Make a Sophie Conran ruffle cushion: free sewing pattern

Recently I’ve become a little bit cushion obsessed! I love them, especially the big squishy ones that you can sink into on the sofa or lounge around on in the garden at the end of the day. They’re great for adding colour, pattern or texture to beds, chairs and sofas. Car boot sales, fleamarkets and antiques stalls are good sources of inexpensive fabrics: look out for vintage silk scarves, linen grain sacks, or old curtains or shirts.

There are all sorts of pads available (visit www.merrick-day.com for a selection or www.woolsoft.co.uk for good quality, wool-filled pads). Some will hold their shape and always look tidy, but I prefer feather pads – though they do need lots of plumping. But whatever filling, shape, size or fabric you choose, making your own cushion covers is easy and very rewarding.

Ra-ra ruffles cushion

Fun and bright, this frilly cushion cover makes use of fabric remnants.

How it’s done
Start by cutting several strips of fabric approximately 8cm wide and nearly double the width of an existing cushion cover.

So that you have a neat edge at the top, hem your first ruffle before attaching it to the cover.

Pin each ruffle in place, folding in pleats as you go, then either machine or hand stitch in place.

Continue with alternating patterned fabrics until you reach the bottom.

Tip: If you prefer a more tailored cushion, hem the bottom edge of each ruffle before stitching it on.

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