Easy stripe patchwork cushion

If you've been busy piecing strips since you saw Karen Lewis' brilliant strip quilt tutorial, we've got just the thing to use up those springy scraps. Take a look at more of Karen's designs over at karenlewistextiles.com, or follow her on Instagram @karenlewistextiles.

You will need

Print fabrics (red): two (2) fat sixteenth and one (1) fat eighth
Background fabric: ¹⁄2yd
Backing fabric: ³⁄4yd
Batting: 25in square

Notes

Seam allowances are ¹⁄4in, unless otherwise noted.
Press seams open, unless otherwise instructed.
RST = right sides together.
WOF = width of fabric.
WST = wrong sides together.
Fabric provided by Robert Kaufman.

Make a quilt to match

Loved making this cute patchwork cushion? Head to our easy stripe quilt step by step guide to make thequilt to complete this pair of projects!

We used...

Print fabrics are from the Euclid collection by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman, along with solids from the Brussels Linen collection also by Robert Kaufman, that Karen screen-printed.

How to sew the cushion

Finished size

22in square

Cutting out

Step 1

From the print fabrics cut:

One (1) 2 1⁄2 x 14in rectangle.
One (1) 4 1⁄2 x 14in rectangle.
One (1) 8 1⁄2 in x 14in rectangle.

Step 2

From the background fabric cut four (4) 2 1⁄2in x 14 in strips and six (6) 2 1⁄2in x 22 1⁄2in strips.

Step 3

From the backing fabric cut two 15in x 22 1⁄2in rectangles.

Piecing the cushion top

Step 4

Sew together the print fabric strips with the background 2¹⁄2in x strips as shown, to form a pieced unit.

Easy stripe patchwork cushion step by step Fig 1

Step 5

Subcut the pieced unit into five (5) 2 1⁄2in x 22 1⁄2in pieced strips, cutting horizontally across the unit.

Easy stripe patchwork cushion step by step Fig 2

Step 6

Sew the pieces strips together with the 2 1⁄2in x 22 1⁄2in background fabric strips, in an alternating pattern, referring to the photo for placement. Press seams toward background strips to complete the cushion top.

Step 7

Baste the cushion top to the batting and quilt as desired. Karen quilted straight lines, just outside the seam lines.

Assembling the cushion

Step 8

Press under 1⁄4in along one long edge of each backing piece. Press under again and topstitch in place.

Step 9

Place the cushion top right side up. Lay each backing piece on top, right sides down, so the hems overlap in the centre and raw edges are aligned with the cushion top. Sew around all four sides using a 1⁄4in seam allowance.

Step 10

Turn the cushion right way out and insert a cushion pad to finish.

Lorna SlessorCommissioning Editor, Love Patchwork & Quilting

Quilt pro and wordsmith Lorna has worked for Love Patchwork & Quilting for 4 years. She commissions the beautiful quilts inside the magazine, working with international leading quilt designers and makers to select the hottest quilt trends and modern quilts to share with her readers. If she’s not at work, she’s probably still covered in threads, designing quilt patterns for her small indie biz Cloth & Crescent with a scary film on in the background. Lorna can’t resist a curved quilt block and a solid fabric, and recently discovered the joys of snuggling under a cosy quilt sandwich to hand stitch the layers together the old fashioned way. Her designs and words have been featured in Love Patchwork & Quilting, Mollie Makes, Simply Sewing and In The Moment magazine. Find her on Instagram @clothandcrescent