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Stained Glass Cushion Project | Quilt Block Sewing Pattern

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

Follow Debbie Shore's Crazy Patchwork tutorial to create a stained-glass window effect.

The simple Crazy Patchwork technique used for these two projects creates a stunning effect. Outline colour blocks with fusible black bias binding to make colours and shapes really stand out. The fusible binding is easy to apply accurately, and we’ll be sewing it in place with a twin needle so it is stitched along both edges at the same time. Non-fusible tape can be used, and if you don’t have a twin needle you can sew along each side of the tape individually to secure it.

The two projects this month use the same technique but create very different looks. The cushion cover is quite simple, with straight lines and points that don’t need to match perfectly. You may wish to try this one first. Then there’s a wall-hanging using both straight and curved lines. The wall hanging is self-bound, meaning the backing fabric is wrapped around the front to create a smart finished border. (This is another clever technique to add to your skill set.) If you’d like to add more petals and leaves to create your own design, you’ll need to allow more fabric.

The twin needle I used is 4mm, which means the needles are 4mm (approx. ¼in) apart. On most sewing machines, you won’t be able to use your needle threader or thread cutter when using a twin needle. It’s worth investing in a twin needle if you use jersey fabrics as the stitch can stretch, and also create neat top stitches. You’ll need two reels of thread, one for each needle; using two different coloured top threads can make the stitching a focal point!

Note: Use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance for both projects.

Finished sizes:

• Pillow cover – 16 x 16in (40 x 40cm)
• Wall-hanging – 15 x 17in (38 x 43cm

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You will need:

Equipment

For the pillow cover:

• Rotary cutter and cutting mat
• Quilt ruler
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• 4mm twin needle, or use a standard sewing machine needle, for edge-stitching both sides of the tape
• Optional: square ruler, at least 6in (15.25cm) square

For the wall-hanging:

• Fabric shears
• Rotary cutter and cutting mat
• Iron
• Fabric clips
• Hand-sewing needle
• 4mm twin needle, or use a standard sewing machine needle, for edge-stitching both sides of the tape
• Optional: tacking/basting spray

Materials

For the pillow cover:

• 20 x 7in (51 x 18cm) of each of four different coloured fabrics
• 186in (4.75m) of ¼in (5mm) wide fusible bias binding: the binding I used comes on 11yd (10m) rolls; one roll is plenty for both projects
• 33 x 11in (84 x 28cm) of backing fabric: I used some of the same pink fabric that I used for one of the four front fabrics listed above
• Four 1 x 17in (2.5 x 43cm) strips of black fabric
• 16in (40.5cm) square pillow pad
• 18in (46cm) zip to match your backing fabric

For the wall-hanging:

• 10 x 12in (25.5 x 30cm) of white fabric for the background
• 13 x 13in (33 x 33cm) of non-directional fabric (fabric that looks good whichever way up it goes) for the border: mine is orange
• 8 x 8in (20 x 20cm) of fabric for the corners: mine is blue
• 3 x 6in (7.5 x 15cm) of dark pink fabric
• 10 x 5in (25.5 x 13cm) of pale pink fabric
• 6 x 10in (15 x 25.5cm) of dark green fabric
• 3 x 10in (7.5 x 25.5cm) of pale green fabric
• 20 x 10in (51 x 25.5cm) of fusible adhesive sheet such as Bondaweb
• 18 X 20in (46 x 51cm) of black backing fabric 
• 16 x 18in (40.5 x 46cm) of wadding or fusible fleece
• Approx. 168in (4.25m) of ¼in (5mm) black fusible bias binding
• Two medium-sized buttons and 10in (25.5cm) of narrow ribbon to make a hanging loop: mine are black

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