How to Make a Pineapple Cushion
Pineapples are a big trend this summer, so I decided to do some experimenting with Tulip’s fabric paints and some freezer paper to create a pineapple print perfect for summer barbecues and picnics in the garden. . .
Suitable for: Beginners
Time to make: Three to four hours plus drying time
- A cushion cover in a plain, pale cotton or linen fabric
- Reynolds Freezer Paper
- Tulip Soft fabric paint in Olive, Golden Tan and Holiday Green
- Craft knife
- Fine paintbrush
- Pineapple template – download below
- A pair of Scissors
- Sponge
- Small piece of scrap material
- Some scrap cardboard
1. Print off the pineapple template, then trace it onto the matt side of the Freezer Paper.
2. With the craft knife, and using either a cutting mat or the cardboard underneath, cut out the leaves and segments of the pineapple.
3. Place the Freezer Paper template where you wish it to be on your cushion, and iron on a high heat (without steam) until every piece is stuck down. Make sure you have no bits that are slightly lifted, as the paint will seep under.
4. Cut up your sponge into small pieces – mine were about 2 centimetres square.
5. Place the cardboard inside the cushion cover so the paint does not seep through to the back. Then shake your fabric paint well and using a scrap of Freezer Paper sticky side up as a pallet, just squeeze a little of the Holiday Green out.
6. Dip your sponge in the paint and then test your dabbing skills on the scrap test fabric before you start to make sure you know how hard, or gentle to dab.
7. Now go to your cushion and carefully dab the green into the top part of the pineapple segments only. Then sponge into the leaves with the same colour. Now go and have a cup of tea while this dries slightly. Just 15 minutes or so will be fine.
8. Next, take the Golden Sun shade of fabric paint and put a blob onto your scrap of Freezer Paper. Using a fresh piece of sponge, dab the colour into the bare parts of the pineapple segments, leaving a touch of green showing at the top of each.
9. Using the Olive fabric paint, and the edge of a fresh piece of sponge, add some highlights to the leaves.
10. While the paint is still damp, peel off the Freezer Paper, carefully so it does not tear, as it is much harder to get off if little bits tear.
11. Using the fine paintbrush, add a little dot of Olive fabric paint to the centre of each pineapple segment.
12. Leave the cover to dry, preferably overnight, before putting in a cushion pad. Display with pride.
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