Japanese inspired cushion

By Spotlight

Buy specific fabrics for this project or use up some remnants.

Final Result

Materials

• embroidered satins
• raw silk dupion
• 40cm cushion insert
• 45cm x 112cm raw silk dupion (for back of cushion)
• sewing thread
• scissors
• sewing machine
• iron

Step 1

Block 1
Cut out a piece of embroidered satin 18cm x 45cm (green embroidered). Cut a strip of raw silk (pale pink) 45cm x 8cm. Press in half widthwise, right side out. Place this piece on top of embroidered satin, 45cm raw edges together. Stitch together 5mm from edge.

Step 2

Block 2
Cut a piece of pink embroidered satin (bamboo) 15cm x 28cm. Cut a strip of green embroidered satin 28cm x 5cm. Press this in half widthwise, right side out. Pin this to pink embroidered satin, 28cm raw edges together. Stitch 5mm from edge.

Step 3

Block 3
Cut piece of different embroidered satin (flower) measuring 28cm x 25cm. Cut strip of green raw silk measuring 18cm x 28cm. Press in half widthwise. Cut another strip of pale pink raw silk 8cm x 28cm and press in half widthwise. Place the pale pink silk strip on top of the green raw silk strip, then on top of pink embroidered satin, 8cm raw edges together. Sew together 5mm from edge.

Cut another piece from the same embroidered satin 28cm x 9cm. With right sides facing, pin this piece to other satin and silk piece, matching 28cm raw edges together. Press seam pen with green and pink raw silk strips pressed back to the larger side of pink satin.

Join Blocks 2 & 3 together, and sew with a 15mm seam. Join block 1 to side of joined block 2/3 also with a 15mm seam.

Press seams open, pressing long pale pink raw silk strip over the top of block 2/3.

Step 4

Bands
Cut two strips of candy pink raw silk, one 45cm x 9cm, the other 45cm x 16cm. Press both strips in half widthwise. Place the largest band across width of cushion front, facing down towards block 3. Using a 5mm seam top stitch in place across the width of cushion front.

Press strip back on itself. Pin and tack sides to cushion raw edges to keep in place. Place narrower strip across the width of cushion front in the opposite direction 2cm in from pale pink strip, with fold facing towards block 2/3. Top stitch as before and press strip back on itself. Pin and tack sides to cushion raw edges to keep in place.

Step 5

Back of cushion
Cut two pieces of raw silk 30cm x 45cm. Hem one of the 45cm edges from both pieces. Lay one piece of raw silk on top of the right side of cushion front, hem edge towards middle. Overlap second piece to create envelope opening. Pin together. Trim any excess fabric of both sides. Sew together using a 15mm seam allowance. Turn right side out, press, and place cushion insert into cover.