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Sewing an explorer cushion: Quick, simple tutorial

20.03.2016 by Sabine Schmidt

Entdecker-Kissen nähen: Schnelle, einfache Anleitung

Sewing an Explorer Cushion: Homemade educational toys are a great idea because you can customize them to your child's needs. With this pattern, you'll sew a wonderful Explorer Cushion in no time!

Sewing an Explorer Cushion is fun:

  • You can fill them however you like—even by theme.
  • They fit in any handbag and help pass the time during waits and long car rides.
  • They help develop hand-eye coordination—and they're simply cute!
  • Plus, they're very easy to make yourself. Filled with Styrofoam, they're also featherlight.
  • If you fill the Explorer Cushion with plastic beads, it's washable!

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Step-by-step instructions

Tutorial: Sew a discovery cushion

In just a few steps, you'll sew a discovery cushion with a window that you can fill however you like – a great developmental toy for little explorers.

  1. Step

    Sew fabric strips to the PVC film

    The fabric strips are sewn all the way round the PVC rectangle with a straight stitch. Press the seams firmly with your finger (don't use an iron so the film doesn't melt). Then edgestitch once around the fabric framing the vinyl window.

    Sew fabric strips to the PVC film
  2. Step

    Baste front and back together

    • Trim the edges of the finished front straight with a rotary cutter and ruler.
    • Cut a matching piece of fabric for the back and baste both pieces right sides together.
    • Make sure you leave a turning gap.
    • If you like, you can now place a piece of woven ribbon at the seam: fold it once and place it between the two layers of fabric with the closed edge facing inwards.
    Baste front and back together
  3. Step

    Sew the cushion together

    Sew the cushion closed with a straight stitch. I sewed the seam twice and added a zigzag stitch so the fabric doesn't fray during play.

    Sew the cushion together
  4. Step

    Filling

    Fill with polystyrene beads and items to search for, then close the turning gap. Filling works really well with a funnel.

    Filling
  5. Step

    Close the turning gap

    Finally, close the turning gap with a straight stitch. I chose a triple stitch to make the seam extra secure.

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.