This piece was created as part of a diorama recreation of the Simpsons’ living room. After our office remodel we found ourselves with a long row of extra cubbies that looked strange sitting empty. So the design team was challenged to make dioramas, and this was the theme I chose! It has been such a fun project, and a great stashbuster!

MODS

SIDE PANEL
Use double-knit CO
K reco # of rounds
Continue with # of reco rounds for arm rest
Stuff and kitchner closed.

BOTTOM CUSHIONS: Converting 2 to 3
Using double-knit CO, CO 30sts each.
K reco # of rounds.
Stuff and kitchner closed, make 3.

TOP CUSHIONS: Converting 2 to 1
Using double-knit CO, CO 80 sts
K reco # of rounds.
K40, CO8, K40, CO8.
K recommended number of rounds.
Stuff and kitchner closed.

I did a LOT of extra stitching to tighten things up and pull things together. I created evenly spaced faux “button” seams on both the back and base surfaces to flatten them a little, and then added three more to the same to the top cushion, to match the look of the actual Simpsons’ couch.

I ended up sewing the arms to the top of the side panenl to the base, as well as the bottom of the top cushion to the base and up the sides, to hold things in. I sewed the top corners to of the top cushion to the top corners of the back, to help create the rounded corners.

Then when I added the cushions, I loosely sewed the back edges to the back piece, and then secured each corner down where I wanted it to lay to help avoid gaps between the cushions. (Stretching them slightly like this also helped flatten them down to a more manageable level of poofiness). Finally, I ran the yarn back and forth from side panel, through each cushion, to the other side panel and back again, a few times -- to further bring the side panels in and pull everything gently together.

I think it came out really well! I’m a little bit in love with it, and am sad it will be living at my office instead of at home. As it happens, it’s also the perfect size to hold the tv remote!