Order Of Construction
1. Creating a design, sampling, and cutting fabric: The first step in producing the
cushion is to design the overall look and feel of the product. I decided on the size,
shape, and style of the cushion as well as created patterns for the painted flowers
and the image to be printed. Along with this I also sampled many techniques that
could be incorporated into the pillow design.
2. Cutting: The second step was to decide on the dimensions of the pillow and cut out
the fabric my pinning a large piece of fabric to the template. The aim was to cut out 2
same sized fabrics for the cushion.
3. Painting the flowers and outlining them: Using fabric paint and suitable brushes, I
carefully painted the desired flowers onto the fabric. This required precision and
attention to detail to ensure accurate representation of the intended design. I also
then outlined the flower vines and small music notes with black fabric marker.
4. Image selection: I then chose my fabric transfer image that matched the colour
scheme of the flowers.
5. Photo transfer: After selecting the image it was printed in colour onto the fabric
transfer paper. After it was printed, I used the square heat iron to iron it onto the
fabric by first peeling off the back of the paper then placing it in the centre of the
pillow, placing backing paper on top of it and then leaving it under the heat iron for
30 seconds. The same process was used for the back of the cushion except there was
multiple purple flower photo transfer images, scattered all over the back of the
cushion. This design of flowers and urban café (photo transfer image) fits well with
the nature and infrastructure theme of urban adventure.
6. Sewing and assembly: With the painted flowers and printed image now integrated
into the fabric, the cushion is ready for sewing and assembly. Cut fabric pieces are
first individually overlocked along the edges. Then then are sewn together with the
designs of the inside, leaving a small opening for stuffing. After sewn the fabric is
turned inside out then is ironed clean, cutting off any extra thread and such.
Final Evaluation
Overall, I am happy with my furnishings cushion/pillow that I have produced. I truly believe
that it has met the theme of “urban adventure”. I am also pleased with the square size of my
pillow.
In terms of the overall design and suitability for end use, the design of the pillowcase was
simple yet attractive. It had a classic rectangular shape that would suit most standard
pillows. The overall look was clean and visually appealing. In terms of suitability, the design
was practical and functional for its intended use as a pillow cover. The design is very
functional as the seam finishes were well done and neat. The seams were securely stitched,
and there were no loose threads. The closures, in this case, buttons or zips, were not
applicable as the design seemed to have an envelope closure. However, if buttons or zips
were used, it would have been helpful for added convenience.
In terms of aesthetics the fabric choice was appropriate for a pillowcase. It appeared to be a
soft and easy to care for material as it was cotton. The choice of decoration complemented
the overall simplicity of the design. However, a small decorative element such as hand
embroidery could have added a bit more visual interest. But I did not get enough time to
complete hand embroidery, although it was a part of my final design sketch. My flowers and
urban café design enhanced the theme of urban adventure. I felt that the flowers tapped
into the nature and floral side of the urban theme whereas the café also floral tapped into
the infrastructure of the urban theme. The multiple techniques I used also added a unique
touch.
The construction of the pillowcase seemed well put together. There were no visible mistakes
or errors that detracted from the overall project. Although I could have improved the
construction by not painting the flowers so close to the edge as one of the flowers was close
to getting sewn. The seams were aligned correctly, and there were no irregularities in the
stitching. Overall, the pillowcase design and construction were well executed.
The design was suitable for its intended use and had an appealing aesthetic. The functional
aspects were properly addressed, with neat seam finishes. The choice of fabric was
appropriate, but a minimal decorative element would have enhanced the visual appeal.
However, considering the construction and finishing, the project was excellently executed.
My pillow isn’t perfect and there could be some improvements, next time I will be more
careful and have precession with some of my painting.
Swing Tag
