You know when someone asks you to make something and you think, “Yep, I can do that!”

Well, that's how this particular order started.

I was asked to make some cushions featuring characters that cannot be named. You know the ones. I'm saying nothing. 😂

The idea was to create the faces using patchwork, with each cushion made from a 10 x 10 grid of fabric squares for these custom handmade cushions.

Which sounds lovely.

Until you realise that means 100 individual squares. PER CUSHION.

Every square has to be planned, cut, put in exactly the right place and sewn together. One square in the wrong colour or position and suddenly my carefully designed character has had a rather unfortunate makeover.

100 Squares at a Time

Before I can even think about sewing, I have to turn the character into a 10 x 10 design and work out exactly which colour needs to go in each of those 100 spaces.

Then comes the cutting.

So. Much. Cutting.

Then I lay all 100 squares out, check them, check them again and usually stare at them suspiciously for a while before I'm prepared to start sewing.

Slowly, row by row, the face starts to appear.

And I absolutely love that bit.

There's something very satisfying about watching 100 seemingly random little squares of fabric turn into a recognisable character.

And Then There Were Two More…

Once I'd made the original characters that cannot be named cushions, I was asked if I could add another two character designs.

Of course I could.

So back to the drawing board I went.

Two new faces.

Two new 10 x 10 designs.

And another 200 tiny squares to cut and sew.

At this point, I probably should have started buying fabric squares in bulk.

But We Weren't Finished Yet…

Once all the character cushions were finished, I knew there were still two more cushion fillings in the pack, so me being me decided, I have made 6 why not 8? 

This time, though, I got to do something completely different.

For the him, I made a Newcastle United remote-control holder cushion, perfect for keeping those disappearing TV remotes in one place.

Well, that's the theory anyway.

Whether the remote actually gets put back in it is completely beyond my control!

And then there was a cushion for the daughter.

For hers, I made a secret-pocket cushion, giving her, her own little hidden space for keeping whatever treasures she doesn't want everyone else finding.

I'm not asking what's going in there.

What happens in the secret pocket stays in the secret pocket.

Making the Secret Pocket…

This was the last cushion, and I knew I wanted this one to be super girly and have a secret pocket.

Did I have a pattern?

Of course I didn't.

Did I know exactly how I was going to make a hidden pocket inside a cushion?

Also no.

Typical me.

So I did what I usually do and just started making it, convinced that I'd work out the complicated bits when I got to them.

I started with the front and got that looking exactly how I wanted it. Then I decided it needed a lovely frilly edge because, obviously, if we're going girly, we're going properly girly.

It looked great.

There was just one small problem.

I'd made my secret pocket considerably more difficult to make.

How Hard Can a Secret Pocket Be?

In my head, this was going to be simple.

I wanted the cushion to look completely normal from the outside, but have a hidden pocket where she could keep little treasures, notes or anything else she wanted to hide away.

I knew what I wanted it to do.

I just couldn't work out how on earth to construct it.

I tried one way.

Nope.

Turned things around.

Still nope.

Stared at it for a while as though the fabric might eventually explain what I was supposed to do.

Nothing.

Eventually, after using about twice as much fabric as I actually needed, I came up with a solution that was perhaps not the most conventional sewing technique ever invented:

I basically made two cushions and put them together.

And it worked!

Actual Blood, Sweat and Tears

People use the phrase “blood, sweat and tears” when they've worked really hard on something.

This cushion involved actual blood, sweat AND tears.

It took me around four hours to make.

It was ridiculously hot.

I was hormonal.

I couldn't work out how to make the idea in my head actually work in fabric, and at one point I got so frustrated that I cried.

And then, just to really complete the experience, I managed to cut myself because I'd forgotten to put the safety cover back over my rotary blade.

Blood? ✔️Sweat? ✔️Tears? ✔️

Honestly, this cushion had the full set.

And yes, lesson firmly learnt — the rotary cutter gets closed the second I put it down now!

But I Did It

After four hours, twice the amount of fabric, two cushions pretending to be one, a few tears and one slightly injured finger…

I had my secret-pocket cushion.

And do you know what?

I loved it.

It was girly, it had the frilly edge I'd wanted, and most importantly, the secret pocket actually worked.

There's something particularly satisfying about making something when you haven't got a pattern telling you what to do. Sometimes it takes longer. Sometimes you use far more fabric than you intended. And sometimes you have a mini breakdown halfway through.

But eventually you get that moment where you look at it and think:

I worked that out. I made that.

Would I make another one?

Absolutely.

Would I make it the same way?

Not a chance. 😂

Next time, I'll have a pattern.

Because I accidentally invented one while making this one.

But I Do Have One Question…

So, the whole order was finally finished.

The characters that cannot be named had been created from hundreds of tiny squares and then sewn back together.

The daughter had her secret pocket.

And my client, he had his Newcastle United remote-control holder.

Except…

I'm still not entirely convinced that the character cushions were actually for his son, After discovering he is actually a big Marvel fan, I started to wonder

Was it really all ordered for the him?

I may never know.

But what I did know was that, 100 Squares, Secret Pockets & A Newcastle United Fan… have made great cushions.

And that's one of the things I love about custom orders.

They don't just give me something new to make. They usually come with a story too.

So, if you've got an idea for a cushion, whether it's made from 100 tiny squares, has a secret pocket, holds your remote controls or is definitely, absolutely, honestly for your child, get in touch.

I love a challenge.

Although I reserve the right to count the squares first.

So, until the next “I wonder if I can make that?” moment…

If you've enjoyed reading about my latest creation (or disaster!), give the post a like and leave me a comment below, I genuinely love hearing what you think. And if you've got an idea you think I should try next, definitely tell me… although I may regret saying that! 😂

Don't forget to subscribe to the blog so you don't miss what I'm making next. There are always new projects, custom orders, ideas and the occasional “well, that didn't quite go to plan” moment to share.

Rhiannon x

More Shabby Than Chic 🧵✂️