Pile ‘em high - These squidgy bean-bag cushions are a lovely accessory for a bedroom
Fancy cushions are an excellent way to add a pop of colour and comfort to any room, but buying them from a shop can often come with a hefty price tag. Luckily, the solution is simple - make your own!
So in this guide, we'll walk you through creating a gorgeous set of Liberty cushions that will add a touch of elegance to your home and make you the envy of all your friends. With just 6 simple steps and basic materials required, you'll be amazed at how quickly you can master the art of cushion-making.
Get ready to have a blast because we're about to embark on a cushion-crafting adventure.
Equipment & Materials:
- Floral fabric
- Covered piping
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Piping foot or zipper foot
- Dressmaking scissors
- Threads
- Bean-bag beads
- Sheets of paper
- Pencil
How to make it:
Step 1 - Start by making a template out of paper. Tie a pencil to the end of a piece of strong thread and use it like a compass to draw a circle, holding the other end in the centre of the circle. Our largest cushion is about 55cm across, so the length of the tied thread would be half this. Cut out the circle and use it to cut two pieces of patterned fabric.
Step 2 - Measure the circumference of the circle with a fabric tape (or calculate it using the radius; it will be roughly 6.3 times the radius). Cut out a strip of fabric 12cm wide to this length, adding 5cm for the seam allowance. Check you have the right length by pinning it temporarily to one of the circles. Then unpin it.
Step 3 - Cut two pieces of piping a few centimetres longer than they circumference. Pin in place on the right side of the circle all the way around, matching the raw edges of the piping fabric and the edge of the cushion, so the piping is on the inner edge. Where the ends meet, tuck one end into the other neatly. Sew in place, then make snips all the way around up to the hem line. Repeat for the second circle of fabric.
Step 4 - With the right sides facing, pin and sew the ends of the strip of fabric, taking a 2.5cm seam allowance. Pin to each circle, right sides facing. With the strip piece of fabric uppermost, stitch the pieces together, leaving a gap for filling. You will need to use a piping or zipper foot, so your seam will be close up against the piping.
Step 5 - Turn through and fill with bean-bag beans until the cushion is nice and plump. Pin the opening securely shut, then sew the gap closed. Use your machine to stitch this securely so the beans can’t escape.
Step 6 - Repeat the method to make the two smaller cushions.
Happy crafting
You're officially a cushion-making pro! It's time to kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labour on those beautiful Liberty cushions.
But don't get too cosy because we've got another crafting adventure in store for you. How about adding a cute little penguin to your collection of crafts? Or we've some patchwork cushions or a cute little cooks cross-stitch picture to choose from.
