Moroccan tile inspiration

A love of handpainted Morocccan tiles and a passion for stitchery was the inspiration behind these padded cross-stitch designs.

Download your pattern sheets for these beautiful designs and follow the instructions below.

	Orange tile Download pattern
	Mint mini cushion Download pattern
	Wrapped in blue Download pattern
	Red ribbon bow Download pattern Bordered green hearts Download pattern

Design size: About 8 5cm sq

Gather your supplies
Two 73.5cm square pieces of 16-count ecru Aida (for each cross-stitch)
Anchor stranded canon threads in 767 (Wrapped in blue); 332 (Orange tile); 9046 (Red ribbon bow); 257 (Bordered green hearts); 254 (Green tile); 7092 (Mint mini cushion)
Tapestry needle
Sewing thread to match Aida cloth
Toy stuffing
Cord

Here's how
STEP 1: Baste the horizontal and vertical centre lines. Working from Ihe centre out. follow the symbols on each chart and cross-stitch each design onto a square of Aida. Each cross-stitch is worked using 2 strands of thread over 1 fabric square of Aida. When cross-stitching is complete, remove the tacked lines.

STEP 2: With right sides together and leaving an opening on one side, machine sew the stitched front to the plain back piece about 2mm out from the outer edge of the border. Trim excess fabric allowing seam allowance. Turn right side out, then fill with batting or toy stuffing. With the ends of a cord make a hanging loop inside the cushion, slip stitch the opening closed.

STEP 3: Using running stitch, quilt each cushion with sewing thread. For tile designs quilt just inside border and for designs with a central motif, quilt around border.

TIP:
If you find cross-stitch graphs small, a magnifying glass helps or enlarge the pattern size on a photocopier.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens December 2005