Instructions for Breast Cushion
Elastic – 3 mm wide x 9 cm long
Bow 11 cm x 11 cm
Tie (strap) 8 cm wide x 32 cm long
Tie Fold tie inside out lengthways and sew down the side seam, leaving both ends open. Turn right side out, (one raw edge gets tucked into the bow and the other gets tucked inside the seam of the cushion.) Press.
Bow Fold bow in half inside out. Sew one third each side of the bottom of the bow and down each side, so that there is a one third gap in the sewing of the bow. Snip across the corners of the bow and trim seam near corners. Turn right side out. Press. Insert one end of tie into the gap in the bow.. Sew across bow to secure tie inside. Wrap tie completely around the bow, pinching it up into a bow and then sew across the bow to secure the tie.
Cushion Place satin right sides together and pin around, leaving about a 14 cm unsewn centred section at the bottom of the cushion. Insert tie at the left hand point of the cushion as near to the corner as possible with the raw edge of it aligned with the raw edge of the cushion when viewed inside out. Fold elastic into a U shape. Insert the U shape elastic between the cushion pieces on the right corner of the cushion as near to the corner as possible, making sure the loop is tucked inside the cushion, with enough elastic to extend beyond the cushion seam when the cushion is viewed inside out. Sew around the cushion making sure you leave the 14 cm gap described above. Run backwards and forwards a couple of times over the area where the tie and the elastic are secured. Snip around the curves everywhere. Turn right side out. Iron out creases if applicable.
Sew label “Made by CWA member” on inside of tie at the cushion end.
Moderately fill and sew the cushion shut across the bottom with sewing machine.
We place the cushion in a Coles snap seal storage bag 35 cm x 27. Attached to the elastic ring, we place a little card on which a label is stuck reading “Made by a member of the Country Women’s Association of NSW, Castle Hill Branch, (address and phone), and the words “We wish you a speedy recovery”. We use curling ribbon to attach the label to the elastic loop but it is better not to knot the ribbon in case the recipient of the cushion does not have scissors to cut it free. So far I have not been able to find a more suitable size snap seal bag, so if you find one, please advise!
The cushion can be used for breast support after surgery, breast feeding and even neck support for some patients.