Scrumptious Scatter Cushions

Over the last few years, I have worked with many students teaching the skills needed to make scrumptious scatter cushions. The cushion designs and relevant skills involved really fall into 3 sequential design groups. These cushions designs can be taught/learnt individually during 1-day 1-2-1 workshops or as part of a 2 or 3-day master class. This blog dives a little deeper into the specifics of these designs so that the learner is equipped to choose which is the most relevant workshop and way to learn to achieve their goals.

The no zip cushion. There is an array of variation options for the 3 main styles that fall into this category. No zip cushions designs are suited to someone who is new to soft furnishings. Possible also new to using a sewing machine and wanting to learn some basic sewing skills whilst also giving them the opportunity to create a multitude of scatter cushions.

All that’s required is a selection of fabric suitable for making cushions and some trimmings. As well as learning the skills to make basic scatter cushions you will also have the opportunity to make buttons, ties and tassels suitable for embellishing your scrumptious scatter cushions.

As a one-day 1-2-1 workshop your goal would be to complete 1 cushion cover with some adornments. As a 2-day master class your goals would be to complete 2 or 3 cushion covers each with a different design and different embellishments. Jacqueline has 3 basic design options to choose from and oodles of samples for your inspiration.

Homemade buttons. Quite liberating. Why use just a humble ordinary button when you can choose an array of contrast colours from your face fabric and make your own buttons using silk dupion. Jacqueline has a hideous collection of silks in all colours. You only need a little bit to make a button, but ohh wow, that button makes all the difference.

Handmade tassels. Gorgeous adornments for cushions, especially on the corners. Tassels can be made using a variety of threads complimenting the colours and textures of your cushions in many different ways.

Creative cushions. Wanting to up your cushion making skills? Then the next workshop would be creative cushions. This workshop is designed for someone who has a little soft furnishing knowledge and has previously used a sewing machine. Creative cushions designs have zips that are stitched in a variety of ways that are easy to manage for the beginner sewer. Some designs hide the zip and some make a feature from the zip.

For this workshop you will need a variety of face fabric suitable for making cushions. Some patterned and some plain. A selection of zips, some matching your face fabric and some in contrast colours.

These images show some of the ways that zips can either be celebrated as the main event. Or hidden using the fabric patterm, trims and/or embellishments.

The creative cushion workshop is also offered as a 1-day 1-2-1, where your goal will be to make 1 cushion cover. Or a 2-day master class where your goals will be to make 2 or 3 cushion covers. You will be able to choose from a variety of designs and should you so choose, add handmade buttons, frills or tassels.

Piped cushion with a hidden zip. The ultimate classic scatter cushion. This workshop is best suited to someone who has already established some basic soft furnishing skills and is familiar with a sewing machine. Your goal is to complete a 16”x16” cushion in one day. Skills included in this workshop are fabric pattern matching, creating handmade bias piping and inserting a hidden zip.

You will need a pattern face fabric, suitable for making cushions. Contrasting plain fabric, suitable for making cushions, for the bias trimming and a 20” zip in a colour matching your face fabric.

Jacqueline also offers the sequence of all 3 workshops as a 3-day master class. In the 3-day master class your goals would be to complete at least 3 scatter cushions each day building on your cushion making skills. You will also be introduced to oodles of designs and will be able to create a design plan of your own for an array of scrumptious scatter cushions to adorn a bed or coach including all the designs discussed above. This 3-day master class is suitable for the budding soft furnishing expert.

Feeling inspired? I do hope so. Come and join us.

Jacqueline runs 2-day, bespoke handmade lampshade workshops at scheduled times throughout the year. You can also join a 1-2-1, 2 or 3 day master class by special arrangment. Do come and join us!