Category: PROJECTS

1. Calico & Lace Cushion Covers

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 10th Apr 2015

   Calico & Lace – A Trio of Simple Elegance -  Cushion Covers

   Calico in its truest form is an all-cotton fabric woven in plain, or tabby, weave and printed with simple designs in one or more colours. Calico originated in Calicut, India, by the 11th century, if not earlier. By the 17th and 18th centuries calicoes were an important commodity traded between India and Europe.

   Often woven from cotton which has not been fully processed it may contain small particles of foreign matter, unseparated husk parts, for example. In modern times the term ‘calico’ is frequently used to refer to this  fabric in its unfinished and undyed form, making it a relatively cheap but hard wearing material with a natural colour which fits in beautifully with most colour schemes.

   CONCEPT BOARD

   

   A pre-shrunk good quality calico is the material of choice. The overall look we wanted from this range was country cottage tinged with romance. Combining calico and lace is classic and has worked well in home furnishings for centuries.

   Amy is the simplest cushion cover using lines of ribbon and lace either side of a trio of pin tucks. Bella is more complex and has both horizontal and vertical embellishment. Chloe is designed to cover a bolster, its shape and rosettes for decoration adding a different element to this set of three.

2. Celtic Knot Cushion Cover

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 20th Mar 2015

   Celtic Knot Cushion Cover

   Dating back to pre-Christian times there are many representations of Celtic knots, their main feature being that they have no beginning or end, symbolic of nature in its constant act of death, rebirth and renewal.

   In keeping with this connection to nature it seemed neutral, earthy shades would make a good colour choice, ranging from brown and beige, through to terracotta reds and even creams and white. 100% wool also felt like the right fibre choice.

   CONCEPT BOARD

   

   The smooth twists and turns required to create a knot can be created with the use of cable stitches but for this collection I wanted something a little different. This is where the idea of using I-cords made sense as they are easy to make and capable of endless manipulation.

   As you can see from the concept board the knot design used on this cushion is based on actual knot designs, and shows the beautiful effect that can be created by knotwork.