Sofa sensations! Create your own cushions

Refresh your home décor with this simple computer craft

By Tara Nolan

Snuggle up on your couch with a good book and comfortable designer pillows. You don’t need to be a decorating diva to create these cozy cushions. Just follow the simple steps below.

Materials

fabric such as cotton, flannel or a very smooth linen (Avoid synthetic fabrics as the high heat required for ironing the transfer will melt them.)
T-shirt transfer paper for inkjet printers (available at office supply stores)
printer
needle and thread
iron with a no-steam option
pillow form or stuffing
paper scissors and fabric scissors
zipper (optional)

Choose your pillow design

Open a new document in Word. Go to Page Layout > Orientation to match the layout of your potential design.
To import an image, hit Insert > Picture to select a photo or a graphic you have scanned into your computer, or Insert > Clip Art.
Use clean images or designs with clearly defined lines that will stand out against the fabric. Choose floral patterns or leaves for a simple yet sophisticated design, or select fun colourful shapes for a child’s bedroom.
Add touchups or special effects to your image. You can soften or embellish the image edges or add a decorative frame.
Size your image to the pillow and save it.
Now you’re ready to print. Try a test sheet first on normal paper before using the T-shirt transfer paper.
Go into your printer settings. Check the Mirror Image box if you have text within the image. Make sure the printer is set to High Quality printing to get the sharpest colour possible.

Transfer the image to fabric

After you have printed the image onto transfer paper, use paper scissors to cut around it. Keep as close to the border as possible.
Heat the iron to the highest setting and select the no-steam option. Place the image face-down on the fabric.
Follow the directions for the transfer paper. Most transfers take three to four minutes to affix to the fabric. Move the iron in circular motions over the entire transfer, and make sure you cover all the edges.
Let the transfer cool slightly (one to two minutes), and slowly peel back the transfer paper from the fabric.