Covering a cushion

OK, as promised, I am posting a tutorial on how to cover a cushion.  Before I begin, I have a

disclaimer.  I am not a professional seamstress.  What I have learned, I have done so by trial and error (a LOT of error), and sitting under the tutelage of sweet friends through the years, who know way more then myself and have been so generous and willing to pass their knowledge on to me.  Thank you Christie Spink, Harriet Dickson, Jane Hawkins and Laura Carryl, to name a few!!! 

Also, I do not recommend this as your first sewing project.  There are several steps to the process, and I would not consider this a "beginners" project.  So, with that said, here we go!!! 

 

This is the cushion I made to put on the cedar chest I painted for the foot of the bed.  A great place to sit and put on our shoes, and to be honest, throw my house coat on at night while I'm sleeping. 

 

 

What you will need for the project is, fabric (depending on the size cushion you are covering, you will need approximately 2 to 3 yards), batting, foam (You can find it at Joann's or other fabric shops.  If it's not on sale, use your coupon because it's a bit pricey), cording to make the welting or piping, scissors, thread, measuring tape and yes, an electric carving knife.  I know what you are thinking.  "What in the world are we going to do with an electric carving knife?"  Be patient, we will get to that!  Trust me!  But if you don't have an electric carving knife, a serrated bread knife will do.  Again, trust me!

 

Did you just scroll down to see what I did with the electric carving knife?  If you did, that's OK.  At least now you don't think I'm crazy anymore, do you?

 

First, you need to measure the space where your cushion will sit. My chest top measured 46" X 20". 

 

Now we will cut our cushion.  With the measurements you took of your space, you will measure and mark your foam.

 

 

For this, I use a "square".  Sorry, I didn't include it in the previous list of items needed.  It's a great tool to have when sewing.  Especially straight lines like pillows, cushions and window treatments.

 

Once the foam is measured and marked, it's time to cut it.  NOW you get to use your carving knife!

 

 

Cuts like butter! 

 

After your cushion is all cut out, you will cover it with the batting, overlapping for thickness.

 

 

Wrap the ends like a package, and tack down with thread.

 

 

 

Now it's time to lay out your fabric and cut out your cushion top and bottom.  Lay the fabric flat and mark and measure your piece for cutting.  I measured mine 47" X 21" to give a half inch seam allowance on all sides.  I use a square again to square up my fabric.  Mark the fabric with a pencil or fabric marker and cut it out.  After the first piece is cut, you can use it as a pattern for the next piece.  Once both pieces are cut out, set them aside. 

 

Next we will cut out our piece to go around the sides of the cushion.

 

 

 

Measure the thickness of your cushion.  Mine measured 2 inches.  Now, you already know the width and depth of the cushion, so that will tell you how long your side piece will need to be.  (This is where the math gets a bit complicated!  I guess Algebra really was necessary!!!)  Add the 2 widths and the 2 lengths together plus 1 inch for every cut for seam allowances.   For my piece, I needed 137 inches of length by 3 inches (leaving 1/2 inch for seam allowance).  My fabric was 54 inches wide, so I cut 3 pieces 3 inches wide.  I won't worry about the extra.  I will trim it later.  After cutting out your side pieces, you can set them aside along with the top and bottom pieces. 

 

Now we will cut out our welting or piping.  Yes, we are making our own.  This is a great skill to know.  I make my own welting for pillows, slip covers, and even made my own welting back in the day when I would sew clothes for my kids.  You can buy the cord pre-packaged or by the yard. For this project, I will use the pre-packaged bags.  They are 10 yards, and for this project I calculate I will need approximately 10 yards of welting, so it works out perfectly!   Cording comes in different sizes, but for projects like this, I typically get the 4.8 mm.

 

 

Cut your welting pieces out of your fabric.  For this size cord, I cut my pieces 1 3/4 inches wide.  You will need approximately 10 yards of welting, so (math again!) I cut 7 pieces.  Once cut, you will sew the pieces together, right sides together, end to end, leaving the end pieces open, making one very long strand.

 

 

After they have all been sewn together, you will place your cord lengthwise in the strand, wrong sides together like so...

 

 

And using your zipper foot, you will sew the piece together, as close as possible to the cord, creating your welting.

 

 

After you have run the entire length of your long strand of fabric, creating 10 yards of welting, it is time to sew your welting onto your cushion top.  Place the welting in the middle of one of the wide edges.  That will be the back of the cushion.  The outside edge of your welting will be flush with the outside edge of the fabric.

 

 

Note that I started sewing about 2 inches from the top of the welting.  It is important to leave that space for joining the welting to itself after you have worked around your piece.  You will sew the welting to the fabric along the seam you previously created in your welting.  It should be a 1/2 inch seam from the edge of your fabric.  Sew around the entire cushion.

 

 

When you come to the corners, a little trick I learned along the way, snip the welting 1/2 inch above the corner of the cushion.   Be careful not to snip all the way to the seam of the welting.

 

 

This will allow you to go around the corner of your cushion without bunching up the fabric.

 

Now carefully sew around the corner, and repeat this step for the remaining 3 corners.

 

When you get to about 2 to 3 inches from your beginning point, stop.  It will be time to join the welting to itself.

 

 

Trim the welting about 2 inches past the starting piece.

 

Tear out stitching exposing the cord up to the starting point.   Trim exposed cord (not fabric) to be even with the starting point.

 

 

Turn up fabric creating a hem under original welting and wrap around original welting. 

 

 

 

 Sew, "marrying" the cords together.

 

 

Ta Dah!!!

 

Now you get to repeat this same process on the bottom cushion piece.  Trust me, the more you do it, the easier it gets.

 

Once you have the welting sewn to both the top and bottom cushion pieces, it's time to sew the side cushion pieces onto your cushion.

 

Sew your side pieces together, right sides together, end to end, leaving the end pieces open, like you did for the welting.  Again, creating one long piece.

 

 

After sewing the side pieces together, take the top cushion piece, and strategically place the side piece so as to not have a seam across the front of the cushion, if possible.  . 

 

Sew cushion side to cushion top, right sides together, using your welting as your seam guide, forcing you to have a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Again, beginning a couple inches from the top of the side piece, allowing for "marrying" the piece together once you work your way around. 

 

When you come to a seam, lay your seam open to stitch.

 

When you have worked all the way around your cushion, stop about 2 to 3 inches above your beginning point.  Back stitch and pull the piece away from the machine.  At this point, you will be able to tell exactly how long to make the side piece and where they will be joined together. Gently pin your side piece together, allowing for room to finish sewing seam to cushion top.  Sew along pins, closing your side seam.  Trim. 

 

 

Place piece back under sewing machine foot to continue to attach side to top cushion piece.

 

 

Turn for right sides facing out.  OK, you should now have a cushion top attached to the sides.  It should be rectangular.  It should be the size of your cushion. 

 

Now we are ready to sew the bottom cushion piece to the sides of the cushion.  Hang in there!  We are getting close!!!

 

 

Now, making sure you match all four corners of the bottom piece above the top piece, pin the cushion bottom to cushion sides, right sides together.  Begin sewing about 6 inches from the right back corner.  Again, using the welting as your seam guide, forcing you to use a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Work your way around the piece, leaving a large opening in the back to insert your cushion.

 

Trim corners. Turn piece so right sides are out.  Insert cushion.  Hand stitch opening, and Voila!  You are finished!!!  Whew!

 

 

 

Now, think about all the places you can use these skills!  Making pillows, covering a chair cushion, creating a window seat.  The list is endless!!!  Well, maybe not endless, but you really can use these techniques in many projects.  And if you make mistakes along the way, keep trying.  You will get it.  I did!