Content

• To step
• Tips
• Necessities

Whether you want to spruce up an old sofa or give a new look to a sofa that still looks great, consider making your own cushions from cheap pieces of foam rubber and fabric. You will be amazed at how simple and inexpensive it is to make chic, new furnishings from these common materials.

To step

1. Buy or collect the things you need. For the simplest cushion you will need fabric, a piece of foam rubber (or a ready-made inner cushion), cotton ticking, a zipper and sewing thread in a matching color. Pretty simple, huh? You will also need some basic tools such as scissors, a tape measure, ruler, iron and pins.
   • Make sure you choose a sturdy upholstery fabric; cushions suffer a lot from intensive use, which means that not every fabric lasts for a long time.
   • If you're not going to reupholster an old pillow, choose a heavy, sturdy new inner pillow that is comfortable (not just anything on sale). Your bottom will thank you for spending a little more on it.
2. Measure everything. If you are reupholstering an old pillow, start by removing the old upholstery and loosening the seams. Measure the original piece of fabric and buy the same amount of new fabric for the upholstery. You will need two pieces of fabric: the top (the length and width only) and the bottom (the length, width and height - or sides). If you are making a pillow without a sample or pattern, you will need three sizes: the length, the width and the height.
   • For the length you measure the longest side and add 2.5 cm.
   • For the width, measure the shorter side and add 2.5 cm.
   • For the height, measure the thickness of the pillow, double this and add 2.5 cm. For example, if the thickness is 10 cm, you double it and you have 20 cm. Then you add another 2.5 cm for a total of 22.5 cm.
3. Prepare the fabric. If you bought new fabric that has not been pre-washed, you should wash the fabric first (according to package directions or ask your fabric store) to prevent your cushion cover from shrinking later. If necessary, iron the fabric after washing to remove any wrinkles.
4. Make darts in the corners. Place your cushion / foam in the center of the fabric with the right side of the fabric facing down / out and use a pencil to trace the outline. Take the fabric at the corners and fold it diagonally to create an occupied corner. Use your sewing machine to pin the fold an inch, perpendicular to the edge of the fabric. When all corners are done, trim the excess fabric along the diagonal fold 1 cm from the seam.
5. Inserting the zipper. Sew the zipper before you sew the sides of the pillow closed. Pin the two pieces of fabric together in the center of each side, right sides together. On the side where the zipper will be, measure out from the center (where the pin is). Sew with a basting stitch all along this side, from corner to corner, with a 1 cm fabric jacket. Do this on both sides. Place the zipper between the two sides and pin it in place. Sew it through the fabric attached to the zipper.
   • Make sure the zipper is neatly in the center before pinning or sewing it.
6. Sew the remaining sides. Work along the rest of the fabric, pinning it together (still right sides together). Sew along all seams with a 1 cm seam allowance. When you get to a corner, turn the fabric on the sewing machine so you can continue without moving the fabric. Sew back a little at the end to tie off the thread.
   • Finish the pillow. Turn the cushion cover inside out through the zip opening. Cut your ticking and fold it around the foam. Insert the foam cushion into the cover through the zip opening and turn it so that it fits snugly. Put the cover neatly in place and your project is finished!

Tips

• Seam allowance is the amount of fabric that extends beyond the seam.

Necessities

• Foam rubber cushion
• Dust
• Scissors
• Thread in the desired color
• Ordinary pins
• Zipper or buttons
• Sewing machine
• Iron