How to Make Bar Stool Cushions

Ruffled bar stool cushions

Colorful bar stool cushions not only provide more comfortable seating, they add to the overall decor of the kitchen or recreation areas of the home. In this article, instructions will be given for a ruffle edged cushions with ties, that would be appropriate on country or Quake style bar stools made of wood with spindle type backrests.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fabric (1 1/2 yards 36 inch fabric for each cushion)
• Polyester pillow fill
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Buttons to be covered (if desired)

1. Use paper to cut a pattern to fit the seat of the bar stool. Trim until you have the desired size and shape. Make the pattern to the outside edges of the seat. Keep in mind that the cushion being made will have ruffles that will drape over the outside of the chair seat.

2. Layout the fabric (right sides together) and cut around the pattern allowing an additional 1/2 inch for seaming. The fabric for the ruffle will be cut 7 inches wide and double the distance of the exposed three sides of the cushion. If the chair seat measures 16 inches wide by 15 inches deep, the ruffle will need to be 92 inches.

3. Fold the fabric for the ruffle wrong sides together and press. This length of fabric will then measure 3 1/2 inches wide by 92 inches long. Run basting stitches along the cut edges of the ruffle for gathering or a ruffling attachment can be used. The gathered ruffle will then reach around three sides of your cushion. Make a narrow hem at each end of the ruffle.

4. Cut four pieces fabric 6 inches long by 3 inches wide for the ties. Fold the long edges under 1/2 inch and press. Fold this pressed edge under again and press. Fold in half and stitch along the long edge. This makes a tie 1 inch wide by 6 inches long. Hem one end of each of the ties.

5. Lay one section of the seat fabric right side up. Pin the ruffle to seat fabric with ruffle finished edge toward the center of the seat fabric, matching the raw edges. Place the other side of the seat fabric over this right side down. Stitch around the edges leaving the back side of the cushion open for stuffing. Turn the cushion right side out and press. Turn under the raw edges at the back of cushion and press.

6. Place polyester fill inside cushion to desired fullness, being sure to fill to the edges smoothly. Pin ties (two each) to each back corner of the cushion. Sew back part of the cushion closed, double stitching the areas the ties are attached to. Cushion can then be used as is, or if preferred covered buttons can be attached to both sides with button thread in a long needle, pulling down and tying to give a tufted appearance.