How To Sew A Bench Cushion Cover With Zipper

Benches can be very hard, thus uncomfortable to sit on. There are numerous designs of bench cushions that can help to protect your butt from the sturdiness of the bench. Asides that, bench cushions add convenience and beauty to the structure of wooden chairs. 

Just watch as your extra cushion improves the overall experience of your bench.

One fantastic thing about bench cushion is that they are furniture projects that you can do by yourself, even without advanced interior design and sewing knowledge. It is a lot easier than you might imagine. All it takes is a few cutting, sewing actions, and your bench cushion is ready for you.

In this article, I’ll be dropping you some do-it-yourself steps on how to sew a bench cushion for your bench.

All washing should be done before you begin sewing. This is because your cushion cover might shrink when washing. This would render the initial measurements inaccurate. Hence it is essential to wash before sewing. The perfect method to clean your cushion is dry cleaning.

Once you have done that, it’s time to sew.

How to Sew a Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

The essential step involved in making a cushion with a zipper for your bench includes cutting your foam into an appropriate size. Sew your cushion plate to the zipper panel. Then stitch the top and bottom plate together then insert your foam.

Steps to Sew a Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

To make a bench cushion with a zipper, you need

  • A sewing machine
  • Rotary cutter or a pair of scissors
  •  Basting tape or pins; these can be used alternatively. They are used to align your fabric together so that it is easy to work and cut it.
  • Pen
  • Ruler
  • Batting material

Making your bench cushion

Step 1 – Take measurement

The first step is to measure the dimensions of the bench you’ll be covering. These measurements are essential in order to get the dimensions of the pillow. You would also need these measurements to determine the size of the foam.

Asides that, the size of the foam would determine how much fabric you would need. Apply the measurements when cutting the material; the dimension of the bench determines the cushion plates while the aspects of the four sides determine the wideness of the foam. It is common practice to add a quarter-inch to these measurements.

It is crucial to add room for seam allowance. What’s that? It is merely the length of the space between the seam and the edge of the fabric.

Step 2 – Measure and cut the foam

Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

The second step is cutting the foam to size. Mark the foam according to the measurement you made earlier (from your bench). Cut the foam to a required size. It might be smart to employ an electric or serrated knife to make it easier for you.

To ensure uniformity in the cutting, you should flip the foam when cutting- flip the foam, cut halfway and flip again, in that order.

If you have more than one foam, use an adhesive to glue them together. Afterward, wrap the batting around the bench cushion like a present. 

You might want to glue the batting and the foam together, so everything stays in place. This makes it easier for you to take out the foam anytime you want to wash the foam covers.

The next step is to take another measurement of the foam and note the increments (in length and breadth) made by the batting. These new values would be used to cut out the fabric that would be used for the foam cover.

Step 3 – Cut the bottom fabric

Set the material for your cushion bottom on a flat surface. Place the foam above it and use your pen to draw out the perimeter—exercise proper care when cutting the foam because if your foam gets compressed, your measurements become inaccurate. 

Then trace the line one-quarter inch from your traced line. Then, cut out your plate along the inner line. Use a scissor or rotary quarter for this. Mark the center of each plate with a pencil.

Step 4 – Sew the zipper panel to the bottom plate

Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

The next thing is to sew the zipper panel. A simplified list has been compiled to make it easier for you;

Cut your zipper to the length of the cushion. For this sewing task, it is recommended that you make the zipper’s length more extensive than the size of the cushion by a few inches. Install the zipper slider.

Set the zipper at the center of the left side of the bottom position, with the zipper facing down; an easy way to do this is to make use of a basting tape. Apply a thin basting tape on both sides of the zipper slider. 

This attaches glue to the zip. Afterward, peel off the basting tape. Use the glue on the zip to fix the zipper on the fabric face down.

Sew the zipper in place. Make a couple of back stitches at the beginning then sew the zipper down. Sew across the zip. When you get to the end of the fabric, rotate and sew back. 

Then cut the middle of the zipper to expose its teeth.

Step 5 – Cut top plates to appropriate measurements

Trace the border on the left side of the fabric of the foam. Before you trace, make sure you have plenty of extra material before you start drawing. Measure the thickness of your foam. Strike a line using the width of the foam minus a quarter as the distance from the traced line.

Step 6 – Creating facing from the top plate

 Extend the line on your fabric beyond the cut-line This will create a square at each corner. Cut out your fabric along the cut line with a rotary cutter and then skim out the traced square from where you extended the lines from at each corner.

Prepare your basting tape, then flip the fabric over with the right-side up so that the edges align and baste the corners together. Take the top plate to the sewing machine. Sew the corners together. Ensure you use at least a 3/8 a seam allowance. Fold each side in half and make a mark at the center of the front plate. These marks would be used to match up the bottom and top plate together

Step 7 – Stitch the top and bottom plate together

Use scissors to cut off the extra zipper from the plate. Use basting tape to join both plates with the right sides facing in. Be sure the lines on both plates align together. Sew the plates together using a 3/8 seam allowance.

Step 8 – Inserting foam

Now, open the zipper and turn the fabric inside out, then insert the foam. Ensure the foam fits into corners so that the foam and cushion looks firm.

Things To Note Before Sewing Your Cushion

Bench Cushion Cover with Zipper

It would help if you took note of some things before commencing this project.

Always consider the pattern linings, if any, before sewing, to avoid any shabby stitching.

All washing should be done before you begin sewing. This is because your cushion cover might shrink when washing. 

This would render the initial measurements inaccurate. Hence it is essential to wash before sewing. The perfect method to clean your cushion is dry cleaning.

Once you have done that, it’s time to sew.

These bench cushions are relatively easy to make. Save money by following this guide and make beautiful cushions for yourself.

Related Questions

Can I make a bench cushion without sewing?

Yes, you can, not everyone has the time to sew. However, there is a particular process for making a bench cushion without sewing at all. 

This process employs the use of glue to fix the foam to the cloth. Although the ones made with stitching last longer and are more durable, you could go for the foams made with glue if you can’t sew.

Which is better, single or multiple cushions?

This depends on the users. A single bench cushion might be more comfortable for those that like to lie down on the bench. The multiple cushions have the advantages of variety. Additionally, you can easily swap them.

Jessica

Jessica

I'm Jessica Flores, a professional fashion designer and an expert seamstress. Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years. I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills. It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.

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