How to Recover a Seat Cushion

Does your chair or bench need a fresh new look? Is the seat cushion looking shabby or just outdated? Recovering a seat cushion is a pretty simple process and even the inexperienced seamstress can do it!

Instructions

1. Take the old seat cushion apart carefully. Unpick all seams. These pieces will be your pattern for your new cover. Number all pieces and draw a diagram so that you know how to put the new pieces back together. Measure all the pieces to determine how much fabric you will need to recover the seat cushion.

2. Purchase your new fabric. Use a sturdy fabric. A stain-resistant upholstery fabric is the best to use. You can purchase this type of fabric at most fabric stores and outlets.

3. 

   If the foam padding has lost it's firmness, consider purchasing new foam. If not, you might want to wash the foam padding before recovering. For smaller cushions you can do this in your washer on gentle. For larger cushions, simply put in your bathtub, use a liquid soap to wash, rinse well and let air dry.

4. Use the pieces of the old cushion as your pattern and cut out the new cushion cover. Leave a little more for the seam allowance as they tend to cut them quite short. Make sure you use a heavy duty sewing machine needle to prevent breakage.

5. 

   Following your diagram, stitch seams with the right sides together. Make sure you double-stitch the corners for extra strength. The corners must be neat and come to a nice point. Cut all corners off diagonally to eliminate bulk. Leave a large opening in one seam (preferably a bottom and back seam) so that you can push the foam into the cover.

6. Turn the cover right-side out and insert the foam cushion. Hand stitch the opening. Step back and admire your beautiful new chair or bench!

Tips & Warnings

• Make a practice cover with an old piece of fabric or old sheet if you don't have much experience with sewing.