Chair cushions and more....

I’m totally hooked on the “quilt-as-you-go” method right now, so after making my placemat, I also made a cover for my thermos and a chair cushion. 








It also works well as a placemat...








But the idea was that I could comfortably rest my feet on it while sitting in my garden chair and reading a book

WOW, your quilting work looks great 👍👍👍

Best regards, Inge

😊Dear Petra, we’re on the same page here—I just finished one piece, and another is in the works. It’s actually more fun than I originally thought... the pieces turned out great; I especially like the rose fabric. Our feet work hard every day, so they deserve a soft cushion when they’re resting... enjoy reading in the garden.

I’d love to hear your feedback.

Karen, would you like to show me your work? I’m always on the lookout for new ideas to make something new or to complement the things I’ve sewn so far. 

Petra, that looks really great. A wonderful idea and a lovely addition to your garden.
I hope you enjoy reading it, too.

Hugs, Monika

It turned out really great!

That little spot looks so inviting. Without the chair cushion, it would be boring. It really comes to life thanks to all the colorful fabrics you’ve sewn together.

Could you briefly explain to me—as a complete novice—what’s so special about the “quilt-as-you-go” method? I could Google it, but I prefer talking to real people.

I’m guessing it has something to do with all the straight seams on the fabric?

Best regards, Ina

Petra... I’d be happy to do that... I think I can take some pictures tomorrow, and then I’ll post them here in the forum.
Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

I’m not really sure whether it’s anything special. But for me, it’s a way to sew or quilt with fabric strips even with little experience.  

I like the results, and sewing the straight lines helps me relax. 

You start in the middle. I sewed 3 fabric strips together and then sewed them onto the fabric (quilted). You sew from the inside outward. First right, then left, then top, then bottom. 

The topstitching quilts the fabric onto the batting. And that way, the sewing lines run crosswise once, then vertically again. 



The size is set before you start sewing. Normally you use thick batting. Unfortunately, my fabric shop didn’t have any left in stock, so I cut up an old fleece blanket that was no longer wanted.  



I’ve written down the order for sewing the fabric strips here. 

I’d be happy to send a link where it’s described really well. 

Thanks, Petra, for explaining. I wasn’t familiar with this technique either. You can sew beautiful things from scraps using it. Chair cushions are definitely something you can always use.

I also sewed a cover for my thermos using this method. 

Thank you so much, dear Petra, for the explanation. That sounds great—and a little bit addictive, too. You’re always curious to see how the fabrics will look together. And with those straight seams, there’s definitely something meditative about the sewing process. Keep it up! I’m always so happy to see your sewn masterpieces.

Can I ask one more technical question? How do you manage to sew perfectly straight, parallel seams? There must be some guides to help with that. I can’t imagine doing it freehand. And do these guides fit any sewing machine?

Best regards, Ina

I don’t use any sewing aids. I always sew just a tiny bit wider than my sewing machine foot. So my foot always runs along the left side of the seam I’ve already sewn when I sew the next seam.

My seams really aren’t straight—it just might look that way in the pictures. They’re usually crooked and uneven, but with this method of sewing, you only notice it if you look closely. 

Ina, I can tell you this too: there are sewing patterns, and if you don’t have them, you can use a cutting ruler and a rotary cutter. That way, you can measure exactly to the millimeter how wide and long the fabric pieces need to be. But what you mustn’t forget is the seam allowance when cutting—for patchwork, that’s usually about 0.75 cm, or, as I usually do it, just a foot’s width.

Love, Inge