A Little Pick-me-up or Lay-me-down Cushion

This cushion is going to a dear friend who is going through a rough time this summer. Homemade cushions, in my humble opinion, are just the best: quick and satisfying makes, filled with meaning, simply trying out a cool block, and practical. This one ticked all the boxes.

It felt so good to dig through the two piles of Island Batik fabrics in my IKEA Kallax cabinet. Gosh, they were so generous, (I still have lots and lots of leftovers) and wow, their fabrics so divine!

When I decided to make her a little pick-me-up to let her know she's in my thoughts, I turned to my folder of cushion pattern PDFs in my laptop, but didn't see anything that grabbed me, so then I looked in my Bookmarks and found this, a pattern I've had bookmarked in my Cushions and Pillows folder for some time. I like folders!

Squares all sewn, and the 'strata' or gingham-style fabric is rotated 45° here ready for trimming.

To me, green is a colour of growth, new life, the forest, calm, rejuvenation, all of which I kept in mind as I cut the squares and sewed them together. It went together quickly. I layered it with Hobbs Thermore and muslin backing and quilting with 40 wt Aurifil thread along every seam.

Cut to size

When it came to a backing, I have been making an effort to use my precious kaleidoscope quilting fabrics because I'm not about to make as many kaleidoscope quilts as I intended 12+ years ago. This is a gorgeous (wish you could pet it, a gorgeous soft hand) Benartex fabric in rich earth tones, which should go well in her home. I love earth tones; we'd updated the home we built in Alberta not long before we left in these shades. I think it is a bit of a wow factor, since the front reads green. With the bits of burgundy, cream, shades of green and the brown, I decided to bind it with the fabric too, and I love the result!

Early morning filtered through trees sunlight—mmm! You can just see my satin label at the top right edge.

For my Canadian readers, do you know that Bouclair sells cushion inserts? 18" and 20" for very good prices and they are very good quality.

Propped atop my Orinoco Flow cushion on our couch, this shows the pop the binding makes. 

Speaking of my Orinoco Flow cushion, it's one of three projects in my Tinker Toys pattern that I will be releasing August 1 since I will finally have the rights back from Golden Peak Media, two years later...not a fan. I did release the throw several months ago, with their permission, since it was different fabrics and different sizes but I am excited to have the baby quilt that was in the magazine, the throw and cushion/pillow all in one PDF.

Quilt Stats:

Size: 20" x 20"

Pattern: Patchwork Gingham Pillows by Flamingo Toes
Fabric: stash and scraps

Batting: Hobbs Thermore polyester

Backing: Regency by Benartex

Quilted: on my Bernina

Threads: pieced with Exquisite polyester on my Bernina; quilted with Aurifil 40 wt cotton