Sew a simple seating systemIt’s specially designed to cut down the number of seams to a minimum, ‘The dimensions of this type of seating are the key to determining looks and comfort. Make sure that the base cushion is longer from front to back than it is wide or it will look stubby when the bolster is in place. And check that the height of the bolster doesn’t exceed that of the base cushion or the chair will look top heavy. Suitable cover fabrics. Virtually any fabric recommended for upholstery and loose covers will do, but avoid very thick, heavy cloths which are difficult to work with and cause congestion at the corners. Also avoid velvet or any fabric with a pile which is likely to get crushed when in constant use. Even synthetic, furry fabrics tend eventually to lose their texture. An all-wool, reversible fabric with a woven stripe has several advantages. Being reversible, it gives you a chance to enjoy a seasonal change of colour schemes—like blue for winter and green for summer—and because it is woven in stripes (not printed) it makes cutting a straight seam extremely easy, an important consideration when making large cushions. Any leftover strips of fabric can be used to make an attractive border for curtains ‘The inner cushions consist of non- removable calico covers filled with a mixture of crumbled foam and poly- styrene pellets. Cut out and make calico covers following the instructions given below for detachable covers, but cut them about 2.5em (1") larger all round, The professional way to keep cushions looking trim and well filled is to make inner cushions slightly larger than the finished covers. When stitching the calico covers, use flat fell seams (see sewing know-how) and leave an opening in each, large enough to insert the filling. Filling the cushions. A good mixture is 50% crumbled foam and 50% poly- styrene pellets. When used on their own, crumbled foam mats into nasty chunks and polystyrene pellets are hard and uncomfortable—but a mixture of both makes a good texture. ‘The polystyrene pellets constantly work through the foam lo prevent it matting, so you need only mix them roughly when filling. When feeding in the crumbled foam, leave it in the plastic bag until right inside the calico cover, toprevent itspilling, Polystyrene pellets (sold in sacks), can be tricky to manipulate until you know how. Quite simply, you need someone to hold the cover open while you pour in the pellets —either from a cardboard box with a hole cut out of one comer, or through alarge funnel. To fill one bolster and one base seat cushion you will need a total of 2.25ke (lb) of crumbled foam and 2.25k¢ (61b) of polystyrene pellets. When the cushions are full, sew up the openings firmly using thick cotton thread. One of the easiest and most successful types of cushion seating tomake yourself —a bolster back cushion which props against the wall on top of a square base cushion. This design cuts seaming to w minimum, Flat fell seam: stitch seam in normal way and trim one seam allowance to 7mm (}"). Press seam to one side with wider allowance on top. Turn under edge of upper seam so itis level with trimmed seam. Pin in place ‘and stitch close to folded edze Finding the straight of grain by pulling a crosswise thread.The cushion covers Key to pattern pieces A. base seat wrap-around BB =bace scat endpicce C_ =bolster end piece D_ ~bolster wrap-around a Large size seating Mo make sot S3om x Téom x 87cm (33" x 30° x 15”) and a bolster 75cm x 35cm (30° x 14”). You will need: Length of fabric as given for layout 1 or Matching thread Tape of large, ready-fixed upholstery, poppers, 1.75m (5’9") long Bias binding or tape 2.5em (1*) wide and 7.3m (8yd) long Tdem (65!) cut em (34) ‘246m (97") A curl Layout 1 For fabric 254m (100°) wide you will need 1.7m (Iya) Fold cur? B6cm(34") 123m (481) = Selvedge Tider 45") Selvedge Layout 2 For fabric 19cm (47°) wide you will need 3.7m (4ya) een 8 Smaller size seating ‘To make a seat 73cm x 63cm x 32cm (29° x 25” x 18") and a bolster 63cm x 30cm (26” x 12") You will need: Length of fabric as given for Layout 3 Matching thread Tape of large, reddy-fixed upholstery poppers, 1.5m (5’) long Bias binding or tape 2.5em (1”) wide and 6.5m (7yd) long 16 Selvedge Seledge A cunt 109m (43") cull cu 76cm (30") 99m (39") Layout 3 For fabric 192cm (52") wide you will need 2.7m (34yd)To make up Depending on your fabric width, follow the relevant cutting layout. ‘These allow for 1.5em J") seams. Ifyowuse a woven, striped fabric, make sure the stripes lie straight. Otherwise, make sure your selvedges are straight. It is important to follow the layouts so that the pattern on the bolster and the seat run the same way and so that, both side panels ofthe seat are identical. The seat cushion and bolster can each be made out of a single, wrap-around piece of cloth, with two end pieces. Note: the smaller cushion (using 132em (62") cloth) needs one extra seam in place of fold line X shown in The end pieces are rectangular with 2, Use a pudding plate for corners rounded corners for the seat cushion, and circular for the bolsters. To cut the rounded corners, use a pudding plate togive a curve (fig.2) For a reminder of basic sewing tech niques, see previous page. To make up the seat cushion cover “Assemble pieces A and B as in fig.1, with right sides facing, and pin, (Stitch together with 1.5em (J") seams Leave sides open where indicated by dotted lines in fig.1 and oversew or Zigzag stitch the raw edges where pop. per tape will be attached. If the cloth is reversible bind the edges with contrast bias binding or tape to give a piped effect to one side of the cushion covers and a flat finish to the other. Ifthe cloth is not reversible, use plain bias binding or tape. Turn under 15cm (J") on the ‘openings and attach the tape of poppers along the dotted lines (fig. 1) To make the bolster cushion cover OCut a paper template for the end pieces by drawing a circle with a radius of 19cm (74") or 16.5cm (63") for smaller version, and cut (see layouts). OPrepare the edges of the bolster ends by making a row of small running stitches all round them and ease into the bolster. Pin and tack before you stitch, easing in the same way you would a sleeve into an armhole. Stitch bolster, leaving a 46cm (18") opening for the popper tape (fig.1). ‘Bind seams as for cushion. KEY seam line Ss fold line attach snap fastener tape seam line for 137em (52") wide fabric only 1. Assembly detail showing: seam lines and where to sew the snap fastener tape, Reversible covers enable you to enjoy a seasonal change of colour scheme.