Scatter cushions are quick, easy and inexpensive to make, and they can transform any living area from dull to magical in an instant.
Over and above this, if you make your own scatter cushions, you can choose custom colours, designs, textures and decorations to suit your particular décor theme and other soft furnishings – not only can you use them to add textures and colours to makes your décor composition pop, but they will also make any area that they grace that much more comfortable and inviting.
Here’s a quick guide on how to make your own scatter cushions:
What you will need:
- Ready made cushion inner
- Newspaper
- Black koki
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Matching thread
- Needle or sewing machine
- A zip or poppers
Directions:
1. Lay a large piece of newspaper out on the counter. Place your readymade cushion inner in the centre of the newspaper, and with your koki, carefully trace around the cushion.
2. Remove the cushion and add around 2,5cm to all four sides of the square to allow for the cushions seams. Now, draw the larger square shape out on the paper using a ruler to ensure that the sides are nice and straight.
3. Cut the square out and now you can use this piece of paper as a pattern to cut out two equally sized pieces of fabric.
4. If you are going to decorate your cushion cover in any way, now is the time to do it. You can decorate it using buttons, ribbons, sequins, beads, embroidery, patchwork, or even three-dimensional items that have been hand crocheted. Sewing felt letters or shapes onto the fabric is another colourful and creative way of decorating a scatter cushion.
5. Place the right sides of the fabric squares together, and carefully pin the edges together on three of the sides.
6. Sew the three pinned sides of fabric together by hand or using your sewing machine.
7. The fourth side will form the opening in which you will squeeze the ready-made cushion inner. Here, sew about a quarter of the way on each side, leaving plenty of room in the middle to get your cushion in or out.
8. Turn the fabric inside out so that the right sides are facing outwards, making sure you push the corners all the way out.
9. Now you can sew your zip or poppers in place, insert your cushion inner and you are done!
Very shapely
Of course, scatter cushions need not only be square shaped – in fact, the sky is the limit when it comes to the interesting shapes you can create.
Popular shapes include five-pointed stars, hearts, flowers and even butterflies. Simpler shapes can also be attractive – you can create circular, rectangular or tubular shapes for an interesting effect. It is just as simple to create these scatter cushions – trace or draw the desired shape of the scatter cushion on a piece of newspaper. Make sure it is the same size you would like the scatter cushion to be. Cut the pattern out, follow steps 2 to 6 as detailed above, and then fill the cushion cover with soft cushion filling. Instead of sewing in a zipper or poppers, neatly sew the small hole up by hand. – Antonella Desi