Tutorial: Birds on a Wire Cushion

The other night I was struck by some inspiration and created this wee masterpiece.

I had a few pieces of fabric left from when I re-upholstered this bedroom chair and one length of it was perfect cushion size.

I also had some bright scraps left from when I made this scarf.

I have been seeing a lot of birds in artwork lately and I love pretty birds.

To make this cushion you will need:

• Enough heavy fabric for the cushion base. Depending on the size you want your finished cushion. I used approx 1m x 50cm
  
• Contrasting scrappy bits of fabric
• Sewing machine and black thread
• Pins
• Needle and thread to match scrappy bits of fabric
• A4 paper
• Cushion stuffing material

 Method

• First I drew and cut out some bird silhouettes from a4 paper to use as templates.

• Next I pinned these to various scrappy bits of bright fabric and cut out 2 of each bird on different patterns. 

• I grabbed my length of upholstery fabric, folded it in half to mark the front of the cushion, then sewed two 'wires' on different angles across the fabric. I created a bit of texture by reversing the stitch every so often as I went along.

• I played around with the placement of the birds until I was happy.

NB- Remember to allow for seam allowance around the edges when placing your birds.

• Next, hand stitch or, if you are good with sewing tiny things, machine stitch each bird onto the wire.

• Then fold your cushion with right sides together and sew around the edges, leaving a 10cm gap so it can be turned right way out.

• Turn the cushion right way out, then stuff with poly-fill or other stuffing material.

• Slip-stitch the gap closed and you are done!

This would look really cool in opposite colours too, a black cushion with a white wire and red birds, or any combo really!

Happy making!