Tutorial~ Covering A Chair Cushion Part 1

I'm going to attempt to help any of you with moderate sewing skills make a boxed and corded cover for a seat cushion. Please ask as many questions you need to. I will be here to answer ALL of them. Some of the pics seem to be out of order because I added some and had after thoughts. I think you can make it work with these directions.

~ABOVE~ This is how you will measure the width of your cushion so you can cut the boxing strips. Most will be 3,4, 5 or 6 inches. (most new sofas cushions) I measure just between the cording. If your's has none, measure the exact thickness of the foam. You will cut an extra 1/2 inch seam allowence to the width. Add 1 inch to the length you cut, this will be the 1/2 inch on each end when you sew all of the pieces together.

Make the pattern like this. I feel the edges with my fingers as I'm marking. My markings are down in the gully of the cording around the cushion. If no cording, mark exactly the edges of the foam. Be sure when you cut your pieces you add your 1/2 inch seam allowance all the way around. Cut 2 of these pieces of your fabric. 1 for the top and 1 for the bottom.

Here's a side view of the cushion I'm covering. Notice how I cut the boxing in separate pieces. It's so much easier this way. I'll say this again as you read down. You have the long piece across the front. The 2 short pieces along the sides. And the zipper piece in the back.

This is a "T" cushion. Usually you cut your boxing just at the bend of the "T". (like pic above) That way you have one length across the front...just going around into the curve of the T~1 length for the zipper ~ and 2 shorter pieces along the sides connecting all of them together. If your cushion has no "T", make seams at the 2 front corners and wrap the zipper in the back. You will have very short pieces down the sides between the zipper and the front corners.

Here's a pic of the wrap around zipper.

OK, getting started. I'll take care of a few steps first. Here's a pic of the boxing that has to be cut. ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED ANY EXTRA HELP. YOU CAN DO THIS!

When you make the zipper boxing add a 1 inch (instead of the 1/2 inch) seam allowance to the width because you have to turn under 1/4 inch to attach the zipper to it. I'll detail this a little farther down. In other words, make this piece wider than all of the other boxing pieces.

When you measure your length of boxing, look at the piece you're covering. With a tape measurer, find the exact length of each piece and add 1 inch seam allowance to the length of each piece. You will be sewing them all together later. So you will need that little extra added length for the seams.

This part will come later. Another Oops

Note~ Sometimes I use an old sheet to make my patterns.

Measure the zipper on the cushion and purchase one the same size. They usually wrap around about 3 inches or so. Have your's do the same thing. Make the zipper boxing the same length as the zipper. But remember to add the extra 1/2 inch width. Cut this piece down the middle of the length of the boxing piece. Turn under about 1/4 inch all the way down, iron.

The 2 long strips will lay on the zipper like this.

Pin all the way down. It WILL shift while you're sewing if you don't.Attach the zipper foot to the machine. Be sure the open side is closest to the zipper, so you can sew close to it. Sew down both sides. Take the pins out as you sew along.

Sew all the way from end to end.

These next 2 pics go together. Here is the back. Attach this little piece to cover the zipper latch. Sew from the back so you can see that you don't hit the zipper. At this point you may need to cut the little excess off the end of the zipper to fit it into your seam allowance.

I used a different (thinner) fabric for this piece because my fabric is soooo thick!

Now here's how to make cording. I just cut across the width of the folded fabric. I cut a few strips and sew them together. Then I attach them to the cording. See below.

I cut mine about 2 inches wide.

Lay the cording on the strip, and use the zipper foot again for this too. It lets you sew really close to the cording

And that's all there is it making custom cording!

When you have to add more length to the fabric, just put right sides together like the pic. Sew together, open the seam, and keep going (see below).

Now these next pics should be in part 2. Oops. Well you can see how to put the cover on the cushion. And then see the finished results at the end.

Part 2 will be putting the whole thing together!

You have to fold the other "T" over and shove it all the way in. Put the other part in it's 'T' section. Then pull the rest of the cover down and zip it up. You can smoothe it all around so it's not tweaked.

Here's the cushion on the chair.

Part 2 is coming right behind this post.

Good luck! I know you can do It!!!!!!!

Kelly
By the way~~ Today I'm tagging my friends blog. http://jessicasinteriorsetc.blogspot.com/

Go by and check out her awsome Holiday Placemat Idea. I love this!! She's such a talented artist and interior designer. I can get lost looking through her blog. Stop by and tell her what you think.