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SUPER SIZE
Serger Cushion
Created by Annette Venn, Osborne Park, Western Australia

A new accent pillow is the perfect way to perk up a room. Annette Vern, who is a Sales Consultant at Janome Sewing Centre in Osborne Park, Western Australia, created this lovely serged cushion. Its unique wave tucks and piping accents, along with its extra large size, make a bold statement. We loved the shiny fabrics in red, cream and navy colour combination, but of course you can alter the fabric and colours to best match your own decor.
Approximately finished size: 25 1/8" x 25 1/8".


Janome Supplies Required

• MyLock 644D
• Any Janome Sewing Machine
• Beading Attachment
• 3/16" Piping Foot
• Narrow Base Zipper foot
• Janome Embroidery threads (003 Gold, 253 Ivory White, 232 Navy)
• Janome Overlock thread (700 Off White)
• Janome Woolly Nylon threads (001 White, 127 Navy)
• Serger needles size 12
• Blue tip needle 75/11

Fabric and Notions Required

• 25 1/2" pillow form
• 1/2 yd. red medium weight bridal satin
• 1 1/4" yds. Cream medium weight bridal satin
• 1 3/4" yds. Navy blue medium weight bridal satin
• 3 1/3" yds. Piping cord (No. 5)
• 24" Zipper (navy blue)
• Madeira Glamour thread (Gold)
• Madeira Decor #6 thread (Cream, Navy Blue)
• Water-soluble pen

Note: Due to the odd size of the pillow form, you may need to create it yourself or adjust size of pillow accordingly.

Fabric Preparation
Prepare the fabric by pulling a thread across the width of the fabric along one of the cut edges. This produces a straight edge from which to measure.

1. Cut one 29 3/4" x the width of the fabric piece from the cream satin fabric.
2. Cut two 5 1/2" x 29 3/4" pieces from the cream satin fabric.
3. Cut two 1 3/4" x 29 3/4" pieces from the cream satin fabric.
   Hint: Use the remaining fabric to test your tensions and stitches before proceeding with actual pillow.
   
4. Cut four 13/4" x 29 3/4" pieces from the red satin fabric.
5. Cut one 17 5/16" x 26 3/4" piece from the navy blue satin fabric.
6. Cut 2 1/4" bias stips (approximately 120" in length) from the navy blue satin fabric. Do not join them at this stage.

Wave Tucks

1. Set up the serger for a 3-thread (wide) Overlock stitch.
2. Thread the serger as follows:
   
   
3. Measure 4" in from the selvage on the 29 3/4" piece of cream satin.
4. Pull another thread parallel to the selvage. Fold with wrong sides together along this line and press.
   Note: This fold is the first row of tucks - it is important to stitch parallel to the selvage of the straight grain.
   
5. Stitch the first row of tucks, trimming a little of the fabric off as you serge.
   Hint: Always hold the tail of the threads to the back of your work when starting to sew.
   
6. Press between each row of tucks so that the navy Decor thread sits uppermost.
7. Continue serging until eleven tucks have been completed. Use the width of the presser foot as a distance guide between each row of tucks.
8. Trim the tucked fabric to 10" x 29 3/4", width the tucks running lengthwise.
9. Measure 1 3/4" from the short ends.
   
10. Using a water-soluble pen, draw a ling across to create an area measuring 10"x 26" between the lines.
    
    
11. Set up your Janome sewing machine for Ordinary sewing.
12. Place Janome Embroidery thread (253 Ivory White) in the needle and bobbin.
13. Sew along the lines. Do not trim the excess fabric at this stage.
    
    
14. Mark lines across the tucks at 2 3/8" intervals.
15. Sew along these lines, across the tucks.
16. Mark the tucks once again, this time centrally between the previous lines 1 3/16".
17. Thread the needle and bobbin with Janome Embroidery thread (232 Navy).
18. Sew in the opposite direction to create the "wave" effect. Do not press the tucks once the "waves" have been created.

Red Satin Stripes

1. Set up the serger for a 3-thread (wide) Overlock stitch.
2. Thread the serger as follows:
   
   
3. Layer one 1 3/4" x 29 3/4" red strip and one 1 3/4" x 29 3/4" cream strip, wrong sides together.
4. Serge, with the cream strip on top, along the length of the strips holding the thread tails and keeping the fabric taut while stitching. Trim a little off the edges as you serge for a clean finish.
5. Serge a second red strip to the opposite edge of the cream strip to make a piece of fabric that is red/ cream/ red.
6. Serge one 5 1/2" x 29 3/4" piece to the opposite edge of the red strip.
7. Repeat with remaining strips until you have two completed sections.
   
   
8. Serge all three sections together.
9. Press the navy edges towards the centre of the red strips.
10. Set up the serger for 3-thread (narrow) Overlock stitch.
11. Set the stitch dial to RH (rolled hem) and slide the needle plate setting knob to RH.
12. Thread the serger as follows:
    
    
13. Using the line on the stitch plate as a guide, serge over the previous rows of navy woolly nylon.
    Because the navy was sewn using a wide setting and the gold is narrow, a two coloured wrapped finish is achieved. Once again, always hold the thread tails and the fabric taut when serging and test sew each technique prior to the finished item.
    
14. Continue with the gold edge finish until all eight rows of navy woolly nylon are covered.
15. Press lightly. Set aside.

Construction

1. Set up your Janome sewing machine for Ordinary sewing.
2. Insert the zipper between the long edges of the 17 5/16" x 26 3/4" and 12 5/8"x 26 3/4" navy blue pieces.
   Note: Allow a 1 1/4" overlap on the larger of the two sections to hide the zipper.
   
3. Set up the serger for a 3-thread (wide) Overlock stitch.
4. Attach the Beading Attachment. This allows the cording to pass freely while serging.
5. Set the stitch dial to RH (rolled hem) and slide the needle plate setting knob to RH.
6. Thread the serger as follows:
   
   
7. Wrap the navy satin bias strip around the cording. Make sure the cording can pass freely through the foot.
8. Holding thread tails at the back of the foot, slowly serge holding both front and back of the piping as you go.
9. Join the bias strips by overlapping them a little, the gold thread will cover any raw edges.
   
   
10. Trim the seam allowance to 3/4".
11. Trim the front and back sections to 26 3/4"x 26 3/4". This provides for a 3/4" seam allowance.
    Hint: A generous seam allowance enables you to make adjustments if required. It's easy to trim back, but you can't add fabric on!
    
12. Attach the Narrow Base Zipper foot to the sewing machine.
13. Pin or baste the piping to the right side of the cushion cover with piping facing the centre of the cushion and the raw edges towards the seam allowance.
14. Sew along the 1 3/4" seam line.
15. Layer the front and back sections right sides together.
16. Sew as close as possible to the piping.
17. Set up the serger for a standard 3-therad (narrow) seam finish.
18. Attach the 3/16" Piping foot.
19. Serge the raw edges.
20. Turn to right side and insert pillow form.