Don't get shirty with me

Hiya and good morning. What time were you up this morning? I woke at 4.30am, I was hot, dog was hot, bedroom was hot, so nowt for it but to get up. Oh to open the back door and get a blast of cool air. Walk around the garden breathing deeply.  Methinks we would have been more comfortable sleeping in a tent on the back garden. 

So what have I done with the extra time? Made a cushion cover, and all before breakfast. Remember the shirt cover I made at college, was it last year, can't remember now. After I made it I was so chuffed I bought another shirt of a similar colour thinking I would make another. It was £1 from the Age UK Charity Shop, I might add. This morning I got it out from under the piles of fabric I have. Let's make a cushion cover. Whereas the first one was a kind of lightweight silky fabric, this one is heavier cotton. Some of you will know how to do this but for those who don't, here's the plan. Best to use a shirt that is not fitted, straight up and down, and preferably no pocket. 

Lay the shirt flat on the table. You need to cut a straight line across the bottom. I have a very useful 2 foot plastic ruler, but you can use a piece of wood or anything that is long enough to go from one side to the other. No need to measure.

Then use your ruler to mark where you want to cut across the top, positioning it under the armpits. No need to faff about measuring, use your eyes to determine that you have a fairly straight oblong shape.

The buttons on the front of the shirt become the opening at the back of the cushion cover. If you don't want to embellish it you can sew it together along the top and bottom, inside out then turn it the right way, job is done. If you want to add something to the front do it at this stage. I cut three strips of pink stripey fabric from a shirt I had cut up for patchwork. Turned under a hem along the edges, and ironed it flat to make it easier to sew on.  

The embellishments finished, all there is left to do is turn it inside out and machine along top and bottom.

This is the one I made at college last year, lots of Suffolk Puffs on the front.

I didn't want to spend a lot of time on it today, I kept it simple. Stitched some colourful buttons on the stripes. I think the result is rather smashing. And all before breakfast. 

Anyone else going to have a go at this? The easiest way to make a cushion cover. If you have any shirts hanging around from dearly departed family members, and are reluctant to give them away, what a nice idea to give them a second life. You can make cushions full of memories.

Thank you for popping in, I'll see you soon.
Toodle pip