More Black Belt Stitching Wizard Stuff

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

More Finishing With Photo Steps!!!

Before I started my Christmas holidays I decided I was going to do a little finishing. Here's my next finished item. This is a lovely little design given to me as a gift a couple of years ago by a stitcher named Edith. I had decided ages ago to finish it into a cushion, today I finally did it!

Here's the finished product :



Now here's the step-by-step instructions...



Step 1 : Wash and prepare your stitched piece (final size plus seam allowances), I also zig zag to help prevent fraying. Cut strips of fabric to be sewn on each side.


Step 2: Pin strips of fabric to top and bottom, leaving excess so that strips are longer on both sides than stitched piece. Make sure you pin them right sides together.


Step 3: Sew strips to stitched piece.


Step 4: Do not fold open strips at this point, cut away excess fabric from strips so that it is flush with stitched piece.


Step 5: Press open strips, use lots of steam! (tip from Mum)


Step 6: Press both top and bottom open.


Step 7: Now pin strips to the right and left sides. Again make sure they are longer than your stitched piece plus the strips you've just sewn on.


Step 8: Sew on both strips.


Step 9: Again trim away excess fabric from strips making it flush with your stitched piece plus the strips you sewed on earlier.


Step 10 : Press open, again lots of steam!


Step 11: press open all sides.


At this point Hunger got bored of helping, it was time for a nap!


Step 12 : Now cut strips of your second fabric.


Repeat : above steps to add a secondary fabric to your cushion.


Step 13 : You now have a finished pillow top


Step 14 : Cut a piece of fabric to be the back of your pillow to the same size or slightly bigger than your pillow top. Slightly bigger is always safer.


Step 15: Pin right sides of pillow top and back together.


Step 16 : Sew all sides togehter, but leave an opening so that you can put in polyester batting or a pillow form.


Step 17 : "Birth" your cushion turn it right side out through the opening you just left.


Step 18 : Stuff to your liking.


Step 19 : Stitch opening closed. You're done!

10 comments:

Von said...

Once again, Dani, beautiful project finishing :) and a great tutorial! It's fairly easy sewing with straight lines. Aren't rotary cutters a brilliant invention? I love them!!

Bastet said...

Dani you did a wonderful job on the cushion! The black outer border really brings the piece out. I attempted to follow your directions on binding, but will wait for the next tutorial (I'm a must see or hands on learner)

Anonymous said...

That was a GREAT explanation! Thank you. And a very good choice on the two stripes of fabric, as they bring out the design very well. It's a beautiful stitched piece too. Ann.

Gina E. said...

You could make a living out of doing this, Dani - very clear instructions - thanks from me too. Love that little black interruption in the middle of it all! Prrrrrr....

Unknown said...

Dani - These are VERY clear instructions. Hope you do not mind - but have pass the URL to a friend to help her with finishing =)

Laci said...

Dani - Excellent instructions!! Now if I only knew how to sew straight with a sewing machine I would be in business! Both you and Edith did an awesome job on the pillow

Dawn T. said...

Beautiful job on the finishing!!

CJ in OK ;-) said...

I needed that step by step with great pictures. Thanks

Vash said...

Great cushion! That autumn leaves border really brings the stitching into focus. Thanks for posting that tutorial, I think that I'm going to turn Paradise Island into a cushion when I've finished it, now I know how.

Anne S said...

Dani, your instructions are just AWESOME!!! I'm so much more of a visual person where instructions are concerned - I bought 'Trusswells' book of finishing, and it's still languishing on the bookshelves as I can't see the picture clearly ... your instructions are so clear and well written, even I reckon I could follow them ;) Do you do requests for finishing ... I have a list of things I'd love to know how to do ;P haha (just kidding). Seriously, though, wonderful job!!