Make gorgeous French-style linen cushions

Pep up your home with French-style linen cushions. Shop for a selection of natural-coloured linen tea towels, looking out for ones with embroidered detailing. If you can only find plain ones, stitch on your own shapes, such as our simple heart, using embroidery thread.

Takes 2 hours

What you'll need
Paper for template Washed cotton tea towel Red embroidery thread & needle Sewing machine
Folk Heart tea towel, similar from Walton & Co
2 x Linen Blend Border tea towels, similar from Marks & Spencer
2 x cushion pads (30cm x 40cm)
1 cushion pad/pillow (50cm x 70cm)

1) For the embroidered heart cushion, draw and cut out a paper heart template, around 15cm wide. Pin to the middle of the bottom half of the cotton tea towel. Using double strands of red embroidery thread, sew around the heart.

2) Fold the tea towel in half with right sides together, forming a rectangle, with the heart at the bottom. Pin and machine stitch the remaining edges, with a 2cm seam allowance, leaving a 15cm gap. Turn, place a 30cm x 40cm cushion pad inside. Slip stitch the gap closed.

3) For the smaller cushion, fold the Folk Heart tea towel in two, and repeat as above. For the larger cushion, take two Linen Blend tea towels and pin, with right sides together, then machine stitch around, leaving a 15cm gap. Turn, place a 50cm x 70cm cushion pad inside. Slip stitch the gap closed.

For more decorating ideas from Style at Home, click here.