Sometimes you make a thing—just to see if it can be done—and someone comes along and says, “That’s cute. I want to make one too. How did you do it?”
1″ and 2″ star cushions
Thus is the case with my 1″ star cushion. “What can I do with the 1″ loom?” I thought.
1″ square Wunderwag loom
The teensy star turned out cute, but at first, no one else seemed to think so. (Please note: the star cushion is not my original idea. You can find the link to the original [French] instructions in my Star and Poppies blog post.)
Like my other recent posts, this is a photo tutorial of How I Made _____ (in this case: the 1″ Star Cushion). Because the 1″ star is so tiny it’s a suitable Christmas tree ornament—especially for itty bitty trees. That’s why I gave it a loop for hanging. (You can omit the loop; just work those last two ends into the middle of the star.)
MATERIALS
- 6.5 yards of yarn (You could use all the same color, contrasting colors front and back, or all different colors—in my opinion, on this tiny star it might look best to use all the same color at least per side.)
- 1″ loom and weaving needle (I recommend the Wunderwag loom, but you can make your own or obtain one elsewhere)
- Scissors, packing fork, sewing needle
- Polyfil (or other stuffing—small amount)
- Two buttons (about 5/8″ or 16mm) and yarn, thread, or floss to sew them on
INSTRUCTIONS
- Weave ten 1-inch squares (this takes less than an hour). If you need it, the warping/weaving diagram is here. Please leave a short beginning tail and wrap the outer pins three times to measure the warp. The leftover ending yarn tails will be your sewing thread.
- Take hold of corner 2 (Cr2) and Cr3 and stretch each square diagonally into a diamond shape. (Remember, Cr2 is the knobby-looking corner.)
Stretch each square into a diamond shape, placing Cr2 at the top point of each diamond
- Line the squares up into a star shape with all the Cr2s at the center point. Make sure the short and long tails are in the same position for each square (diamond) piece, e.g. all short tails on the left (or right); all long tails on the right (or left).
Place Cr2s at center of star with tails of each diamond in matching positions (e.g. all short tails are on the left)
Close-up of position of Cr2 points
- Fold one diamond over onto the diamond next to it (right sides facing). Thread your sewing needle and use a double running stitch to sew up and down one edge of the diamond pair—up to Cr2 and back down.
It’s difficult to see in the photo (so many little ends!), but one square is folded on top of another and stitched along one edge
- Repeat step 4 for the remaining pieces of both the front and back of the star. Be sure to catch the loops at the center of the star so you don’t end up with a hole there.
Continue sewing pieces together to form a star
Be sure to close up the center
Though it may be tempting, don’t cut off any of the weaving tails
- Place the front of the star on top of the back (wrong sides facing). Use a double running stitch to sew most of the edges closed. There should be enough yarn from the tails to do this.
There should be four tails at each intersection point (“valley”). Choose the longest tail and sew up from one valley to the peak and down to the next valley; then reverse and go back up and down the edges you just closed. You should be able to do this with one yarn tail (leaving three leftover). If necessary, use another tail to close any gaps. Save two long tails to make the hanger.
- Use the leftover beginning and ending yarn tails, plus a little Polyfil, to stuff the star.
- Sew the final seam closed.
Work in left over ends, but don’t forget to leave two tails for the hanger
- Work in all extra ends (most of these will be supplemental stuffing) except two which you’ll use as the loop to hang the finished star. Bring those two ends through the inside of the star and then poke them through the top point. Tie them in a knot.
- Sew the two buttons on in the center of the star. You may find this a little difficult (I always do).
I don’t have a photo of this part of the process (yet), but here’s a completed 1″ star (and 4″ snowman)
