DIY Cushion Covers: Revive Your Home the Easy Way
Give your bedroom, couch or outdoor zone a fab new look with a little fabric and some basic sewing skills
One of the fastest ways to update your bed or couch is to update the cushion covers. Shop-bought cushion covers can be costly, but you can experiment with colours and try unusual patterns by buying the fabric and sewing them yourself. I am nowhere near an expert sewer, but I do have basic knowledge of how to operate a sewing machine and I make cushion covers all the time. Let me show you how it’s done.
The finished product: a simple square cushion cover. Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with other shapes, too.
First, choose your fabric
An upholstery-weight fabric is a good start because the fabric won’t slip and slide. If you are a beginner, geometric patterns such as lines, grids and checks are a good option because the patterns serve as built-in guides to help you sew a straight line.
An upholstery-weight fabric is a good start because the fabric won’t slip and slide. If you are a beginner, geometric patterns such as lines, grids and checks are a good option because the patterns serve as built-in guides to help you sew a straight line.
Cut out the front
Depending on your insert size, cut the front of the cover at least 2cm bigger all the way around.
Depending on your insert size, cut the front of the cover at least 2cm bigger all the way around.
Cut out the 2 back flaps
For the back of the cover, I create 2 flaps, one overlapping the other, as a natural closure. No zip, no buttons. Each flap has to be bigger than half the size of the front, so there is plenty of overlap. If you are working with a 40cm square insert, cut each flap 45cm x 30cm.
For the back of the cover, I create 2 flaps, one overlapping the other, as a natural closure. No zip, no buttons. Each flap has to be bigger than half the size of the front, so there is plenty of overlap. If you are working with a 40cm square insert, cut each flap 45cm x 30cm.
Hem 1 side of the back flaps
Fold over 1 long edge of each flap and pin it down. For best results, you can iron it before sewing for a stiffer and neater edge.
Fold over 1 long edge of each flap and pin it down. For best results, you can iron it before sewing for a stiffer and neater edge.
Sew along the turned over material using a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying.
Now for the fun part.
Set it all up for sewing
Start by placing the front piece with its pattern facing up.
Place 1 back flap face down on top of the front piece. Make sure the outer edges of each side match up and the hemmed edge is towards the centre.
Set it all up for sewing
Start by placing the front piece with its pattern facing up.
Place 1 back flap face down on top of the front piece. Make sure the outer edges of each side match up and the hemmed edge is towards the centre.
Place the second flap face down on top of the first flap, ensuring the outer edges meet the front piece and the hemmed edge is also towards the centre, overlapping the first.
Sewing the cushion
Making sure the fabric lies flat, push pins through all the layers right around the edges of the square to secure.
Making sure the fabric lies flat, push pins through all the layers right around the edges of the square to secure.
Now you can carefully sew all around the square using backstitch.
That’s it, you’re done!
Turn the cushion cover inside out to reveal a crisp square ready to be stuffed with your cushion insert. I am showing you the back side so you can see how the overlapping flaps turn out.
Turn the cushion cover inside out to reveal a crisp square ready to be stuffed with your cushion insert. I am showing you the back side so you can see how the overlapping flaps turn out.
Proudly display your new cushion
When someone asks you where you purchased it, you can say you made it yourself in about 30 minutes.
When someone asks you where you purchased it, you can say you made it yourself in about 30 minutes.