A Geometric-Inspired Cushion

You know how I described our weekend as slow? Well, so far this week feels fast. Fast and busy. And that magical, deep, deep, snow that so enchanted me? It can go now, I've had enough. Enough of multiple pairs of socks, of icy pavements and snow piled up by the side of the road so that you can't park. Anywhere. Enough of wearing my ski jacket every single day, of cancelled plans, of chapped hands and lips. How I would love to skip out of the front door wearing footwear other than boots, minus a coat, and walk carefree along the pavements without wondering which bit of treacherous, slippery ice will catch me out.

In other news, I have made a cushion. I have been stitching away here and there over the last week or so. I have been very inspired by this wave of colourful geometric pattern I am seeing everywhere lately, on clothes, on fabric, in prints and design. I am drawn to the regularity of the pattern and the bright and happy use of colour. I feel in need of colour lately, a response to the cold weather no doubt.

I had a plain, unbleached cotton cushion cover* lying around, ready to go. I made myself a little cardboard template of a right-angled triangle, measuring 11 x 11 x 16cm and started cutting out triangles from the pile of crafting felt I have stashed away.

If you are feeling in need of a little cheap, easy and creative fun on a rainy or snowy afternoon, then I highly recommend this activity. Just start cutting and playing. It needn't be a cushion - a plain tote bag would be a fun blank canvas to decorate. 

I cut out my triangles and started to play around with colours and arrangements...

I settled on this design below and then used bondaweb to stick my triangles in position before I started sewing. 

I didn't want the stitching to stand out so I chose threads as close to the colour of the felt as possible, and used a very small straight stitch. It took around twenty minutes to hand sew each triangle in place. Not that quick, I know, but I will always prefer a little hand sewing in front of the tv to sitting hunched over the sewing machine.

So there you have it, one pretty easy and very cheap cushion.

Currently I like it on the grey sofa in the living room, but it will be moved around at some point. I think it might have been more effective on a pure white background, rather than the unbleached cotton, but I like it, very much, and it can stay.

********************************************

* I bought the cushion cover from John Lewis a while back - this one - but they are out of stock currently. Also, The Clever Baggers are a good stockist for plain cotton bags, tea towels, aprons, t shirts and other things, while I think of it.