A Step by Step Guide: How to Sew a Box Cushion Cover without a Zipper & With Zip
Cushion coverings are a fun and easy sewing project that every beginner should attempt. They’re simple to create, and they’re a terrific addition to any home!
However, finding the perfect cover for a sofa may be difficult since so many styles are available. It’s possible for shops to sell the same drab designs in different colors, materials, and sizes.
Many online shops allow you to design your own personalized cushion covers, but they might be pricy for something that you can do yourself.
It’s true, even if you’ve never sewn before, you can create your own cushion coverings! With that in mind, grab your sewing supplies and let’s speak about making a cushion cover.
What exactly is meant by the term cushion cover?
A protective cover made of cloth, often including an embroidered pattern or other kind of embellishment.
What kind of material works best for covering cushions?
Cotton and linen are the cushion fabrics that are most often found in home improvement shops and retailers that sell fabric by the yard. The fact that both of these textiles can be washed and are hypoallergenic makes it quite unlikely that anybody would experience irritation due only to the choice of fabric. Because it is so readily available, cotton is an excellent material for meeting the requirements of every house and pillow.
Cushion Cover Making: The Right Fabric to Use
Cushion covers may be made from a wide variety of materials, but keep in mind how they’ll be utilized.
Allergies
Are you going to use this to cover a sleeping pillow or bath tub pillow or a toss pillow? Is it only for decoration, or will people use it as a place to lay their heads?
Any allergic reactions should be avoided if the latter is the case. It’s possible that these textiles include ones with a lot of loose fluff, which might irritate throat and nose.
The skin may also be irritated by fabrics with coarse or abrasive textures. Consider hypoallergenic textiles if you can afford them.
Natural, non-synthetic fibers are also an excellent option. Linen, cotton, and silk are all excellent options.
Durability
When it comes to cushion coverings, they’re exposed to some tough treatment. Regardless of how they’re used, cushion coverings need to be strong and long-lasting.
If you’re looking for a fabric that will withstand a lot of wear and tear, go for one that’s free of allergens.
It might be cumbersome to work with thick and heavy fabric, but it will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run. Wool and cotton mixes, which are often used in upholstery, make excellent cushion cover fabrics.
Washable
Finally, make sure that your cloth can be washed in a machine. Cushion coverings will have to deal with stains regardless of how careful you are, since there will be a lot of people and beverages involved.
This means picking out something stain-resistant—or at least easy to clean—or something you can just toss in the washing machine.
Cushion Cover Patterns
First, there is a zippered cushion cover, and then there is an envelope design. As far as patterns go, you may find a wide variety of options online, from individual bloggers to fabric shops to publications.
When learning how to sew a cushion cover, keep in mind the kind of cushion you want to produce and your degree of familiarity with the sewing process.
A good place to start is with the two examples provided below.
What You Need to Know About Making Cushion Covers
The First Steps in Fabric Preparation
If your cloth is composed of natural fibers, wash it on its recommended setting before using it. After that, just use an iron to remove any wrinkles.
As a result, you can be certain that your cloth will be correctly measured and handled.
HOW TO SEW A CUSHION COVER WITHOUT A ZIP
Making a cushion cover without a zipper is a good project for beginners. With an envelope cushion cover, inserting an inside pillow is a cinch, and no special closure is required. Zippers may appear simple, but they may be a difficulty for beginners.
Video Tutorials: How to Make a Cushion Cover without a Zip
This design is best suited for little cushions because to the lack of a fastener. In the event that you’re utilizing a bigger cushion, you may additionally fix the flap by attaching a button or piece of velcro.
Hey There Home inspired these instructions.
Step By Step Instructions: How to Sew a Box Cushion Cover without a Zipper
Make your measurements
Two measurements are required for an envelope cushion cover.
To begin, take an interior cushion measurement from one side. This is going to be the first measurement, or Measurement A. Then, subtract five inches from this measurement and split it in half. This is going to be the second measurement, or B.
Make your fabric cuts
Cushion covers are made using three pieces of cloth cut from a single piece of fabric for the front and a second piece for the back.
