How to Make Floor Cushions

As modern interior desgin is influenced more and more by Eastern styles, we are increasingly eating, drinking and sleeping at a lower level. This superb floor cushion is not particularly either Eastern or Western in its design, but bridges the gap between the two in an unselfconscious, quietly luxurious way. The long, ‘envelope’-style flap is another feature that gives the cushion a contemporary appearance, while the bold silver stripe design adds just enough of a decorative element without being too much.

You will need:

(To make a cushion measuring 65 x 65cm)

• Sheet of wallpaper lining paper
• Rule
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Masking tape
• Cutting mat and craft knife
• Piece of white suede (or leather), 67 x 195cm
• Large Printing Surface
• Tailor’s Chalk
• Light Spray Adhesive
• Overalls, Apron or an old shirt
• Plastic Gloves
• Protective Mask
• Protective Goggles
• Stippling or Stencil Brush, or a small piece of sponge
• Approx 500ml ready-mixed silver textile pigment dye
• Piece of calico or other light fabric
• Iron
• Sewing Machine, with a leather needle
• Thread to match the suede
• Cushion Pad 65 x 65cm

Image via Wikipedia

The “How-To”…

1. Cut a piece of lining paper 195cm long. Rule 21 rectangles within this larger rectangle, each 4cm wide. Tape the paper securely to the cutting mat and cut out the rectangles neatly using a craft knife. This is your stencil.

2. Using masking tape, attach the suede to your printing surface right-side up. With the tailor’s chalk, rule a straight line down each side of the fabric, 11cm in from the edges.

3. Place the stencil on the suede, lining up its cut edges with the two lines, and attach lightly with spray adhesive. Wearing the overalls, gloves, mask and goggles, use the brush or sponge to apply the dye evenly through the stencil, brushing from the edges into the centre to avoid the dye leaking underneath.

Image via Wikipedia

4. When you have finished, carefully pull away the stencil and wash your brush straight away, you can also throw the stencil away. Allow the suede to dry thoroughly, then lay the calico over the back of it. Press the suede carefully with a hot iron, through the calico, for about 3-5 minutes to fix the dye.

5. Fold over one third of the suede, wrong sides together. Stitch neatly up each side, allowing a 1cm seam allowance. Cut away a narrow edge from the remaining third, on a slight diagonal, so that it forms a flap.

6. Cut two slits in the main body of the cushion, along the edges of one printed stripe, wide enough to insert the flap. Fill with the cushion pad and carefully tuck in the flap.

** Variations **

You can vary this project by printing the stripes in different colors,or cutting them to different widths.