Pretty Peacocks Pleated Cushion Project

Add a touch of prettiness to your home decor with this stylish pleated cushion cover, created by Diane Fisher, using the Threaders Pretty Peacock collection!

Pleated Cushion finished size: 18” x 12” (46x30cm)

You will need:

20” (50cm) of Threaders Pretty Peacocks Sky Blue fabric
20” (50cm) of Threaders Pretty Peacocks Pretty Flowers fabric
12” (30cm) Zip (our Threaders Zips on a Roll are perfect for this!)
85” (216cm) of piping cord
85” (216cm) of bias tape (alternatively you can make your own coordinating bias binding using fabric from the Threaders Pretty Peacocks collection)
18” x 12” (46x30cm) cushion pad
Contrasting coloured thread for detailed sewing
Basic Sewing kit
Sewing Machine
Zipper foot
Iron

Fabric Preparation:

Cut panels of plain fabric measuring 12.5” x 6.5” (32×16.5cm) and 24” x 6.5” (61 x 16.5cm)
Cut two panels of patterned fabric measuring 12.5” x 6.5“ (32 x 16.5cm)
Cut one large back panel of the plain fabric measuring 18” x 12.5” (45.5 x 16.5cm)
Cut one small back panel of the plain measuring 2” x 12.5” (5cm x 16.5cm)

Step 1

Take the 24” x 6.5” (61 x 16.5cm) panel and mark each ¾” (2cm) along longest sides. Line up the second mark with the first mark to form a pleat; repeat this process lining up all the marks along each side of the panel. Pin to hold the pleats in place.

Step 2

Take the pleated panel and place it onto the smaller plain panel measuring 12.5” x 6.5” (32cm x16.5cm). Lift each pleat and sew along the fold line to secure the pleats in place. Repeat the process until all pleats are stitched down.

Step 3

Attach the zipper foot to your machine. Tuck the piping cord into the centre of the bias tape, fold it over and sew as close as possible to cord.

Step 4

Cut two strips measuring 12½” (32cm) from your binding strip, and use a ⅜” (1cm) seam allowance to sew the piping along the longest edge of the two patterned panels measuring 12.5” x 6.5“ (32cm x 16.5cm).

Step 5

To finish your cushion front, place the piping bias edges of the patterned pieces right sides together onto either side of the pleated panel, and stitch to secure.

Step 6

Sew the remaining piping bias around the edges of the front cushion using a ⅜” (1cm) seam allowance. Snip into the corners to allow a nice finish when turning the cushion through.

Step 7

Trim the piping at one end of the bias 2” (5cm) when finishing the end of the piping take the end of the cord into the free tail end. Piping binding should lay flat at this point, fold in the raw edge and sew to complete.

Step 8

Take the large back panel measuring 18” x 12.5” (45.5cm x 16.5cm), and press the short edge over 1” (2.5cm). Attach one side of the zip, right sides together to the large panel. Attach the remaining side of the zip along the long edge of the 2” x 12.5” (5cm x 16.5cm) small panel. To hold the zips in place, add a decorative stitch around the zip as shown in the image.

Step 9

Place the front and back panels right sides to together, (the back may require trimming). Open the zip and sew around all four edges of the cushion panels. Ensure that you use the zipper foot to get as close as possible to the piping cord.

Step 10

Turn the cushion right through the zip opening, so right sides are now facing out, insert the cushion pad to finish.

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