Today I’m miniaturising my Plus Side quilt pattern to make a Christmas cushion.
The Plus Side quilt pattern can make many different quilts, depending on fabric choice and block orientation. Here’s 3 quite different versions of the one quilt:
At first I thought I would make a Christmas quilt. However Australian Christmases are very warm, so I decided to scale down the pattern and sew a cushion.
Some math reworking was required, but once that was done I pulled out my scraps and got to work (these blocks can be made with layer cake squares 10″ x 10″).
The majority of my blocks were Christmas green teamed with low volume or silver fabrics. I had a pair of blocks in white/silver which I didn’t end up using as I felt they were a bit too light.
I had some fun playing around with the orientation of the blocks, using value to form designs.
Cross design:
Offset radiating diamond:
Diagonal stripes:
Checkerboard, dark centre:
Checkerboard, light centre:
I don’t know what to call this one:
Centre radiating diamond:
Eventually I settled on the centre radiating diamond layout. Then I set about moving some of the individual blocks around to get the effect I was after (and to make sure like fabrics weren’t touching). It’s always makes me laugh how much work it is to achieve a ‘I just threw this together’ random look.
I tried it with a light centre and then a dark one. The final layout was also when I decided to do away with the white/silver block pair.
Once I’d settled on my layout and sewn my blocks together it was time to quilt the panel.
At first I considered a radiating design, guided by the diamonds in the layout. However this would have required thread burying and my Christmas cheer didn’t extend that far. So instead I fell back on trusty cross hatch quilting, which was easy given all the squares in the patchwork blocks to act as guides.
Once the Christmas cushion was quilted and had a zippered back, it was ready to be stuffed with a size 20 (20″) pillow form.
This Plus Side cushion also plays very nicely with my green Scrap Magnet Christmas pillow. You can read more about that pillow in this post here.
I suppose I should sew a red Christmas cushion variation now, just to even things up on my couch.
That might be a job for next weekend.
If you already own The Plus Side quilt pattern, you will have received a pattern update with an addendum detailing how to downsize the pattern to make the mini patchwork panel.
I have amended the pattern listing to include the addendum for all future sales.
The Plus Side can now be made in mini, baby, throw, twin, queen and king sizes!
Happy sewing,
Kirsty x
It looks great. I agree that the silver blocks were just a bit too light. I loved seeing all the possibilities. What a great pattern!
Yes, they were very pretty but just too light. I actually thought the dark blocks were too dark as well, but in the corners I think they balance out quite well.
Hi Kirsty,
I just love the cushions with the variations in the Plus quilt pattern. It has given me confidence to try them and to try fabric combinations…..just beautiful. I think a few pillows with the same fabrics but the different arrangements would look wonderful . I am buying the pattern ( if I don’t already have it). Merry Christmas, Jan
Thank you Jan, there’s certainly a lot of fun to be had playing with these blocks. And that’s just in one colour family – it would be interesting to introduce other colours as well. Happy sewing!
Hi Christie, I think your unnamed block looks a bit like an hourglass. All your cushions came out beautifully. What a clever idea to add strips on your red pillow back! So time saving as well.
Thank you, Sheryl!
I really like the checkerboard layout, both dark and light. But your final choice for the pillow is stunning. How awesome to get so much variety from one pattern!!
Thanks Tina, it’s always a lot of fun seeing the effects of colour and value on a design. Just a few turns of a block and the layout can look so different. Although it does make it hard to settle on a final design!
I just Loe all the different ways you worked up the pillow! The Off-side was my favorite but the one you paired with the Christmas one is fabulous! Thanks for your creative inspirations!
The offside diamond was a close second for me!