Floor cushions

Step 2. Make the pillow form.
Note: The instructions in steps 2 and 3 are the same for both the small and the large pillow forms. The illustrations depict the Large Floor Cushion.

a. First, place the muslin panels Right sides together, matching the raw edges, and pin them in place.

b. Measure 4" [10 cm] in from one side edge on the short end of the muslin panel and make a mark. (On the Small Floor Cushion, all sides are the same size.) Repeat this step for the other side of the panel. Starting at the 4" [10 cm] mark, machine stitch a 1/2" [1.3 cm] seam to the corner, then down one long edge, along the short end, and back up the other long edge, turning at the corner and stitching to the second 4" [10 cm] mark, backstitching at each end. Leave the raw edge between the 4" [10 cm] marks open. Using your scissors, trim the corners, making sure not to clip into the stitching line. (Figure 2B)

c. Now, turn the pillow form Right side out and press.

d. Fold under the 1/2" [1.3 cm] seam allowance on each side of the form on the open end, toward the Wrong side, and press. (Figure 2D)

e. Stuff the pillow form with the polyester fibrefill, using small amounts at a time and filling the corners evenly.

f. Pin the open end closed and slip stitch by hand using the sharp hand sewing needle or machine stitch close to the edge to close the opening. (Figure 2F)

Step 3. Make the Floor Cushion
a. Place the 2 heavyweight cotton panels with Right Sides together, matching the raw edges, and pin them in place.

b. Repeat step 2b to stitch the Floor Cushion panels together.

c. Now, turn the Floor Cushion Right Side out and press.

d. Fold under the 1/2" [1.3 cm] seam allowance on each side of the cushion on the open end, toward the Wrong side, and press. (Refer to Figure 2D)

Step 4. Mark the button placement on the Floor Cushion.
For the Small Floor Cushion:

a. First, fold the sewn Floor Cushion panels in half, matching up the top and bottom edges. Gently press a crease along the fold on the panels. Then, unfold the sewn Floor Cushion panels.

b. Starting at the left-side edge, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil, measure 8" [20 cm] in along the centre crease and make a mark. Then, from the right-side edge, measure 8" [20 cm] in along the centre crease and make another mark. These are the placement marks for attaching the buttons. (Figure 4B Small Cushion)

For the Large Floor Cushion:

a. First, fold the Floor Cushion panels in half across the width, matching up long edges on the top and bottom. Gently press a crease along the fold on the panels. Then, unfold the Floor Cushion panels.

b. Starting at the left-side edge, using your yardstick and chalk pencil, measure along the centre crease and mark the following measurements: 6", 18", 30", and 42" [15.25, 45.75, 76.25, and 106.75 cm]. These are the placement marks for attaching the buttons. (Figure 4B Large Cushion)

Step 5. Fill and close the Floor Cushion.
a. Now, insert the pillow form into the Floor Cushion.

b. Pin the open end of the Floor Cushion closed and slip stitch by hand or machine stitch close to the edge to close the opening. (Figure 2F)

Step 6. Attach the buttons and tuft the Floor Cushion.
Note: Adding the buttons and tufting the Floor Cushion will give it dimension and keep the pillow form from shifting.

a. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to cover the buttons with the leftover heavyweight cotton fabric.

b. Thread a doll-maker's needle with a double strand of carpet or upholstery thread.

c. Tie the ends of the thread to the loop on the back of the covered button. (Figure 6C)

d. Push the needle down into the Floor Cushion at the first mark you made, pulling the covered button onto the front of the cushion.

e. Then, on the back of the floor cushion, stitch through the back plate of the button. Take the needle back up through the cushion again, stitch through the loop in the covered button, and push the needle through the cushion one more time. Pull the thread to pull the 2 buttons together, creating the tuft. (Figure 6E)

f. Knot the thread securely on the back flat button and clip the ends of the thread.

g. To finish, repeat steps 6c through 6f to attach the remaining buttons to the Floor Cushion. (Figure 6G)

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Excerpted from Amy Butler's In Stitches by Amy Butler, with photographs by Colin McGuire and illustrations by Jacob Redinger. Excerpted with permission by Chronicle Books. Copyright 2006 by Amy Butler, Colin McGuire and Jacob Redinger. All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.