How to Re-cover a Rocking Chair Cushion

Wooden rocking chairs are nostalgic but still a wonderful addition to the modern home; however, they can be a little uncomfortable to sit on. This can be remedied by making a comfortable cushion in tune with the decor of your home. Perhaps you have a rocker that already has a cushion but the cushion is getting a little tattered or it is just the wrong color. Spring is the perfect time to dress that rocker up and enjoy it again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Foam (if needed)
• Cording
• Polyester quilt batting

1. 
    
   Maple rocking chair.

   Remove the old covering on the rocking chair cushion and examine the foam. If it is crumbling, purchase new foam. Use the old foam as a pattern to cut the new. Draw around it with chalk or marker. Then cut with a serrated knife or box knife. If the rocker doesn't have a cushion, use paper to make a pattern and use the pattern to mark your foam.

2. 
    
   Cording.

   Lay the foam on the wrong side of the fabric and draw around it with chalk. Cut the fabric, adding 1/2 inch for sewing. Using the first piece of fabric that you cut, lay it face down on the fabric as a pattern to cut the second piece.

3. Using cording that has a lip or sewing edge, pin around the outside edge of one piece of your cushion fabric. Pin to the right side of your fabric with the sewing lip to the outside. Stitch around the cording using the zipper foot on the machine. Tuck the raw ends of the cording in and stitch. Pin the second piece of cushion fabric in place with right sides together. Using the zipper foot attachment on the machine, stitch around three sides of the cushion cover, leaving the back part open for placing the foam inside.

4. Turn the cushion cover right side out. Wrap the foam in the quilt batting and slide into the cushion cover. Turn under the edges and stitch it closed by hand.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want a less-formal cushion, you can add a ruffle using the same method as you used for the cording. Ruffles and eyelets can be purchased by the yard. Wrapping the foam in quilt batting makes a more resilient feel to the cushion.