How to Cover Chair Cushions for Just Pennies

Have you ever wondered what to do with those worn looking torn chair cushions? Well give them a new look! They can be used for your kitchen chairs (again) or utilized as a seat cushion for your outdoor plastic lawn chairs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old dust ruffle or sheet
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Old cushions

1. 
    
   Brightly colored fabrics are fun for out door cushions

   Using a large piece of material (an old sheet, furniture cover, or dust ruffle), Lay your cushion on the material which is folded right sides together. Trace about 2" away from the outside of the cushion all the way around. This will give enough room to fit your old cushion in its' new home.

2. 
    
   Sewing has been a way of life for many years

   Remove the cushion, cut out and sew around the edge of your pattern using a 1/2" seam. I find it best to start about 2" from the back corner (the edge that will go toward the back of the chair) and sew to about 2" past the third corner.

3. 
    
   Folding the cushion in half helps push it in easier

   If you have rounded corners, cut the seam just about to the stitching from the edge inward. The closer together you make your snips, the nicer the corner round will turn. Now turn your cover right side out and smooth out the edges. Insert your old cushion.

4. 
    
   A fresh new look for something you may have thrown away

   Fold the opening inward to match the seam. Sew very close to the edge with your sewing machine or hand stitch the edge of the opening closed. If you want you can add tie strings. Simply cut pieces of material approximately 12" long X 1" wide. Fold right sides together and sew along the open edge and across one end. Attaching a safety pin to the sewed end, push that up the tube of material until it reaches the other end. Finish pulling the fabric through, turn the open end inside of the tie and sew that end closed. Fold the string in half and sew onto your new cushion.

Tips & Warnings

• The cost of this project was the cost of the thread and the electicity to run the machine.
• You can tuft your cushions simply by drawing a strong piece of thread through the cushion each place you want a tuft, and tie it in a knot on each side.
• Use sharp scissors. (I recommend Fiskars brand)
• Be careful to keep your fingers away from the sewing machine needle
• Always take caution when using sharp implements

[FrazzledNanny]

on 4/2/2009 I have some chairs that need some TLC. Thanks for the article. 5*

[syriusas]

on 3/29/2009 Excellent instructions on how to cover chair cushions for pennies! This sounds simple enought that maybe even I could do it~ Thanks! 5*