Sunday 17 April 2011

Fleece cushion cover for crochet

Hello lovelies ,
Here's a little tutorial on how to make a crochet cushion cover using fleece material .... an old blanket in my case.....to make an envelope style cover and a button closure . I've  also added a pretty crochet trim to finish it off the back. I've chosen fleece fabric for this project as it is nice and soft but also because it doesn't fray and so the amount of sewing required is kept to a minimum.
You might not want to make a cushion completely from crochet for several reasons . In this case my choices were driven my the fact I had a limited amount of this lovely cotton blend yarn , as I had recycled it from a garment . Read about that Here. It's also a great time and money saver .
To start with measure your piece of finished crochet .....





Add 2cm it the width and two and a half times to the length . This is because we are making a full cushion cover that needs an overlap ,and sewing our crochet to the front. ......



The next part is optional , but to add a little prettiness , I added a crochet border it one of the short sides. It's quite simple to do .
Start by turning a small (8mm ish ) hem and pin this in place....



Next blanket stitch along this hem use the yarn of your choice (I'm using cotton yarn )and a large sharp needle ....



Next add a crochet trim , mine is simply 1 double crochet ( UK treble) and 1 slip stitch in each loop of the blanket stitch . I've worked it with the wrong side of the fabric  facing me as I prefer the look of the wrong side of the crochet in this case......




Once you have completed that part fold your fabric into a square shape , with the wrong side of the fabric out and your crochet trim not visible .....




Place you crochet square on top to check the size . Then pin along the two open sides.......



And sew them together . You will be sewing through first 2 then 3 , then back to 2 layers of fabric....




I did this by hand , so you don't need a sewing machine.
Next turn your cushion cover the right side out ....



Pin your crochet square to the front of the cover.....




Next sew you crochet to the front of the cover . I used an over and over stitch ( that's what I call it anyway!) And I only caught the back loops of my crochet ....



Insert the pad and spend a little time shaping till you are happy with the look.....



Finally there's just the buttons to add. Place these where you want them to be on the finished cushion and mark with pins.....



Lift up the top layer of fabric and sew the buttons to the underneath layer , lining up to the pins. To make a button hole simply snip a tiny hole in the top layer with the tip of your scissors, the fleece fabric stretches so you only need a very small hole but the major advantage is you don't need to sew the buttonhole ....

In the above picture the button on the right is already through its corresponding button hole.

Then step back and admire your handy work....


I can see that my buttons are a little wonky , but never mind :0)  Just turn over and enjoy the Granny Goodness , coz that's the best bit :0)


Jacquie x

30 comments:

  1. Thanks for the instructions. The finished cushion looks fantastic!

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  2. Nicely done Bunny! The cushions look perfect xxx

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  3. I am most definitely bookmarking this. Wonderfully explained, Jacqui, and so beautifully neat. My one and only attempt at doing something similar was not my finest moment I can tell you!

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  4. great idea I wouldn't have thought of doing it that way - on my to do list which is ever increasing.

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  5. Will definitely do this next - after I have finished the current on-needles project!
    Thank you for brightening up my day/mood/head.
    Fostermummy X

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  6. Oooh, that's lovely!! Definitely one to add to the Must Do list!!

    S x

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  7. Mmm crochet cushions.. love em!
    Kandi x

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  8. Love your two cushions together. So awesome to think you got those two from a thrifted poncho. ;-) And thanks also for the tutorial on the fleece backing!!

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  9. Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial, and for taking the time to photograph each step - you've made it really clear for me!

    Much love,
    Kim

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  10. What a wonderful pillow. Thanks for sharing your instructions, especially about adding the crochet trim.

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  11. This is fantastic, thanx for the tuto!

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  12. Oh, thanks for this - not because I have plans for a fleece cushion but because I made the back for a cushion with a jumper I found I couldn't crochet through to make button loops - never thought to blanket stitch the edge for the crocheted edging/button loops to be made in to. Sometimes it's the simplest things that confound me!
    The two cushions look great together - I love the colours.

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  13. This is fab! I actually understand it lol. I guess I better go a hunting for soem old fleeces. Thank you thank you.x

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  14. Thanks for this - I'm glad to see it isn't just me with a granny square obsession! I also really like edging in white as well and think it makes the square look much more modern and clean.

    Talking of clean - you should be ashamed of that craft box before photo!

    Really enjoying your blog. x

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  15. This is fantastic! Thanks so much for the great idea and all the helpful details!
    Caz from Never Knew :)

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  16. Such a beautifully presented tutorial, at last I know how it should be done! Have previously muddled along ...
    Happy Easter!

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  17. Thank you! I am very poor at sewing things and this tut was a life saver! :)

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  18. Just wanted to say thanks again for making this tutorial. I made my cushion cover yesterday and I'm really happy about how it turned out :) I've posted about it on my blog at http://eggbirddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/granny-pillow.html

    Much love,
    Kim

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  19. Thank you! I Can not tell you how perfect the timing on this was, ok I can: I just finished the new cover for my sofa and need too make cushions for it and I have at least one cushion front that would work for it but I don't have any more of that yarn AND I have ten white fleece blankets (leftovers from my wedding last summer) just laying waiting for me to figure out what to do with them... Oh, you just made this evening so much more easy and fun!

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  20. Thank you so much for this! It's so simple yet so effective. I used it on the project I've just completed: http://creativechaosart.blogspot.com/2011/04/sea-pennies-crochet-cushion-cover.html
    I couldn't find any fleece blankets, but it worked well with the material I had, and I can see myself using it much more over the years! :)
    Thanks,
    Helen

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  21. Gorgeous cushion and a great tutorial. Just wish I could crochet! The edging on the back on the cushion looks fab.

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  22. cant have enough crochet cushions :))
    heather x

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  23. Thank you, this is great and ver clear tutorial!! I am lazy sometimes and I don not want to crochet both sides of a cushion! I also like the fabric, here it is called "polar" and it is usually used for blankets (it is light and warm). And one can cut it without sewing the hems. I had a question though (although I would also prefer to sew everything by hand, it is very pleasant as knitting), you´ve mentiones to "use the sewing machine". I have never tried to sew crochet to a fabric by using the machine, I am always afraid it will break the needle or become trapped in the bobine. Is there any special technique ot kind of needle to do so? sometimes I knit simple circles with differente colours and I would like to sew any fabric to the back, and use them as potholders o for tea or warm things. Would you help me with that? Many thanks in advance and many greetings from here, the very South, Buenos Aires.

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  24. thank you very much for this pattern! love it
    Jasmijn Joosen

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  25. Absolutely great tutorial . . . I can barely stitch to save my life, but would give this a go! x

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  26. Hi there, I couldn't find your email address, so I hope you don't mind me posting this request for a product review as a comment-

    I was just checking to see if I could send you a new kind of crochet hook I invented so you could review it on your blog. The Sharp Crochet Hook is a really handy tool that is ideal for crocheting through fabric or paper to create really stunning edgings. Now you don't have to prepoke holes or get it hemstitched!

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  27. What a great tutorial -Those cushions look great!
    http://www.mogulinterior.com/cotton-pillow-covers.html

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  28. Just what I was looking for to back my crochet squares!

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  29. Hi Jacquie, I just found your blog via attic24 and this cushion is exactly what I had in mind for a number of cushion fronts I've finished :) I knew I didn't want to have crocheted back and front, so I was going to make a fleece back - but actually stitching the crochet front to the whole fleece cover is a much better idea. Thank you so much for this tutorial, it's broken down into steps exactly what I wanted to do! :) Claire

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