Winter Styling with Sainsburys (PLUS two DIY cushions!)

This post has been sponsored by Sainsbury’s Home. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Fall For DIY!

I know that some of you reading this will be full-on decking the halls by the time this gets published. And that’s ok! No really, I’m not judging (in fact I’m actually a little bit jealous) but for the rest of us who are more reserved with (or just happen to live with these people) festive decor timing, it’s a bit early to start trimming the tree and hanging the mistletoe.

As you might have guessed I am on team early decorating. I love Christmas and I want to squeeze every last bit of joy from this time of year as possible. My other half? Bah humbug. Ahh no, that’s a little harsh. He can throw himself into festivities just as much as me, but he has a very strict rule of no trees until 12 days before Christmas. I like to think it’s about tradition, but actually I think it goes back to the devastating loss of a whole tree of needles right before Christmas Day one year… something that seems to have stuck with him for life. But either way, we have come to a happy compromise. Something I like to call ‘The Month Before Christmas’.

Yep, November. When the chill hits and you suddenly need 3 more layers to leave the house. When everyone is talking about Christmas, but not actually feeling festive in any way yet. That’s exactly when we need a little pick me up to help us get to that first rendition of Last Christmas and the much loved mince pie season.

This year I’m adding to our ‘TMBC’ decorations with these gems from Sainsbury’s Home! I can’t do our weekly shop without a quick dash around the homewares aisle (before I’m missed) and sneaking a little something into the trolley. I’m loving this darker Scandinavian look that’s very on-trend right now. It’s moodier and more indulgent, encouraging you to hunker down for the winter with the darkness outside and a warm fire burning. I’ve popped in some subtle mustard and wood accents to add some warmth to the darker elements.

All that’s left to do is add some much needed texture to add comfort to this minimal look. Throws, cushions and rugs all complement the cosy scene. I’ve sewn a bolster cushion using two hand towels (for the ultimate cosy texture). Just sew two towels together at three sides, stuff and sew up the last side. So quick and simple and you have the perfect cuddling cushion!

My second DIY in this post is the floor cushion. These are so useful to have to hand at this time of year. If surprise guests turn up (or you just don’t have enough seating for the ones you have) you can pull out this French tufted mattress for extra seating that is comfortable and looks cute!

Materials:

• Duvet cover – I’ve used the Kanso Living double duvet cover.
• Foam or sofa cushion
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread
• Long upholstery needle
• Nylon thread for the buttons
• Buttons

 

Tutorial:

1. Unpick (or cut off) the binding from one edge of the duvet cover leaving an open edge. Place the cushion or foam on top of the cover and cut around leaving an extra few inches of fabric around the edge – around the same as the depth of the cushion.
2. Now turn the piece of fabric we just cut out from the duvet cover ‘inside out’. Wrap this around the cushion pulling the extra fabric equally over the three open sides.
3. Starting at one of the corners pinch the two sides of the fabric together so they meet along the centre of the cushion edge. Pin in place along the shorter edge. Do the same along the longer edge leaving a large open space in the middle to remove the cushion. 
4. Take out the cushion and sew along the pinned line. Backtack (reinforce the last few stitches by sewing back and forward over them) the ends to keep the stitching in place when you are working with the cushion.
5. Place the cushion back inside the cover and repeat steps 3 and 4 on the opposite side. Cut the excess fabric away so the hem of the fabric is around 1-2 cm wide.

6. Now we need to create box corners. At each corner bring the two stitch lines together. This will create a triangle with the hem down the middle. You want to make sure the top of the cushion is on one side of the centre line and the bottom is on the other. 
7. Lay this down flat and measure down the triangle until you get the same measurement as the depth of your cushion. Pin along this line, then sew a row of stitches along the line. 
8. Repeat this step at all four corners. It helps to make sure the hem is lying in the same direction around the entire cushion.
9. Turn the cover the right way around and push the foam/cushion into the cover. Sew up the open edge using a slip stitch.

10. To create the French tuft look pinch the edge of the cushion together ready for sewing. Then sew up from the bottom and back down where the fabric and cushion are pinched together. Move the needle along the cushion around one inch and repeat the stitch around the entire cushion.
11. Sew the buttons through the entire cushion with a strong thread and the long upholstery needle.