Star Cushion

The first cushion I made was a simple, but very effective, star cushion. This is made with half square triangles. The great thing about starting with squares that are 6" is that one block is a great cushion size without having to add borders.

 To make a star cushion you will need:
      2 pink 6" squares
      2 purple 6" squares
      4 light coloured 6" squares
      1 light coloured 5 1/2" square.
      A cushion insert

The finished cushion will be 15" square.

1. With a pencil draw a diagonal line on the back of each light coloured 6" square.

 2. Place one of the light coloured squares right sides together with a purple 6" square and sew 1/4" either side of the drawn line. Cut on the line. Press the seams open.

 3. Trim to 5 1/2" square. Repeat for the other purple square and the two pink squares.

 4. Lay out as shown with the light coloured 5 1/2" square in the middle. Sew the three squares in each row together. Press the seams open. Then sew the rows together and press the seams open.

 5. Place on a piece of batting slightly bigger then the cushion top and quilt. I quilted circles which gives the cushion top a great texture.

6. Cut two backing pieces 15 1/2" x 10" and 2 binding pieces 15 1/2" x 2".

Fold the binding pieces in half and press. Open them out and then press either side into the middle as shown.



 7. Pin the binding pieces to the wrong side of one backing piece (the side that is 15 1/2" long) and sew.

 8. Fold the binding over to the right side and pin. Sew the binding down. Repeat with the other binding piece on the other backing piece.

 9. Lay the cushion top right side up and lay one backing piece on top right side down as shown.

 10. Lay the other backing piece on top, right sides down. Pin and sew all the edges. My backing pieces were slightly larger than my cushion top (it shrunk a little as I quilted it) so I found it easier to turn mine over and sewed from the other side.

 11. Turn right side out and place a cushion insert inside.

Don't forget to enter my giveway to win a pack of Tonga 6" strips over here.