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How To Make A Cool World Map Denim Floor Cushion

Create a statement piece with our guide on making a DIY applique denim world map floor cushion. It’s a fun, crafty journey to bringing the world into your living room.

Again I get to combine my passion for upcycling old jeans with my love of maps with this unique applique denim floor cushion. YEAH!

I was rummaging through my fabric stash when I came across this IKEA Ursula beige linen large pillow cover. I bought it yonks ago for what I can’t remember now.

You know what it is like you visit IKEA for one thing like some kitchenware and buy extra stuff you didn’t know you needed. Sometimes, resistance is futile in IKEA!

Lovely as it was, the floor cushion cover was a bit plain for me. That’s when I got the idea to embellish it with denim.

I’ve wanted to make a denim world map for ages, and I thought an applique denim world map would look great on this cushion cover. It will go well with the world map desk I made for my study.

This isn’t my only IKEA world maphack; I’ve also made an IKEA world map table and an IKEA map clock. I’ve even upcycled those mini drawers IKEA Moppe hack with maps.

Free Pattern For A Unique Applique Denim Floor Cushion

I added a personal touch to the map floor cushion by making tiny red felt hearts to mark places in the world that are special to me. The hearts were placed in Hong Kong, UK and Bergen, Norway.

I love the rustic farmhouse look of the denim combined with the linen on the floor cushion. My son has his eye on it, and I think it may disappear when he returns to Uni after the summer holidays.

Diy world map cushion from old jeans

The world map cushion is featured in the A to Z of repurposed denim crafts.

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What you need to make a world map floor cushion

Ikea cushion cover and denim scraps
World map template

How to make an applique denim floor cushion

Step 1: The first thing to do is to print off the World Map template. The template will print over several pages.

Step 2: Next, I made each continent a different shade of denim for this giant map pillow. So, I cut out each continent from the world map template.

I then placed these on the cushion cover and drew around them with a pencil until I transferred the whole world map to the linen cover.

Top Tip: You may want to take a bit of artistic license and squash the continents together so they fit on the square cushion cover.

Drawing map on to cushion cover
Drawing world map cushion cover

Step 3: Next, take the paper world map templates you have cut out and use them to cut out continent shapes from the scraps of denim. The floor cushion will look good if you use a different shade of denim for each continent.

The denim continent shapes will start to fray quickly. To stop this from happening, brush a small amount of fabric Mod Podge around the edge.

I am using the pencil world map outline as a guide to pin the denim pieces to the floor cushion cover.

Pinning denim pieces to world map floor cushion

Step 4: Hand stitch each denim piece to the cushion cover. I used a simple backstitch using cotton in a contrasting colour for this and sewed it around the edge of each piece.

I hadn’t handstitched anything for a while and was surprised at how quickly I stitched on the pieces. However, backstitching is a quick stitch.

stitching denim floor cushion

Step 5: Finally, to finish and to add a personal touch to the world map floor cushion, I cut out some small red felt hearts and stuck them on the pillow.

I used fabric glue to stick them on countries close to my heart, but you can quickly stitch the hearts in place.

applique denim world map pillow close up
applique denim world map pillow
Applique world map denim floor cushion

I said this was a floor cushion because of its size, but I also like it on the chair. However, it doesn’t leave much room to sit.

The denim floor cushion would look great in a den or a teen bedroom. It would also make an excellent gift for anyone with wanderlust!

You can make the same cushion using other kinds of fabric scraps. Check out these other unique handmade pillow designs.

Denim world map floor cushion diy free pattern
Free pattern for an extra large applique world  map denim pillow

If you are looking for the best denim pillow ideas, look at these. Also, there are more hand-sewing crafts here.

These aren’t the only map-themed pillows in my home; you should check out my tutorial for personalized tag burlap map pillows.

Also, if you would like some vintage world map prints to compliment the pillow, some free ones are here to download.

applique world map denim floor cushion

For more free sewing patterns, subscribe to allfreesewing.com.

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Ginny Bishop

Wednesday 10th of April 2019

The template will only print on one page. How do I get multiple pages.

Thank you

Claire Armstrong

Wednesday 10th of April 2019

In your printer menu settings on your computer, you should have the option for it to print on several pages. Normally it means picking tile pages option. This video may help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOy8yXgTxrI

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Velvet

Tuesday 30th of October 2018

OMG! I love this! I could do something like that but frame it instead as a wall hanging for my daughter's bedroom. (I'm dying to add as many inky stains as I can).

Claire Armstrong

Tuesday 30th of October 2018

Thank you, Velvet. I think it would look fabulous as a wall hanging or even pinboard.