Squashy Sisters Cushions

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• Step 1

  Making the cushion cover
  These loose cushion covers are essentially a rectangle
  folded around, with one end tucked inside the other, so
  there is no need for zips or any other fastenings. Yay!
  1. Press your white rectangle and coloured rectangle, and
  place one on top of the other. Pin in place. Sew around
  the four sides leaving a 1.5 cm (5?8 inch) seam allowance.
  Leave a gap of about 10 cm (4 inches) on one edge.
  2. Cut off the four corners (being careful not to cut the
  stitching) and turn the cushion right side out through the
  gap. Poke the corners out with something pointy like a
  pencil or chopstick.
  3. Press the rectangle flat, folding in the raw edges of the
  gap. Sew the gap closed.

• Step 2

  Making your lady
  1. Draw a template for the head and shoulders of your lady
  on a piece of paper. I drew a rough oval, approx 20 cm
  (8 inches) tall and 15 cm (6 inches) wide with a small neck
  and shoulders approx 20 cm (8 inches) wide. it doesn’t
  have to be perfect! Cut out.
  2. Press your felt and pin the template in place. Cut out.
  3. Now it’s time to make your lady’s face. Copy my
  cushions on p. 91, or make your own by looking up
  photos of your lady online or in books.
  Sketch an eye, eyebrow and nostril shape on to paper
  and cut out. If you need help, use my diagrams
  opposite. Use these as templates to cut out of black or
  brown felt – then turn the template over and cut out
  another set. Now is the time to trim your shapes to
  make them more idiosyncratic – Frida Kahlo had a
  mighty monobrow for example.
  4. Fold a piece of paper in half and draw half a mouth on
  one side. Cut out, and use your symmetrical template to
  cut a mouth shape out of red or pink felt.
  5. Assemble your pieces on the head-shaped piece of felt.
  Remember that eyes are actually located half-way down
  the head. Carefully tweak the angles of your pieces to
  adjust your lady’s expression – one eyebrow higher than
  the other for a saucy minx, tilted eyes for a sad or in charge
  look. Use pins to keep them in place until you are
  happy with the position, then fix with a little fabric glue.
  Hand sew the facial features in place with matching
  thread, then take out the pins.
  6. Trim the sides of your head shape to make the face look
  more like your lady – she may have slimmer cheeks or a
  wonky hairline.
  7. Choose a large piece of felt for the hair, place the head
  shape on top and pin in place. Sketch out the shape of
  the hair using dressmaker’s chalk and cut out. If you are
  creating a fringe, cut out a forehead-sized piece from
  the hair-coloured felt, using the head piece as a
  template. Then place the hair on top of the head, and
  trim to the length you desire. Pin in place.

• Step 3

  Decorating
  This is the fun bit – it’s time to rummage through your stash
  for all the gaudiest, most glittery beads and ribbons you
  can find.

• Step 4

  Making the cushion
  1. Place your cushion pad in the centre of your fabric
  rectangle, on the wrong (white) side. Fold the remaining
  fabric around it. The idea is that you are creating a tight
  envelope, with one side tucked under the other.
  2. O nce you feel that it is in the right place, pin it and mark
  with a fabric pen on the coloured AND the white cotton
  where the top piece of fabric rests on the under piece.
  3. Turn the cushion over. Place your lady in the centre.
  Once you are sure of her position, pin her in place.
  4. Turn the cushion over again, and take out all the pins.
  5. N ow it’s time to sew your lady on. Using a ‘skin’-
  coloured thread and zigzag stitch on the machine, follow
  around the outside shape of her head. Sew around the
  outside of her face. Remove the pins.

• Step 5

  How to make ribbon flowers
  Cut a length of ribbon, about 10 cm
  (4 inches) long.
  Knot a piece of thread and stitch loosely but
  neatly along one edge of the ribbon.
  When you reach the end, pull the thread and
  push gently on the ribbon so it gathers into a
  rosette shape. Stitch together through the
  centre, tucking in raw ends.

• Step 6

  Finishing the cushion
  1. Place the cushion cover piece right side up, and fold the
  two sides in as before but inside out. Match up the top
  flap with the marks you made before. Pin in place.
  2. N ow stitch along the top and bottom edges of your
  cushion cover, leaving a 1 cm (3?8 inch) seam allowance.
  Fasten off.
  3. Turn your cushion cover the right way around, poking
  out the corners with a pencil or chopstick. Give it a good
  press.
  4. N ow stuff your cushion pad inside – it should be snug
  but moveable. And you’re done!

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