How to Make A Fun Patchwork Cushion using a Layer Cake

Try your hand at triangles! For an interesting twist, we are going to take on split quarter square triangles. Grab half a layer cake and let’s begin making this cushion.

Half a Layer Cake or one Junior Layer Cake is all you’ll need for this project—and you’ll be left with a handful of scraps to add to your scrap collection.

Here’s what you’ll need to gather to make your 20” (50cm) square cushion:

• Sewing Machine
• Cutting tools: Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
• Fabric marker
• 20 Layer Cake Squares
• Pins (optional)
• A 20”/50cm cushion inner to stuff inside!

Choosing Fabric

The fabric featured in this project is a Junior Layer Cake of Air Flow from Ruby Star Society. Junior Layer Cakes are made up of 20 pieces, each measuring 10 inches per square. A regular Layer Cake contains 40-42 squares, so you could make two if you want a coordinating pair.

Piecing the cushion front

1. Set aside four squares for later and separate the remaining 16 squares into two piles of eight.
2. Cut one set of eight down to 6 ½” square, and the other down to 6” square. Keep all of your scraps!

3. Pair up the 6 ½” squares right sides together, so you have four. Mark a line diagonally on one side from corner to corner on each pair.

4. Sew ¼” away at either side of the line so that you have two lines of stitching on each pair.

5. Cut along the drawn lines to make two half square triangles (HSTs) from each pair of squares.

6. Press the seams so that they lie flat and trim down to a 6″ square. Make sure the seam run right to the corners when you trim, so they’re nice and even.

7. Now, pair up each of your HSTs with one of the 6” squares, right sides together again. Mark a line corner to corner again on the back, but make sure your line crosses the existing seam rather than following it.

8. As before, sew ¼” away either side of the line on all eight units.

9. Cut along the line and press seams towards the larger triangle to make 16 split quarter square triangles (SQSTs).

10. Arrange four units into a block as shown; the larger triangles should be on the top left and bottom right corners, and pointing towards the centre on the top right and bottom left units. Arrange all four blocks before you sew to make sure you’re happy with the fabric placement.

11. Sew the units together starting with the vertical seams. Press them alternate ways so that when you sew the horizontal seam and finish the block, you will have a crisp centre point.

12. Once all blocks are sewn, sew the front of the cushion together in the same manner.

Piecing the cushion back

13. Cut the remaining four-layer cake pieces down to measure 8 ½” square. You will also need to take 10 of your longest scrap pieces and cut down to 2 ½” x 10”, and from the smaller scraps you need eight pieces cut to 2 ½” x 4 ½”. 

14. Take the 10” strips and sew them all together along the longest edges.

15. Press seams. It should measure 20 ½” wide x 10” tall. Next, fold over ¼” on the bottom 20 ½” edge and press.

16. Fold the raw edge under, using the pressed edge as a guide, and then hem to finish the back top panel.

17. Sew the 2 ½” x 4 ½” pieces to each other along the 4 ½” edges. Press.

18. Pair up the 8 ½” squares and sew together. These will be positioned either side of the pieced strip as shown, so press the seams the other way to how they are pressed on the centre strip. Sew the squares to either side of the strip to make a piece that measures 16 ½” tall x 20 ½” wide.

19. Press well and along the top 20 ½” edge, press ¼” of the edge to the reverse, fold under and hem. This completes the back bottom panel.

Let’s finish it up!

20. Lay the front panel facing up, then position the top back panel facing down, and lastly, the bottom back panel facing down. The hemmed edges should overlap and lay across the square, don’t match these to one of the edges.

21. Pin if you wish, and then sew around the entire piece.

22. Turn right side out, poke out the corners, and stuff with a cushion pad—and you’re done!

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Did you make a layer cake cushion? Was it your first try making split quarter square triangles? We’d love to see your creations! Please tag us on Instagram or Facebook so we can see your design! #TrendTexFabrics @trendtexfabrics