When I was at the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts show at the SECC in March this year, I picked up this adorable cushion kit from Fiddlesticks Fabrics of Ballyclare. I may have mentioned a penchant for sheep-ish items and this was one of them. Featuring 3 applique sheep in some very stylish black and white swirl fabrics, I was curious to see just how easy it would be to make.
On opening the kit I found
- a set of instructions
- 3 sets of applique fabric pieces to make the sheep
- 6 white buttons for the eyes
- fabric for making up the cushion front and back
The cushion fabric itself was generously cut with more than enough to make the 3 pieces and their respective seam allowances as required. I do recommend using dressmaking scissors for this to get the best and easiest cut through the fabric. I didn’t have any and waited till I’d bought some before attempting the job. The cushion is a very simple envelope style so it’s geared towards being a suitable starting point for beginners. No complicated sewing involved, just straightforward hemming.
The eye buttons were hand sewn on with a nice sharp needle (not provided). I used a gold plated size 24 which slipped neatly through both the cushion fabric and the applique fabric layer without leaving unsightly holes in the work.
The instructions were clear and concise. It’s a good idea to read through them carefully before starting unless you’re fairly adept at cutting and sewing already. Layering the applique pieces on the cushion front was a quick job and the plastic backing peeled off without difficulty. A quick run over with a warm iron and that was done.
All in all, for a kit that cost under a tenner, I was very pleased with the quality of the fabrics and the ease of following the instructions . I also liked the option to make the cushion a little individual purely through the placement of the applique pieces and the way you sew on the eye buttons. It’s fun making different expressions!
Very good value and the cushion looks so cute when finished. Completed project is approx 17″ square so it will take an 18″ pillow/cushion pad and look nicely plump.
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