cross stitch cushion help

[foxtrottango]

I have got several large cross stitches that I have completed over the last (cough) years. I have also recently come across a large piece of nice white fabric. Although I am a competent cross stitcher I have not done any other sewing for years (made a few clothes for my barbie when I was little but that's the extent of it).

I do not have a sewing machine and I don't have the space or money for one unfortunately. I would like to use this fabric to make a cushion with one of my stitched pieces but I'm not sure how to go about it. I can sew, just about but it does take me a while. Can anyone give me some beginner tips on how to start, i.e. is it best to sew the cross stitch to a backing fabric and then stitch that to the cushion or just stitch the cushion fabric to the edge of the cross stitch etc

I have always found the best way for me to learn something is to do it. I couldn't knit until I bought a 'knit your own tigger kit' and taught myself, ok he leers a little but we can't have everything :), I couldn't cross stitch until I bought a ridiculously difficult kit and found a flatmate to teach me :). I'm sure that had anyone seen what I was planning to attempt they would have said that I wasn't at the level to do it but as I never knew how hard they were I never let it stop me :) This project will probably be another one that I shouldn't be able to manage with my limited skills but I'm prepared to spend some time on it so any tips would be gratefully received.

You can do either of those options depending on what size cushion you want or how you want it to look. If you do a quick Google search then you'll find tons of ideas, there are some really good crafting blogs out there.

I'm the same, although machine sewing is probably faster I much prefer to sew things by hand. More time consuming but less chance of mistakes (I am useless at technology - machine more likely to sew me to the cushion than the cross-stitch!)

Nothing wrong with tackling big projects first. There's no point making something you don't actually like, just because it's easier.

I think I would stitch the cross-stitch to a backing first, by using a visible cross-stitch line or border around the design, but which goes through both your cross-stitch and your backing. You could also then stitch it again using a less visible backstitch, if you wanted. the reason I say this is because of the nature of cross-stitch fabric - it will fray easily, and you wouldn't want it to come apart after all your hard work.

You could use a zip to close it, or do it like a pillow case - I'd say there's not a lot in it, in terms of difficulty.

Keep us posted, am interested to see your work. I used to do a lot of cross stitch, I keep fancying doing some more, but I have so many projects on the go already, I really can't start anything else!

Thank you for the tips :). I think sewing it onto a background using some fancy backstitch might work really well. I have some nice blackwork that would look good like that.

I'm the same with loads of projects, got lots of large cross stitch and blackwork on the go plus 2 latch hook rugs

Will have to hide the cushion idea from my fiancee, if he finds another project on the go it might just push him over the edge :)

Ooh, I do like a nice bit of blackwork! Good idea.

Curses, now you've made me want to do some blackwork. I am so easily led, it's shameful!