Monday, November 19, 2012

Folded Star Cushion


Circa 1934 cushion

Several months ago, I won a FQ bundle of Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934 in a giveaway on Erin's blog, sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop. At the time, I really liked these fabrics and was so excited to have won them, since I was pretty sure I was going to purchase several of them anyway. Well, you know how sometimes you get fabric that you really like and suddenly have no idea what to do with it? That is what happened here. I thought I needed to find the perfect pattern before I broke into the bundle, and of course, that just doesn't seem to happen, so it sat and sat in my little fabric cabinet. After a while I realized that I really wasn't madly in love with these prints anymore and the bundle got pushed to the back. Of course, while I was packing everything up for the move I decided that I actually really did like this fabric, and it just so happens that these prints go really well in our new living room. 

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Our kids are constantly taking the cushions off of our couch and laying on them on the floor, so I decided that maybe what they needed was a really big pillow instead. I went to Flickr for some inspiration and found this quilt block in my favorites and knew that I would be making a Folded Star. The original tutorial for the block was for a 12" block, but since mine was to be 24" I just did a little math to enlarge the pattern since I really had no desire to make 4 of them. (I'm pretty sure I still have my notes with the measurements if anyone wants them.) I chose to just do some simple straight line quilting on the front, but got all wild and crazy with the back. 

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That'a right, I broke out the free motion foot.

 There is definitely plenty of room for improvement, but I was surprised that it wasn't awful, because that is what I expected. You can see some spaces that could use a bit more quilting, but that is really the worst of it.  I love doing this loopy, swirly kind of motion, so expect to see more of it in the future. It will likely just be on the back of another pillow, but I may get brave and try it on a quilt soon. 


21 comments:

  1. Hi Toni, I found you from Sew Modern Monday. I'm a fellow Hoosier (I live in Avon, just west of Indy). I love that fabric line and your pillow looks great!
    Amanda

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  2. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!! Z is constantly taking our cushions off too...what is it with cushions?? Perhaps I'll have to make him a big cushion too.

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  3. Fabulous pillow - really love the typewriter key prints!

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  4. Looks grekat! I love the fabrics and design and the quilting ain't too shabby;). Way to go!

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  5. It turned out awesome! Beautiful work.

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  6. great pillow! funny how we can fall in and out of love with a fabric, isn't it?
    my boys are always taking the cusions off the couch, too. when the {very old, beaten on} couch finally dies, I'm thinking I should just leave the cushions behind on the floor instead of replacing it. think of how much time the boys would save if they didn't have to pull the cusions on and off everyday ;)

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  7. Brilliant - so nice to use those fabrics we save and have a lovely outcome xxx

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  8. Oh yes, I have some of that without a clue what to do with it! Yours looks fab though *wanders off to eye up layer cake*

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  9. Well done you - a very practical use for that bundle!

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  10. What a great cushion! My kids are always taking the pillows off the couch too, but I think that mostly happens when they're throwing them at each other. :)
    I'm envious of your free motion! I keep practicing, but don't know when I'll be ready to try it on a "real" project.

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  11. Awesome giant cushion! Your quilting is just great

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  12. This turned out REALLY cool! Good job on the fmq!

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  13. Well done with your FMQ! It looks great. I've been following your blog for a while. Congratulations on the arrival of Jill. I live in rural South Australia with my husband and three small kids and identify with many of your musings. I grew up on a farm and now live only a few miles from my parents farm.

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  14. Love it, it looks fabulous. I have just made a giant floor cushion too, altho need to finish it off

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  15. I love your quilting. :) It's fun and whimsical which works really well for the prints and piecing.

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  16. What a great cushion! Your quilting looks really good to me!

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  17. Have worked out today that I was one of those no reply bloggers! All fixed now. Hope you're doing well. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  18. I love it! And I definitely need to make some floor cushions for my hooligans. I had some plain pillows in my classroom for the kids, but I'd love to make some quilted ones for home. The fmq looks good!

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