BOX CUSHION

I’m extra happy to check this project off My Crafty List of Things to Do. I’ve been wanting to make a box cushion dog bed for Maisy for well over a year. I had gotten as far as ordering a 10lb bag of organic buckwheat hulls from Northern Quinoa last November and then the project fell to the wayside.

When Erin approached me about doing some introductory upholstery classes, I knew the box cushion would make a great class and help kick start this personal project of mine!

I had originally wanted to make the cushion out of Denyse Schmidt’s Cheater Print fabric from her County Fair Home Dec line, but changed my mind last minute to this dark Tulip Medallion print from the same collection. This sweet little print has grown on me in the last couple months.

I really enjoy testing out new classes and being one of the students. It’s amazing how many ways there are to insert a zipper in your sewing. I love the version we did here and Erin showed us how to make a little pocket for the zipper pull to slide into. I now wish that I had chosen to do contrast piping. Lauren did and it really added another level of detail. I will definitely do that on my next one.

Each of us also made a muslin casing to cover the inside (foam, rice, buckwheat, etc) and make it super easy to care for and wash our cushion covers. This clever feature alone, makes me want to recover every box cushion I own.

At first Maisy was completely wary of her new bed and would hide when I called her over to it. Perhaps because I was so insistent that she get in it for a photo. I ended up laying out pieces of cheese all over it to get her to realize how great it really was.

As with Erin’s other class, the Upholstered Cube, I learned a lot of really great tricks that are going to come in handy for my future upholstery goals. When you look around, box cushions are everywhere! I have very lofty ambitions of doing a patchwork couch and I’m feeling like it just might be possible now. (kinda.)