Step One

No Sew Instructions

Begin by removing the trim. Use a seam ripper.  Do not remove towel binding.

Spread the backer fabric on a flat surface print side up.

Place the round towel on top of the fabric, print side down. Hold the two pieces together with straight pins. Pin fabric together right above the towel’s binding.

Cut the circular shape out with pinking shears. Use the towel’s edge as a guide. Remove cut fabric. Turn piece over so backer fabric is on top. Do not remove the pins.

Step Two

To create a glued seam, cover the ¼” binding with glue. Push the glue onto the edges with a craft stick if necessary. Do not spread the glue too thin.

Lift the backer fabric to expose towel binding. Squeeze the glue onto the binding. Glue 6” to 8” at a time.

Place the backer fabric back over the glued binding. Lightly press fabric together with fingers. Continue gluing towel to the backer fabric, leave a 6” unglued opening for filling. When finished let glue set about 1 hour. Remove pins. Check for any opening and glue closed. Turn cushion right sides out (pull the inside through the 6” opening).

Step Three

Fill The Mandala Cushion

We created an unusual filling system by setting two chairs together seat by seat so the legs of one chair are facing up. Drape the towel side of the opening over one leg. This will keep the hole open and allowed you to pour the filler in with ease.

Hold the towel in place by wrapping a rubber band around the towel and chair leg.

Remove the cap from the Poly-fil^® Classic Bean Bag Filler spout. Set spout in the opening and pour bead filler in. Repeat for each bag.

Note: The amount of bead filler used will determine the firmness of the cushion. We used 4 bags in our cushions.

Step Four

Glue the opening closed by placing glue on the towel’s binding. Fold the backer fabric in to create a finished edge. Press the together and pin to hold. Let glue set an hour. Remove pins.

Check for any openings and glue shut.

Step Five

Trim Cushion

Re-glue cotton trim on cushion at center seam using Super Fabric Adhesive. Pin to hold in place.

If pompoms are preferred purchase or hand make pompoms. To help the pompoms sit flat on the cushion, cut the yarn on one side slightly.

Attach pompom by hot gluing them to the center seam of the cushion. Place the hot glue on the cut side of the pompom then place on the cushion.

Note: The amount of pompom needed will be determined by how they are spaced on the cushion.

Step Six

Sew Instructions (blue cushion)

Begin by removing the trim. Use a seam ripper.  Do not remove towel binding

Spread the backer fabric on a flat surface print side up.

Place the round towel on top of the fabric, print side down. Hold the two pieces together with straight pins. Pin together right above the towel’s binding.

Cut the circular shape out with pinking shears. Use the towel’s edge as a guide. Remove the cut fabric. Turn piece over so backer fabric is on top. Do not remove the pins.

Step Seven

Machine Quilting Option

The printed mandala towels are a great pattern for machine quilting.

Remove trim from towel and pin printed side up to a piece of Toasty Cotton Batting.

Cut batting using pinking shears. Use the towel’s edge as a pattern.

Quilt design using a straight stitch. Follow some or all of the printed design. Begin stitching from the center of the towel and work out.

We machine quilted the red lines on the design stitching each shape. When quilting is finished, add cushion backer fabric.

Note: For this project we did not used a piece of  fabric behind the batting for quilting as our goal was to define the pattern lines slightly.

Step Eight

Sew cushion together. Use the binding edge as a stitch guide. Leave a 5” unsewn opening for filling. Knot off all threads and remove all straight pins. Turn cushion right sides out (pull the inside through the 5” opening).

Fill the cushion with Poly-fil® Classic Bean Bag Filler. Close the 5” opening. Turn fabric edges in and hold in place with straight pins. Hand stitch

Re-attach the trim. Run a line of glue along the center seam (where the two fabrics are sewn together). Hold in place with straight pins. Let glue set 1 hour. Remove pins. Check for any un-attached trim and glue in place.

Step Nine

Your Cosmic Mandala Cushions are now ready to enjoy. They look fantastically inviting when set under a shady tree.

The beanbag filler will move easily around the cushion to provide support around the body.

See More DIY Ideas at bluarlan.com