Perhaps you have a chair or sofa cushion that needs replacing. Or you have a frame that needs the comfort of a cushion, such as a window seat, deacon's bench or wicker chair. Fitted cushions require accurate measuring. They can be T-shaped, rectangular, square, round, wedge-shaped or notched. Most are box cushions, which means they have a gusset between the top and bottom pieces giving depth to the cushion. Fitted seat cushions are simple to make if you follow the basic techniques. You need basic sewing skills and access to a sewing machine to complete this project.
- Skill level:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things you need
- Butcher paper or tissue paper
- Fabric
- Zipper (length of backside of cushion plus 10 inches)
- Thread
- Upholstery foam
- Batting
- Knife
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1
Measure the width, length and depth of the seat cushion.
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2
Make a paper pattern of the top and bottom to the dimensions you have measured, adding a 1/2-inch seam allowance on all edges. Mark any angles, notches or curvature of shape. Remove the old cover from the filling, unstitch it and use the pieces for a pattern instead of making a paper pattern.
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3
Place pattern pieces on fabric and cut out. Center any motif that your fabric may require.
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4
Make the gusset in two pieces. Add 10 inches to the width measurement of the cushion and 2 inches to the depth for the zipper portion of the gusset. The other gusset piece should be the width times two plus the length of the cushion. For a cushion 30 by 36 by 4 inches, one gusset piece will be 96 inches long by 5 inches wide and the zipper gusset piece will be 46 inches long by 6 inches wide.
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5
Install the zipper in the wider gusset piece by splitting the piece in two lengthwise, foldling under 1/2 inch of raw edge on each side of zipper teeth and stitching.
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6
Turn under 3 inches of each end of remaining gusset piece. This fold will cover the base of each end of the zipper, forming a pocket. Pin the gusset to top and bottom sections of cushion, right sides together and aligning corners. Fold the gusset in half and mark with a pin. Begin pinning the gusset to seat sections in the middle of the front of the cushion. The gusset will wrap toward the back of your cushion where it will meet the zipper portion of the gusset.
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7
Open the zipper enough to get your hand in. Pin the zipper portion of the gusset to the top and bottom sections, right sides together and centering the gusset in the back section. The gusset should wrap around the sides of cushion about 5 inches. Stitch both portions of gusset in place.
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8
Unzip and turn the fabric right side out.
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9
Remove the old cover from the cushion and insert into the new cover.
Re-covering an Existing Cushion
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1
Follow steps 1 through 8 in Section 1.
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2
Mark and cut the upholstery foam to the dimensions of your pattern using a sharp knife, electric knife or jigsaw.
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3
Wrap the foam in the batting. This batting keeps the cushion from looking flat and fills in the corners for a plump look.
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4
Insert the wrapped foam in the new cover and zip up.
Starting from Scratch
Tips and warnings
- If your old cushion doesn't fit tight enough to suit you, measure the width of your chair, inside arm to inside arm, rather than the cushion itself.
- Add piping at Step 6 before pinning the gusset to the seat sections, if you want piped edges.
- Cushions that notch out for chair arms require more patience and care when stitching the gusset to the seat sections. Clipping into the seam allowance, at the curves, makes it easier.
