of the back piece. I used a  light weight fusible interfacing.
3. Place front and back pieces right sides together and stitch around the perimeter of the bookmark leaving a small opening for turning right side out about 2cm.

 

4. Trim corners (as shown above) and  turn right side out. To do this I use a chop stick starting at the bottom I pull the fabric over the stick until its turned right side out. Next I push out the corners using the end of a  small paintbrush.

5. Stitch around the perimeter to close the opening and create a border. Begin reading.

 

*Cross stitch image from 'Molly Makes issue 31 'Hit the Jackpot' p77.