How to Sew an Attached Sofa Cushion

Sew your own sofa cushions using basic fabric supplies.

Buying a new sofa is costly and may not fit into your decorating budget. However, a sofa with torn or stained cushions looks unsightly. One solution is to sew replacement sofa cushions that are attached directly to the sofa. This enables you to continue using the sofa you have without having to look at the unattractive old sofa cushions. Make handmade attached sofa cushions using a few inexpensive materials found at any fabric or arts and crafts supply store.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy-duty tapestry fabric, 2 yards
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Polyester foam filler
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery thread

Instructions

1. Cut two rectangles from heavy-duty tapestry fabric using scissors to measure 30 inches wide and 36 inches long. This will create cushions for a standard 6-foot sofa.

2. Cut two strips out of the same fabric to measure 6 inches wide and 30 inches long. Cut two more strips to measure 6 inches wide and 36 inches long.

3. Pin both of the 30-inch sides of one rectangle onto one edge of a 30-inch strip using straight pins, placing the right sides together. Pin both of the 36-inch sides of the same rectangle onto one edge of a 36-inch strip, placing the right sides together. Leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance along all of the pinned edges.

4. Sew along all of the pinned edges using a sewing machine. Remove the straight pins.

5. Place the corners with their right sides together, then pin them using straight pins. Leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

6. Sew each of the corners. Remove the straight pins.

7. Place the remaining rectangle with the right side against the edges of the sewn form, lining up the edges of the rectangle with the corresponding edges of each sewn strip. Pin the edges using straight pins, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

8. Sew around all of the pinned edges using a sewing machine, leaving 24 inches un-sewn along one of the 36-inch-long edges. Remove the straight pins.

9. Turn the cushion right side out, then stuff the inside of the cushion with a polyester foam cushion filler.

10. Place the cushion onto the sofa with the un-sewn section facing into the back of the sofa.

11. Pin the un-sewn edge onto the fabric on the bottom of the inside of the sofa using straight pins.

12. Sew along the pinned edge using an embroidery needle and embroidery thread, then remove the straight pins.

13. Repeat to make a second cushion for the sofa.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep sharp scissors, straight pins and embroidery needles out of the reach of children.

References

• Innovative Sewing: How to Make Sofa Cushions -- How-to Tutorial