‘Cushion Book’ Shows You How To Make Pillows

For folks who have admired those beautiful handmade cushions sold at arts and crafts fairs and thought, “Gee, I could do that,” now there’s a book that shows you how: “The Cushion Book” (Abbeville Press, $24.95). If you can sew and paint, you already possess two of the critical skills involved.

Juliet Bawden, author and professional textile and fashion designer in England, provides samples of cushions in many styles, from bolsters to throw pillows in everything from batik to painted silk. There are plenty of colorful photographs to give you ideas.

The techniques for creating most of the cushions in the book can be divided into two groups, those that are painted and those that are embroidered. Instructions are clear and concise and there are plenty of photographs to illustrate the process involved.

The painted cushions include those made of hand-painted silk, painted stenciled patterns and batik, which requires skill, technique and patience.

The embroidered cushions include those made by reverse applique, crochet, machine embroidery, cross stitch, patchwork applique and more.