Rain cloud cushion

Screen printing is something I've always wanted to try, so when I realised that you can do it with Mod Podge, an embroidery hoop and an old piece of net curtain, all of which I had, I decided to give it a try!

I went with a simple repeating pattern of raindrops. I'd planned to make a simple square cushion, but then decided it would be cool to make the cushion in the shape of a cloud.

1. Draw your design on paper.

2. Place a piece of thin voile fabric tightly in the embroidery hoop.

3. Trace the design onto the fabric.

4. Paint over the background with Mod Podge and allow to dry. Give another coat if there are any holes in the Mod Podge.

5. Place some cardboard behind your fabric (if you wrap it in some sort of plastic it won't stick to the painted fabric like mine did!). Place the embroidery hoop on top, and paint over the non Mod Podged areas with fabric paint.

6. Allow to dry thoroughly, and iron on the reverse.

7. Draw a cloud shape on paper of the same size as your fabric.

8. Pin the cloud shape to the reverse of the fabric, adding a layer of plain fabric for the back of the cushion, and sew around the outline, leaving the bottom open.

9. Snip notches around the seam.

10. Turn out the right way and iron.

11. Stuff the cushion and hand-sew the bottom closed.

I like the imperfect look of the printing, but if you want a more perfect look you will have to experiment with how much fabric paint to use, and how hard to press it through the screen.