HOW TO ADD POMPOMS TO A CUSHION

I have become addicted to adding pompoms to everything these days. I especially love adding them to cushions (there’s just something fun about them and they give a nice edge to the cushion seam).

Because I think everyone should sew with pompoms at least once I’m sharing a tutorial today on how I add pompoms to cushions as I’m making them. (Obviously this isn’t a tutorial for adding pompoms to pre-made cushions.)

What you need:

• Front cushion panel
• Back cushion panel (depending on how you do the backs of your cushion this may be in one or two parts)
• Pompoms
• Clover Wonderclips or Pins
• Zipper foot attachment for your sewing machine
• Sewing supplies – scissors, sewing machine, measuring tape

If you’re looking for a tutorial on how to make a cushion here’s a few I’ve found and love:

• Melissa (of Ms Midge) has a great tutorial for making a cushion with an enclosed zipper – click here to read
• Katy (of I’m a Ginger Monkey) has a great tutorial series on how to make a cushion and covers a couple of different ways to finish the back (including a non-zipper version) – click here to read

How to add pompoms to a cushion

1. First you need to work out how long a length of pompoms you’re going to need. To do this you just measure the four sides of your cushion, add them together and then add a couple of inches to be on the safe side.

Example: If your cushion measures 20″ x 25″ that’s 20 + 20 + 25 + 25 + 3 (this is the wiggle room). So you would need a 93″ length of pompoms.

Don’t worry if you have some pompom left over, you can use them to add a little flourish to zipper pulls when you’re making pouches.

2. Once you’ve got your length of pompoms you’re going to need to pin them to the front of your cushion, around the edge. I use the Clover Wonderclips for this, but you could totally do it with pins.

You will be pinning your pompoms to the right side of the front panel of your cushion. Make sure you pin the pompons with the pompoms facing into the middle of the cushion and the tape (the thing that the pompoms are attached to) running along the edge of your cushion.

When you get to the corners just bend the pompoms into a curve. You can either pin them right on the corner or either side of the corner, or all three. I tend to do a mix.

3. Once you’ve secured the edge of the pompom tape to the right side of the front panel you’re going to need to baste the pompoms in place.

I’m a pretty confident (ie. kamikaze) sewer, but when it comes to this embellishment I baste into place, otherwise they’re too slippery and you don’t want them to move.

I use my zipper foot for this step – it allows me to get as close to the pompoms as I can. I also move my needle position right over (despite me being constantly worried I’m going to sew through my finger!).

I use a normal stitch length (2.5) for this because I like to think that it will help hold the pompoms in there when the toddler is throwing the cushion around by the pompoms. You don’t need to stitch to the ends, just turn the cushion when you get to the corners (stop stitching, with the needle down, lift the presser foot and pivot the cushion panel).

Once you’ve sewn all the way around, secure your threads (reverse stitch a couple of times) and then get your cushion ready to add the back panel.

4. Take the back panel of the cushion and lay it right side down (so the right side of the cushion will be facing the right side of the back panel) on top of the front panel.

Use your Wonderclips (or pins) to secure the back panel to the front panel – same as when you secured the pompoms.

5. Using your zipper foot stitch the back panel in place. I like to get the zipper foot as close to the pompoms as possible so as to limit the amount of tape that’s exposed.  Remember you can move your needle position, so you can move your needle to be right at the edge and as close to those pompoms as you dare.

I sew straight down the edges, end-to-end, so there’s some stitch overlap. I then go back and reinforce the corners with some stitches on the diagonal (across the corner) so it’s all held together when I trim the corners. (This is the next step.)

6. Once you’ve sewn the edges down it’s time to snip those corners so you can turn it inside out nicely. Cut them on the diagonal from edge-to-edge as pictured:

7. Breath a big sigh of relief because you’re done, dude! Turn the cushion right sides out, stuff with a cushion and then stand back and admire your amazeballs work!

 

I hope this has given you the confidence to try it. It’s so simple but adds such a dimension of fun to your projects. I must confess I’m a little addicted to it. If you add some pompoms I’d love to see it – just tag me if you share on Instagram (I’m @gnomeangel) or sending me and email with a photo so I can see and share with everyone. Time to get crafty!