All four edges of the front cover would be equal to Measurement A. It is recommended that the rear covers have a width and a length equal to Measurement A and Measurement B, respectively.
Your back coverings should be the same width as your cushions, which is 20 inches wide by 15 inches high.
Sew the corners and edges together
Along the bottom and top sides of the top piece, sew the raw edges together.
In order to achieve this, fold the cloth about a half-inch from the edge. Beginners will benefit much by ironing and pinning their garments.
Put everything together
To begin, place the front piece down with the good side facing up. If you want your completed cushion to have a symmetrical design, arrange it in this way:
Next, place a good side down of a bottom piece on top of the cloth, lining up both top and bottom edges. After that, place the last piece on top, right side up, at the other end.
To keep it in place, fasten it with pins on all four sides.
Attach all of the parts
Make a 12 inch seam allowance from the edges and sew the pieces together using a backstitch. Using a sewing machine is possible, but this may also be done by hand.
Sew the corners and edges together
To prevent fraying, stitch the ends together. A zigzag stitch is required for this.
With a sewing machine, you may do this by stitching such that the needle falls just beyond the fabric’s outside border. This may also be done manually.
Add the insert to your pillow
Turn your cushion cover inside out, and you’ll be ready to insert your cushion insert!
HOW TO MAKE A CUSHION COVER WITH ZIP
If you’ve never sewn before, the zipper cushion cover isn’t as difficult as an envelope cover to make.
For the zipper cushion cover, Love to Sew offers two different designs. You can’t go wrong with either of them to keep your zipper hidden.
Step By Step Instructions: How to Sew a Cushion Cover with Zipper
Make your fabric cuts
The fabric should measure the same as the cushion insert you want to use. Add some allowance to the edges of your pillows for added plumpness. Cut out two sections.
Put the pieces in their proper places
Lay down the first piece, with the nice side facing up. After that, place the second piece good-side-up on top.
Make sure the borders are straight. Then, place the zipper in the center of the fabric’s bottom edge, facing down.
Make a mark on your cloth where the zipper will begin and stop.
Sew the zipped edge
Straight stitch from the edges to the mark with a 12 seam allowance from the mark. Between the two markings, stitch as loosely as you can. This stitch will need to be removed at a later time.
After that, re-insert the zipper into its original position. Pin it to the ground. Face down, open the two pieces of cloth.
Stitch both sides of the zipper using a zip foot. Remove the slack stitching around the zipper, and you’re done!
Stitch the edges
Sew the cushion cover’s remaining edges together. To prevent the cloth from fraying, finish the seams. Flip the cover over, and voila! You now have a new pillow cover!
Totally Invisible Zippers
If you purchase a cushion cover from a shop, the zipper is usually concealed behind one seam. As a result, it’s a little more difficult to pull off than the covered zipper method.
In order to begin, you’ll need an opaque zipper. Your pillow seams will be able to readily conceal this zipper, since it will have finer teeth than your conventional zipper.
It’s possible that you’ll have to shorten the zipper to make it fit your pillow’s opening. A sewing machine with a zipper foot or an invisible zipper foot is a must-have for this project, too.
This might be a deal-breaker for sewing newbies who don’t yet possess a sewing machine of their own. Of course, you may always ask a friend to lend you their sewing machine.
The zipper foot is all you need to get the hang of your new sewing machine, even if it seems frightening at first.
These instructions, taken from Katie of Sew Katie Did, show you how to build an invisible zipper cushion cover.
Cut out the pieces of cloth you need
To begin, cut out two pieces of cloth. Their dimensions are exactly the same as the dimensions of your inner pillow.
Then, pin the zipper facing down on the good side of the cloth near the bottom border of the front piece.
Zip up the bag. You can see the foot Sew Katie uses for both zipper kinds in her tutorial.
Sew the zipped edge
In this step, you’ll be able to position the zipper after sewing it to the front piece. Right-side-up on fabric’s right side, stitch along bottom edge to align.
Finish off the corners
The remaining open edges of the cushion cover need to be stitched now. Then, seal the seams and you’re done. And there you have it! A cushion cover with an undetectable zipper!
