Alpaca strips for blanket stitched throws and cushions
This is a classic combination of simple hand stitching and quality Alpaca
fabric strips. Fabric strips are randomly cut and joined to make up
your throw or cushion and these both feature blanket stitching using
one strand of woollen Creswick
Cornelli yarn to finish off seams and edges. Throws have
right-side seams and outer edges anchored with feature blanket stitch.
Throws can be as large or small as you wish – simply plan how
many multiples of 15cm wide strips you require to establish your approximate
finished size.
Cushions can be made in the same way, or you may have your seams on
the wrong side and simply blanket stitch the edge of the finished cushion.
You can repeat this fabric piecing for a cushion back, or use a single
piece of fabric. There is no zipper in the cushion, rather the stuffing
opening is later closed by hand and finished with blanket stitch.
You will need:
Creswick Craft alpaca 15cm wide strips, Creswick
Cornelli yarn, Embroidery needle with large eye
• For cushions or throws. Cut purchased strips into random lengths
and join at short ends mixing the colours. Avoid fabric wastage by having
these pieced strips at approximately the required finished length. Seam
these strips together taking a 1.5cm seam allowance and being sure to
avoid having the same fabric meeting in adjoining strips. Neaten edges
as required.
• If featuring blanket stitch on the right side, trim the seam
edges to be even as needed, then push open
to lay flat, basting the seam allowance in place if the fabric seems
springy, or use a Creswick Craft needle felting tool to bond the seam
allowance to the main fabric.
• Blanket stitch using one strand of Cornelli
yarn over and through all fabric thicknesses along seams
for
a secure finish.
• To complete a throw, turn the outer edges over 1.5cm and blanket
stitch these to finish.
• To complete a cushion, place the finished front over a cut-to-size
piece of backing fabric having right sides facing. Stitch around leaving
a turning/stuffing opening, trim corners and turn out to the right side.
Carefully push corners out neatly. Blanket stitch around cushion edge
through all thicknesses to a depth
of at least 1cm. Insert the cushion filler, hand close the opening concealing
the raw edges, then blanket
stitch across the remaining edge.
