Pillows are a fun and easy way to incorporate the final touches of colour or pattern to a room but they can be pricey. Why not make your pillows unique so that they personally fit your space? Keeping reading for all the information you need to make your own simple, basic, beautiful cushion!

A simple, basic, beautiful cushion

Materials required: 

• ½ to ¾ yard of decorative fabric
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Straight edge ruler
• Disappearing ink marker or tailors chalk
• Measuring tape and cushion form

Instructions:

• Determine the “finished size” of your cushion form by measuring across the front from seam to seam in one direction and then in the other. Standard forms will usually tell you their size ( 16 x 16, 10 X 18 etc) but sometimes they are a bit smaller than “advertised” and you want the finished cover to be somewhat snug so, always a good idea to double check.
•  Add two inches to each of these dimensions and with the straight edge and marker or chalk, draw this new “cut size” on the back side of your fabric. If the print needs to be centered you can work from the front to ensure accuracy but avoid using chalk because it can leave a permanent mark on the fabric.
• Cut two layers of fabric to the same size and place right sides together, aligning all four cut edges.  Pin through both layers to secure every 3 inches or sew with the pin going at right angles to the cut edge. At the bottom edge of the cushion (any side unless a directional print) leave the center section of approx. ¾ of the total length unpinned. This will be the opening to insert your cushion form.
• At the sewing machine, place the pinned fabric under the presser foot with a 1 inch seam allowance. If this isn’t marked on your machine, I measure over 1 inch from the needle and place a 3 or 4 inch section of tape to mark the line. Begin sewing at the bottom edge approx. 2 inches from the corner and stitch toward that first corner. As you get to the corner, go slow because you will want to stop with the needle down as you hit the one inch seam allowance point. Once stopped, lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric and begin stitching along the next edge. Stop and pivot again at each corner until you have stitched 2 inches past the final one and are back to the bottom edge.
• Carefully clip diagonally across each corner to reduce bulk.  You will want to cut closely to the corner but don’t get carried away because it may fray. The heavier the fabric though, the closer you will want to clip.
• Return to the machine and overcast the cut edges of the cushion. Where the bottom edge is open overcast these two layers separately but the remaining edges can be overcast as one layer.
• Turn cushion right side out and carefully from the corners into points if they do not do so easily on their own. Don’t poke them out with your scissors, you will likely make a hole but you can use a straight pin from the outside to carefully pull them into shape. The pros use a fancy tool for this but do the best you can depending upon the fabric.
• Press the cushion cover flat and insert the form through the opening at the bottom. You may hand sew the opening closed or machine stitch, having turned the edges in 1 inch.

Courtesy Mary Dobson

@marycurtainlady