Appliqué

Appliqué is a needlework decoration that applies materials to another surface. 

I have used this technique before on previous cushions which you can see in past posts. 

This time I have used it to apply paw prints to a cushion cover for my French Bulldog Neville! 

Cut around the cushion you are going to cover, making one longer to create a flap. 

For the appliqué make a stencil of your choice then trace it onto fabric with tailors chalk, and cut around it.

Place the pieces you have cut out onto the cushion cover fabric using pins to hold them down. 

I always do a sample piece to check my stitch, in this case because it's for a dog bed I want lots of stitching to make sure the pieces will not come off with wear and tear. 

    

Keep the pins in whilst sewing to prevent the fabric from moving. The key is not to pivot your needle, sew slowly moving the fabric gradually. 

Once your appliqué is complete, putt the right sides of your cushion cover together, turn the flap wrong side to wrong side. Pin, and then sew pivoting at the corners. Trim your corners to get a perfect point. 

Put your cushion into the cover and tuck your flap in to in close the cushion. 

I used the flap technique instead of buttons or a zip because its for a small puppy. 

I now have one very happy Neville. 

You can use this technique with any pattern or design, if you don't have a sewing machine it can also look pretty with a neat hand stitch especially a blanket stitch.