Requirements

From 20 cm (18") x 115 cm (44/45") fabric, cut four or five 5" wide bias strips

Place rotary ruler on to fabric, aligning printed 45° line on ruler with selvedge of material; cut up edge of ruler. Measure desired width of bias from this cut edge and cut a strip; continue cutting strips until required quantity is achieved. 

Cut One 31 cm (12½") square (cream)

One 43 cm (17") square wadding/batting (cotton/wool or lightweight polyester)

Threads to match fabrics

Decorative machine thread

40 cm (16") cushion pad

Create Design

1. Take one bias cut strip and fold both bias edges over to W/S aligning the raw edges in the centre, the strip now resembles giant bias binding. Press well. Repeat with remaining bias strips.  

2. Lay two pressed bias strips (raw edges underneath) onto R/S of 31 cm (12½") square. Arrange strips diagonally, aligning folded edges of strips with centre diagonal line of square. 

3. Cover remainder of the 31 cm (12½") squarei with strips - all  butted up.  Trim any excess bias where possible. Cover corners of 31 cm (12½") square with trimmed off-cuts – if needed cut another bias strip. Pin all layers in place. Turn over and re-trim any remaining excess bias strips to edges of cream backing square. 

4. Measure 1.25 cm (½") from the folded edge of each bias strip and sew seam through all layers. For accuracy; mark the fabric with a lightly ruled or scored line drawn 1.25 cm (½") from folded edge of bias. 

5. Open the edges of the bias folds and embellish inside of each channel with a decorative machine stitch.

Thread machine top and bottom with variegated thread, select pattern, align presser foot with centre of channel. Laying some thin paper under the backing material will prevent the fabric distorting especially important when sewing any heavy satin stitch design.

6. Baste round outside edge of the panel – keep stitching close to raw edges.  

Border

Cut  2½") strips for the borders. Attach strips to sides. Press well.

Completing the panel

1. Secure the edges of bias folds with a few small machine stitches at 10 cm (4") intervals or thereabouts. Setting stitch length at 0.5 mm and sewing forwards and backwards several times across the folds will hold the layers firmly.

Cut the threads flush with the stitching. 

2. Roll back the edges of the bias folds in arc shapes and sew in place. Use a straight stitch, small zigzag, blind hem stitch or any other appliqué or decorative stitch you choose. 

3. Place the completed panel onto the wadding, pin well. 

4. Add some machine quilting: Sew round shapes using left-hand edge of presser foot running along the bias curve. Add several lines of straight stitch outside centre panel.  

5. Sew close to outer edge of border to secure the completed panel to the wadding. 

6. The cushion can be simply backed by cutting a square of material the same size as the front panel, pin this in place W/S down to front of cushion before sewing round. Remember to leave a gap in the seam large enough to turn cover through. The pillow case method can be adopted or insert a zip. 

Washing the completed cushion

Not all of us pre-wash fabric before commencing our projects and shrinkage may occur on future laundering. To prevent this, remove pad, hand-wash cushion cover in warm soapy water, rinse well, very gently squeeze then roll up cover in towel to remove excess water.

REPLACE the pad in the wet cushion cover and tumble dry gently. Lacking a tumble dryer, hang padded cushion on washing line, leave until nearly dry then place it in a warm place (airing cupboard) to complete drying process. The action of replacing the pad into the wet cover will prevent the cover shrinking or distorting and negates the need to iron. Anything for an easier life!