Australian Homespun — June 2017

Preparation and cutting

1

If you’re not using pre-cut shapes,

accurately trace a total of 96

pentagons from the Pattern Sheet

onto the dull side of the appliqué

paper with a ceramic pencil OR

download and print the template

sheet from the website (with the

digital patterns for this project) and

print it out on appliqué paper three

times with an inkjet printer (DO NOT

use a laser printer as the heat will

fuse the glue and ruin the printer)

OR trace the pentagon printed on the

Pattern Sheet onto template plastic

and cut it out on the line. Trace

around it 96 times on stiff paper.

2

Cut the pentagons out carefully

on the lines.

3

Trace four of square B from the

Pattern Sheet onto the dull side

of the remaining sheet of appliqué

paper and cut them out accurately.

4

From both the white spot print

fabric and the fusible batting, cut:

• Two squares, 19in (cushion fronts).

5

From the green tone-on-tone print

fabric, cut:

• Four rectangles, 10 x 18^11 ⁄ 2 in
  (cushion backs).

Appliqué

6

Fuse the appliqué-paper

pentagons to the wrong side

of the assorted green print fabrics,

leaving at least^1 ⁄ 2 in between them.

Fuse the four B squares to one green

print fabric. As you place the shapes

on the fabrics, consider whether

you wish to fussy cut some or have

directional prints facing a particular

way, bearing in mind that this may

use more fabric. Cut all the shapes

out^1 ⁄ 4 in by eye outside the edge

of the paper shapes.

7

Run a thin line of glue along the

edges of the paper pentagon

shapes no wider than the seam

allowance. Fold the seam allowances

over the paper in turn until you feel

the edge of the paper with your

thumb and press them onto the glue

to give accurate shapes. Make sure

you don’t fold the paper as well

or the shapes will be distorted.

8

To prepare the squares, apply glue

to three edges and fold the seam

allowances over – leave one side open to

be included in the seam of the cushion.

9

Match two prepared pentagons,

right sides together, and

whipstitch them together neatly

on the side edges with fi ne machine-

sewing thread. (The step photo

shows the process using contrasting

thread for clarity, but light grey

blends with most light-value fabrics

so the stitches are virtually invisible

when the shapes are opened out.)

10

Join a total of six pentagons the

same way to make an arc, as

shown in Diagram 1. Make a total of

16 arcs with six shapes in each one.

Join four of them to make a circle.

11

Arrange eight of the remaining

arcs with four squares to make

the Cushion 1 design, as shown in

Diagram 2. The unturned edges of

the B squares should all be facing

outwards. Whipstitch them together

where the shapes meet. Press it fl at.

12

Fold a cushion front square in

quarters and fi nger press the

folds to act as guidelines. Centre the

joined Cushion 1 shape on the square

and use small dots of appliqué glue

under the edges to hold it in place.

Press or leave it to dry.

13

For Cushion 2, fold the other

cushion front square in

quarters and fi nger press the folds.

Centre the circle fi rst and glue baste

it in place.

14

Place one corner of the square

over the guide on the Pattern

Sheet with the broken lines matching

the fold lines. Position the corner arc

as shown on the guide – there should

be about^1 ⁄ 2 in of fabric beyond the

Step 7 Step 9

Diagram 1

Diagram 2