UPCYCLING AN OLD SHIRT INTO A CUSHION COVER
Sewing may be a cost-effective hobby for many individuals. This is why repurposing what you already have is a great way to save money.
Making a cushion cover is a terrific way to recycle old garments and scraps of fabric. All of such stuff may be used in your home’s interior design.
Step By Step Instructions
Repurposing Fabric from Old Projects
If you’re a beginner at sewing, using leftover fabrics may be too difficult, but it’s still possible.
Stitch the pieces together until they produce a big enough piece for the cover if you chose to use more than one piece of cloth.
Smaller pieces of cloth might benefit from this method since the cover will be more robust due to the additional stitches.
Using T-shirts that are no longer worn
It’s easy to recycle old t-shirts by repurposing them into new garments. Upcycling a shirt into a cushion cover is a terrific method to preserve sentimental garments that you don’t want to part with. Plus, you can cuddle up to it and reminisce!
Using an old t-shirt as a cushion cover is also less time consuming than making a new one.
When a t-shirt is upcycled, there are less stitches because of its structure. As a result, it’s more approachable for novices and makes it possible for individuals to stitch the design by hand.
Georgina Burnett provides a step-by-step guide on how to transform an old shirt into a pillow cover. As with any cloth intended for a sewing job, we begin by washing and ironing the shirt.
Then, flip the garment over and do the same thing on the other side. Outline the cushion’s dimensions around the shirt’s center using dressmaker’s chalk. Pin the garment on both sides. Using a rotary cutter, cut out the desired form.
Button-down shirts are a fantastic match for this design since the buttons make it easy to swap out the inside coverings. As a bonus, they look great on the cushion.
Use a zipper, button, or velcro in the centre of shirts that aren’t button-downs. With the help of a shirt, you may construct cushion coverings.
FAQ’s
Should the cover for the cushion be smaller than the cushion?
A helpful piece of advice is to provide additional plumpness and comfort by selecting a cushion pad that is either the same size as your cushion cover or one size larger than your cushion cover. If you choose a cushion pad that is smaller than the cover, you will wind up with empty corners where there is no stuffing – choosing a pad that is overstuffed is preferable in both appearance and comfort.
What exactly are cushions supposed to do?
Cushions provide a number of benefits, including comfort, support for proper posture, assistance in sitting more straight and, where feasible, in a neutral position, and relief from pressure.
What are the benefits of using cotton for cushion covers?
These mixed textiles are made from natural materials and are used often in the production of cushions. A cotton-linen mix maintains its ability to be refreshingly cold and soft on the skin, has the sense of being extremely crisp and silky, and is known for being breathable and simple to care for. Cotton is long-lasting, can be washed and dried in a machine with little effort, and improves with age.
Do you need a cushion?
If you sleep on your back or side, it is typically suggested that you make use of a pillow. However, the most essential thing is to ensure that you have a pain-free and pleasant sleeping experience. If you suffer from back or neck discomfort, or if you have a disorder of the spine such as scoliosis, sleeping without a pillow might put your health at risk.
How much larger do you recommend making the cushion inserts?
In general, we advise choosing inserts that are two inches bigger all the way around than the size of the cushion you want to create. For instance, if the cover of your pillow is 18 by 18 inches, you should choose an insert that measures 20 by 20 inches. This will guarantee that your pillow seems to be plush and sumptuous even before you use it. If the insert is too tiny, the cover of the pillow will have a drooping appearance.
Are cushions made of polyester comfy to lay on?
Polyester pillows may sometimes have a bumpy texture and do not provide the same amount of comfort as down or foam pillows. Due to the fact that it does not breathe very well, this synthetic material could make you feel hot or uncomfortable on a warm day. If you are sensitive to chemicals, you may want to consider switching to a different pillow.
Conclusion
Making your own cushion covers is a terrific way to give your home a new look, and it’s also a lot of fun.
Because their design isn’t difficult, you may learn by trial and error as you go along. Plus, they simply need a little sewing to create them from just about anything.
To begin, choose your preferred design and gather your materials; your newly made pillow case awaits.
