How to Recover Cushions With Slipcovers
Sewing slipcovers for your cushions is a wonderful way to give them new life. If you've had some sewing experience, you should have no trouble completing this project. With the multitude of fabrics available, you can make cushion covers to match your decor, or use an eye-popping color to add a spark of interest to your room.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Fabric
- Zipper
- Upholstery cord
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Sewing machine
Instructions
-
Making a Cushion Slipcover
-
1
Measure the length, width and height of your cushion. Add 1 inch to each measurement for seam allowances.
-
2
Determine the fabric yardage needed. Add the length and the height measurements and multiply by two. Divide the total by 36 inches. This is the number of yards needed. Add the width and the height measurements.. This is the minimum fabric width needed.
-
-
3
Cut two pieces of fabric according to the width and length measurements, for the top and bottom of the slipcover. Cut two pieces according to the length and height measurement, and two pieces according to the width and height measurement, for the sides of the slipcover.
-
4
Sew the piping (see Section 2) to the top piece. Place the raw edges of the fabric and the cording together, with the cording to the inside, and sew in place, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Repeat with the bottom piece.
-
5
Sew the four side pieces together along their short ends, in alternating width- and length-measured pieces. Don't join the last one to the first one. You should have one long, flat piece.
-
6
Pin the zipper face-up to the right side of the piece you just made. It should lie on a length-measured piece and extend about 1/4 of the way onto a width-measured piece at the top and the bottom.
-
7
Open the zipper and slash the fabric from the top stop of the zipper to the bottom stop, using sharp scissors or a rotary cutter. Remove the pinned zipper.
-
8
Make a crosswise cut at the top of the slash that extends 1/4 inch in each direction. Repeat at the bottom of the slash.
-
9
Press the fabric under 1/4 inch to the wrong side along both slashed edges. Pin the zipper tape to the pressed-under edges, with the zipper face-down.
-
10
Sew the zipper in place using a zipper foot. Remove the pins.
-
11
Sew the top section to the zippered section, right sides together, being careful not to catch the piping with the needle. Repeat with the bottom section.
-
12
Sew the seam at the ends of the zippered section. Finish the seams with a serger or a zig-zag stitch.
Making Piping
-
13
Multiply the length by four, the width by four, and add them together. The total is the length of piping you'll need.
-
14
Cut a piece a fabric to that length and 3 inches wide. Cut a piece of upholstery cord to that length.
-
15
Place the cord in the center of the wrong side of the fabric and fold the fabric ends over until they meet.
-
16
Sew along the cord on the right side of the fabric, keeping as close to the cord as possible without catching it in the stitches.
-
17
Trim the fabric (excluding the corded area) to 1/2 inch.
-
1
