We love all things Valentine’s Day, which is why we’re so excited to share this super fun throw cushion from designer Olu Falola! Decorate your bedroom or living space with a bold pop of color with this heart-shaped cushion pattern. Put your sewing skills to the test by sewing your DIY throw pillow in a luxe, soft material like corduroy, velvet or other plush fabrics.
Materials:
- Pen and paper
- Fabric of your choice (i.e. cotton canvas, velvet, plush, corduroy…)
- 5mm (3/16”) piping (with enough length to go around the parameter of your cushion plus a little extra)
- Wadding (You could use the inside of an old cushion/pillow, Polyfil, or fabric scraps cut into small pieces)
- Pins
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Sewing machine
- Needle and thread
- Zipper foot
Instructions:
- Draw half a heart onto a piece of paper to the size you want your cushion to be, making sure to include 1cm (3/8 in) seam allowance around the curved edge.
- Cut out with paper scissors.
- Fold fabric in half and place the half heart template to the fold of your fabric. Cut 2 hearts from your fabric.
- Starting from the bottom of one fabric heart and leaving an inch of piping free at the beginning, pin your piping all the way (raw edges to raw edges). Leave another inch free at the end.
- You may need to snip into the piping fabric at the bow, top of the heart so that the piping fits the curve.
- Unpick the piping stitches at the free ends to expose the piping cord.
- Cut the piping cord (not the encasing fabric) so that one butts up to the other and there is no overlap.
- Trim the excess.
- Rearrange the piping fabric so that one end overlaps the other. The bulk will now be eliminated.
- Using a zipper foot to get close to the piping cord, baste the piping to the fabric heart using the longest stitch on your sewing machine.
- Lay the second fabric heart over the top with the piping sandwiched in between. Pin together.
- Still using your zipper foot, make sure to change back to a standard stitch length (2.5 or 3). Starting from one side of the heart, stitch around the heart leaving a gap (approx. 3 inches or 7.6 cm).
- Trim corners and clip the curves.
- Turn right side out and fold the raw edge of the 3 in (7.6 cm) opening under 3/8 in (1cm).
- Insert your wadding through the 3 inch (7.6 cm) gap that you left open at Step 12.
- Stuff until full. Hand (or machine) stitch to close.
