A few weeks ago, my grandson Rory asked me to make him a cushion with a train on, and I knew this would be the perfect design! This pattern is Zoo Train Cushion Set, designed as a collaboration between 2 great designers - Claire Turpin Design and Tied With a Rbbon - known together as Sew Along. I purchased the pattern, along with the pale grey star print fabric (which is for the front and the back of the cushion) from Poppy Patch here in the UK - and the black and white narrow stripe (which I'll use for the binding) was purchased from Fabric Love - also here in the UK . I've used a selection of my own bright batiks for the applique shapes, with matching threads - thank goodness for my extensive collection of colourful Aurifil 40wt threads! The fusible webbing that I've used for this project is Lite Steam-a-Seam 2. Once the applique shapes had been prepared, the background fabric was layered up with a piece of lightweight fusible wadding, Vlieseline H630, and a piece of cotton fabric for the backing. The applique was machined into place through all 3 layers, so it was quilted as it was appliqued...
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...these 2 cushions feature a train engine, with a couple of carriages containing some fun zoo animals - and the second carriage also has Rory's name appliqued on it. One of his favourite colours is orange, so that was the obvious choice to use an orange batik for his name...
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...I've added a covered zipper to the back of the cushion cover, so it can easily be removed if it needs to be laundered. A cute little label "Made by nanny" is stitched onto the front - the labels are designed and purchased from Little Rosy Cheeks - and the narrow stipey binding just finishes it all off neatly...
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...the larger rectangular cushion measures 24" x 16" and the smaller cushion measures 16" square...
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...I've popped a couple of polyester filled cushion inserts into both of the covers, and they'll be perfect for Rory's reading corner in his bedroom. Now I just need to sort through my remaining batik fabrics, and make a set for his little brother Alfie.
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