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Saturday, July 7, 2012

How to make a Cushion cover

Learn how to make a cushion cover by yourself and save that money for other things

Here are the steps that you will follow to do so;

a) Generate your idea by doing the following;

  1.  First visualize your end product before you make it. In other words, see the end from the beginning.
  2.  Write down your ideas on a piece of paper as soon as they register in your mind
  3.  Sketch your designs carefully. You could do around four designs
  4. Look at the requirements for each design that you have sketched
  5. Choose the best design basing on the uniqueness and the availability of materials for making it.
b) Put your generated idea following the steps below;
  1. Measure your cushion pad (or check size on label) and add 3cm to each measurement to allow for 1.5cm seam allowances. Using a ruler, set square and dressmakers’ chalk pencil, mark out this area on your fabric, once for the cushion front and again, for the back. If you want to centre a pattern or motif, or cut lots of cushion pieces, make a pattern from tracing paper, position on your fabric and draw round. Cut out pieces and iron.
  2. Pin the cushion front and back together with right sides facing and tack 1.5cm in from edges round three sides and four corners, leaving a gap on one side. Machine-stitch close to tacking, reversing for a few stitches to secure thread ends. Remove tacking.
  3. On heavier-weight fabrics, such as velvets, clip across the corners to remove bulk. Alternatively, to give sharp, slightly padded corners on lightweight fabrics, fold the double seam allowance down on both sides, pressing along stitching line, then at top and bottom.
  4. Turn cushion cover right side out, press and insert cushion pad. Using a needle and matching thread, slip stitch opening to close.

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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Animal Cushions for you Animal Cushions for you Animal Cushions for you

Animal cushions can bring the African bush, the Amazon rainforest, the Australian wilderness or the English garden into your room.
These will reflect your favourite animal or provide a matching colour for your settee. Whatever you choose they will be a focal point and have cause for discussion.
Picture Panels can be bought with lots of different kinds of animals printed on them.
These can be made into wonderful cushion covers for a basic cushion or made into a quillow with the internal quilt showing more of the theme on the front.
These panels could also be made into wall hangings instead of cushions and used like a picture on your wall.
You can create your own animal designs using techniques such as Appliqueor Cross Stitch These panels could also be made into wall hangings instead of cushions and used like a picture on your wall.
For your domesticated pets, cushions can be made to provide them with a place to sleep or to cushioned bed for them. The cushions can be made to fit the size of the basket or the box to give your pets extra warmth and comfort.
Cat Cushions
Cat cushions are fairly straightforward to make and apart from the occasional paw padding cats use to get comfortable they should last quite a long time.
I made some cushions for my cats baskets when they were just kittens and they are now 14 years old. Apart from a little colour fading they are still good.
Dog Cushions
Dog cushions are very different mainly due to the wear or mainly tear these will have to endure. Puppies have sharp teeth, bored dogs chew, and their claws and rip a cushion in half.
With all this in mind your dog still enjoys a comfortable bed to sleep in and if it has other things to bite and chew may leave the bed alone. If not then at least you know that these can be replaced fairly quickly.
If you are not confident in making a cushion for your pet, I have got a selection of ready made ones in books and more which is an Amazon shop. You may also find you could recover these yourself if you wanted a different outer cover.
Hope you enjoy making cushions to suit your type of animal. 


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