| Round and bolster cushions |
| Circular cushions can be tackled in exactly the
same way as square and rectangular cushions, varying not only the size of the cushion but
also experimenting with different designs and trimmings. |
| Round cushions - with
and without a welt |
| When designing a round cushion it is important
to think about the visual effect you are aiming for - the precise shape (depth, padded
appearance, etc) and how your cushion might retain or lose its shape over time. If you
would like to create a perfectly circular cushion with a tailored finish, then you will
need to pipe both circular ends and have welt. |
| A welt is a band that forms a centre section adding height
to the cushion. To all intents and purposes this approach means you are in fact making a
very shallow bolster cushion, rather than a relatively flat round cushion. |
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Two circles sewn together with a circular pad inserted, but
without a welt, will always tend to distort around the circumference giving a more
irregular shape over time - even if the sections have previously been piped. This striped
cushion illustrates the slightly distorted shape that results from a design lacking a
central welt. |
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| If you compare the two cushion designs (above
and right) you should notice the difference in the effect achieved. Here a central welt
gives extra depth to the cushion, while still retaining a soft, cushioned/padded
appearance and feel. |
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| These designs also demonstrate the effect
created by sewing a fabric-covered button in the centre of a round cushion. This simple
addition can often transform an otherwise plain-looking round cushion - adding a
'decorative' dimension to the design, but also giving a more padded appearance. |
| Bolster cushions |
| Bolster cushion pads come in a wide range of
shapes and sizes, generally made to order for a specific item. As with round cushions, in
order to get a neat crisp finish it is usually necessary to pipe the ends. However, this
piping need not be a standard bias casing, there are lots of potential eye-catching design
variations, for example: |
- Ruched piping giving a prettier, more feminine
effect
- The use of a contrasting fabric for the piping
casing to that used for the central section. Try a striped fabric cut on the cross for a
candy striped effect.
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| While bolster cushions come in many different
dimensions, variations in design are primarily achieved by altering the design of the
circular end sections. These can be finished in a number of ways - a few examples are
given below: |
- Flat end - giving a neat, tailored finish
- Pleated end with plain piping - the ultimate
in smart finishes
- Centre of the circle decorated with a fabric
covered disc, button, or tassel with a rosette at its base.
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| The bolster cushion below (left)
is made of fabrics with different widths of stripes. The narrower striped fabric has been
used for the pleated ends. The wider stripes would produce a more irregular effect if
applied to the end sections and are therefore used to best effect for the main section of
the bolster. |
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| For a more informal look, you
may wish to extend the length of the central tube and, instead of piped flat or pleated
ends, create a gathered end similar to a Christmas cracker (above right). With this design
option you can also create stunning effects by lining the two ends with a contrasting
fabric and using a cord with tassel for the tie - see the example below. |
| More > Click here to
explore box cushions |
