Vintage Suitcase Cushion

For Baby 2 I'm switching up the nursery to be "adventure and travel" themed. I love all things vintage, so this cushion was a cute idea for something fun and cozy!
 
Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

• Canvas or a heavy fabric with a smooth touch
• Real or faux leather (vinyl could work too)
• 2 standard pillowcases (or batting)
• Tacky glue

• Thread

 
How to Guide
 
Measure and mark

• Lay your fabric out on a hard, smooth surface, right side down.

• Using the Suitcase Measurement Guide measure and mark where to cut the various pieces on your fabric.

 
*Tip: For the circles, find a house hold item that is 6” in diameter to use as a guide for tracing.

Cut it out

• Using your marked guide, cut out the pieces.
• Once complete, you should have:
  • 5 canvas pieces for the suitcase body
  • 5 leather pieces for the suitcase body
  • 3 leather circles (or when each cut into 4 - 12 triangle bumpers)
  • 1 leather piece for the handle
  • 2 leather pieces for the handle cover

Bumper Embellishments

• Lay your canvas pieces out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.

• Place the leather triangle bumpers at each of the corners on the “bottom” piece, and 2 corners of the “side 1”, “side 2”, “front” and “back” pieces (as seen on the Suitcase Measurement Guide or below).

Tacky glue

• Using a small amount of tacky glue, set the bumper pieces in place.

• Wait for the glue to dry completely.

 
*Tip: You can use pins, but tacky glue will hold the leather in place without leaving behind marks. 

Bumper finish

• Very neatly, sew along the rounded edge of each bumper. 

Leather base

• Lay your canvas pieces out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
  
• Match up the leather pieces to your “side 1”, “side 2”, “front” and “back” canvas pieces. 

​Tacky glue

• Using a small amount of tacky glue, set the pieces in place.

• Wait for the glue to dry completely.

 
Leather finish

• Very neatly, sew along the edge to adhere the leather to the canvas. 

Handle it

• Fold your handle into 3, so that the width is 1.5 inches.
• Pin the ends to keep it folded in place.

• Sew along the center of the length. 

​Handle covers

• Cut a 1.5” slit in your handle covers along the center of the width.

• Place the handle covers right side together and slide over the handle. 

Handle to case

• Lay your “top” canvas piece out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
• Place you handle in the center of the “top” piece and pin the ends in place.

• Sew the ends of the handle in place.

Handle finish

• Pull each of the handle covers to the ends of the handle.
• Using a small amount of tacky glue, set the handle covers in place.
• Wait for the glue to dry completely.
• Very neatly, sew along the edge of each handle cover

Front to top

• Lay your “front” piece out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
• Place your “top” piece right side down and line up the bumpers.
• Pin in place.

• Sew 1” along the edge. 

​Top to back

• Lay your “back” piece out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
• Place your “top” piece (attached to “front”) right side down and line up the bumpers.
• Pin in place.

• Sew 1” along the edge. 

Bottom to front

• Lay your “front” piece (attached to “top” and “back”) out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
• Place your “bottom” piece (leather) right side down and line up the edges.
• Pin in place.

• Sew 1” along the edge.

​Side to Top

• Lay your suitcase out on a hard, smooth surface, right side up.
• Place your “side 1” piece right side down on the “top” and line up the bumpers.
• Pin in place.
• Sew 1” along the edge.

• Repeat on other side for “side 2”.

Check it

• You should now have all the pieces of the suitcase attached. 

Side to Front

• Lay your suitcase out on a hard, smooth surface.

• Line up your “side 1” to the bumpers and leather finish on the “front”.
• Pin in place.
• Sew 1” along the edge.
• Repeat on other side for “side 2”.

Bottom to Back

• Lay your suitcase inside out on a hard, smooth surface.
• Line up your “bottom” to the edge of the “back”.
• Pin in place.

• Sew 1” along the edge. 

​Side to Bottom

• Lay your suitcase inside out on a hard, smooth surface.
• Line up your “side 1” to the edge of the “bottom”.
• Pin in place.
• Sew 1” along the edge.

• Repeat on other side for “side 2”.

​Side 1 to Back

• Lay your suitcase inside out on a hard, smooth surface.

• Line up your “side 1” to the bumpers and leather finish on the “back”.
• Pin in place.
• Sew 1” along the edge. 

Side 2 to Back

• Lay your suitcase inside out on a hard, smooth surface.

• Line up your “side 2” to the bumpers and leather finish on the “back”.
• Pin in place.
• Sew 1” along the edge, leaving a sizable opening in the centre.

 
*Tip: Clip corners and serge edges for a clean finish.

Inside out

• Flip your suitcase right-side out.
• Push out the corners.

• Stuff your suitcase with your pillows or batting.

Close it up

• Fold the edges of your opening inwards and pin closed.
• Sew up the opening by hard for a seamless finish. 

Throw it in a corner with some good books!