Patriotic appliqued cushion cover

I love it when I get inspired!

I was looking through my fabric stash the other day wondering what I could make next - don't worry, there are a million and one projects that I *plan* to make, it really just depends on the order!

So I find a preloved denim skirt to upcycle.  Then I spotted a red shirt with the dinkiest little daisies all over it.  Hmmm.  It's looking rather British to me.  So I add a preloved tablecloth and the idea is beginning to form.

I have enough denim to make a cushion cover, thinks I, and I haven't appliqued anything in a while.

Yes, I will make a cushion cover with the Union Jack on it.

It was great fun seeing it all come together, even though the tablecloth fabric did begin to look like an octopus before I had appliqued it to the denim - there were 'arms' everywhere!

The back was made with a tuck-in design.  I did consider adding Velcro (not quite the look I was after) and/or a button, but thought that that might be a bit uncomfortable in the middle of the back!

And this is the skirt that the main fabric came from.  Just so you know!

I do love a fun project!!

Next...

A journal cover for Samuel

I was asked to make a journal cover for Samuel.

Denim and green were to be the colours.  With his name on it.

Now, preloved denim I already had.  But 'Samuel' is quite a long name to put on the front of a journal.  So, how to make it work *taps chin thoughtfully*...

Easy peasy - write 'Samuel', hand sew over the top of it with a contrasting colour and then applique it to the front of the journal cover.  Result!

All beautifully top-stitched with lime green thread!

I do hope Samuel likes it!

Next...

Forays into applique

I applied to be on a television sewing programme here in the UK.  When filling out the application form I was surprised at what I *did* know - I could pretty much say I'd tried my hand at every aspect of sewing.

But there was one section that I'd not tried before - applique.  So that was to be the focus of my next project.

I used the lime green linen skirt as the outer fabric

and added the pink almost-tie-dye-but-not skirt to the front.  It was lined with an offcut of pink fabric that I already had.

It took a couple of attempts before I was happy with the applique but it looks like I can tick that one off my list too!

 I love using such vibrant colours together!

And I just know that it will be the perfect journal cover/book cover for somebody out there!

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