Cushions are a wonderful way to add a splash of colour to your surroundings or just to refresh any of your furnishing schemes. I hope you enjoy making this cushion I have designed. It is simple to weave, grows very quickly and is economical to make as I have used a combination of fabric, woven into the bias weave with two shades of ribbon in the centre panel. The reverse of the cushion has a ribbon tie closure for easy access, colour, decoration, and speed.
Using the bias weave, the finished size is 30.5cm x 40.5cm (12”x16”)
This beautiful cushion owes its rich opulent texture to the ribbon being woven with a fabric, for this particular cushion, a printed jacquard fabric was used. Using this weaving technique will give your work an added richness but is also a very economical way of using all those lovely fabrics you could not resist buying, but never found the time to use.
Weaving the fabric with ribbon is suitable for any fabric that can be stitched and turned through to make a 2.5cm (1”) tube, or wider if you prefer. I have used this technique on many items including Wedding Dresses, Waistcoats, Table Mats and Cushions and it always looks fabulous.
The fabrics I chose to use for this cushion are both heavy quality-furnishing silks. The plain fabric is smooth with a lovely soft sheen on it, the printed jacquard fabric has a heavier slub weave, adding more interest to the texture. I have used two shades of ribbon in the weave, one toning with the dark fabric and a lighter shade to compliment the jacqard; this combination of ribbons and fabric gives the weaving a rich and interesting texture making it very special and quite unique.
Materials required
50cm (20”) of the plain fabric
50cm (20”) of a complimentary print fabric
3.5 metres (4yds) of 15mm wide double satin ribbon in Berisfords colour 48
2.5 metres (2¾yds) of 15mm wide double faced satin in colour 9788 (matching shade to the plain fabric)
Vilene Ulrasoft iron-on-interfacing 23.5cm x 33cm (9”x13”)
1 cushion pad 40.5cm (16”) square
Matching sewing thread
Glass Headed Pins
70cm of piping cord
Covered Cork Board to weave your ribbons on.
Cutting out
For the two back panels of the cushion:
Cut one section measuring 38cm x 33cm (15” x 13”)
Cut one section measuring 24cm x 33cm (9½” x 13”)
For the front panels of the cushion:
Cut two panels measuring 13cm x 33cm (5¼” x13”)
Cut ten strips of fabric 6.5cm (2½”) by the width of the fabric (cut across the fabric on the straight grain) = 112cm/ 44”
Method
Warp Ribbons
Fold the fabric strips in half lengthways, right sides together. Machine 1cm in from the raw edges (fig 1) Turn the strips through to the right side and press flat with the seam running along the one side, not down the centre.
Place your interfacing onto the covered cord board, adhesive side facing you.
Mark your Bias centre with a marker pen.
Take your first fabric strip and place it along this centre line. Trim the fabric strip to fit your interfacing. Pin firmly in place. (Photo 1)
Place the first ribbon (light shade) next to the fabric strip. Trim to fit the interfacing, pin firmly in place.
Place the second ribbon (dark shade) the other side of the fabric strip. Trim to fit interfacing and pin firmly in place.
Continue to place the ribbons and fabric strips alternating, side by side, until the interfacing is covered, making sure the ribbons and fabric are close together with edges touching.
Continue to cut and pin down the warp ribbons and fabric either side of the centre line, alternating your shades of ribbon until the interfacing is completely covered. (Alternating, one ribbon and one fabric strip)
Weft Ribbons
Starting again in the bias centre with your ribbon (not at the top corner), weave the ribbon under one, over one, until the row is complete.
Weave the second weft ribbon (fabric strip) over one, under one, to the end of the row, keeping it close to the ribbon, working on the right-hand side of this centre ribbon, until this part of the weaving is complete.
Weave the left hand section in the same way, alternating your shades of ribbon.
Until the weaving is completed, (alternating one fabric strip and one ribbon)
Finishing
When the weaving is completed (photo 2) Place a dry muslin cloth over the weaving and the pins. Carefully remove the row of pins from the top edge, making sure the ribbons do not move.
Using a steam iron, gently press the weaving over your dry cloth, close to the pins removing the pins carefully as you press.
Turn the weaving to the reverse side, this time using a damp cloth; press well to bond the weaving to the interfacing.
With ribbons and fabric well bonded, trim around the edges of your weaving to measure 33cm x 23cm (13” x 9”)
Machine stitch all around the edge of your woven section 0.5cm (¼”) in from the edge. This machining eliminates any movement of the ribbons and fabric and you have just created a beautiful piece of fabric to use as a centre panel for your cushion.
Making up
Using the darker fabric, place a fabric strip over the length of the piping cord and machine in place using a cording foot to get close to the piping. (Fig 2) Cut the cord in half. Place the covered piping cord over the seam allowance either side of the woven panel. Machine in place. (Fig 3)
Pin the side panels to the woven panel over the piping cord and machine in place. By following the machine stitches for the piping cord, your side panel will be straight and accurate.
Press all seams towards the side seam. To open this seam would create too much bulk because of your woven panel.
Side trim
Take two strips of the printed jacquard 6.5cm x 33cm (2½” x 13”) fold in half lengthways right sides together, stitch across the top and bottom edges 1cm (½”) from raw edges trim. Turn through to the right side. Press. (fig 4)
Pin the folded trim along the side edges of front panel, raw edges together. (Fig 3)
Machine in place.
Back Panels
The back of the cushion is in two parts to make for easy access.
Take the larger panel and on the shorter edge, fold back 10cm (4”)
Fold again reducing to 5cm 2”)
Do the same with the second panel folding back 8cm (3”) reducing again to 4cm (1½”)
You will need six lengths of ribbon measuring 25cm (10”) I used the darker ribbon in the centre and the paler ribbon either side.
Place the first ribbon ties in the centre of the cushion and the other two 7.5cm (3”) either side of the centre. (fig 5)
Stitch ribbons in place and tie together. Check the back panel now measures the same as the front panel.
With right sides facing, place the front panels over the back panels, pin and machine in place (fig 6) Press machining stitching.
Trim corners, untie ribbons, turn cushion through to the right side through the ribbon opening.
A cushion pad measuring 40.5cm (16”) was then made to fit into this cushion giving it a lovely firm plumped-up look.
A three button fastening in place of ribbon would look equally good as a closure for this cushion.
Comments