How to Make Cushions for a Glider
Few things are as pleasant as a long cuddle on a soft, summer night, your glider moving gently as the breeze. Unless your cushion has worn thin, which makes the experience more like being stranded on a moving rock. Never fear. It is simple to make cushions for a glider. To make glider cushions for a porch swing, invest in heavier fabric like denim or cotton duck. If you are making glider cushions for a baby's rocker, use a pattern with no "direction" so that you can rotate the cushion around to avoid it wearing thin in one spot. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Fabric
- Upholstery foam, 4 to 6 inches thick
- Utility knife
- Cotton batting
- Spray adhesive
- Scissors
- Pencil or chalk
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine and thread
- Needle and thread
- Optional:
- Grosgrain ribbons
- Water-proofing fabric spray
Instructions
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1
Decide how many cushions you want---three for a very wide glider, two, or one long one. Measure the depth of your glider seat from the back to the front edge, and the width from side to side.
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2
Use the utility knife to cut the upholstery foam to fit these measurements. Cut as many cushions as you have decided on, making sure that they add up to the overall width.
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3
Lay the cotton batting on top of the upholstery foam and cut it to fit your cushions. Attach it to the upholstery foam with some spray adhesive.
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4
Fold your fabric right side to right side and place it face down on a flat surface. Lay the upholstery foam on top of it. Cut leaving a 2-inch seam allowance on all sides. Cut all of the fabric for the cushions at once.
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5
Next, lay the foam on one of its long sides on the folded fabric and trace around it with a pencil or chalk. Do the same for one of the short edges. Cut out these pieces, leaving a 2-inch seam allowance on all sides. If all of the cushions are going to be the same size, you can use one piece of foam to cut all of the sides. Otherwise, use each foam piece as its own pattern.
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6
Pin alll of the pieces together with straight pins, printed side to printed side.You should have a top, a bottom, two long sides and two short sides for each cushion.
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7
Sew all of the side pieces to the top piece. Sew the corner seams at all four corners. Sew the two long side pieces and one of the short end pieces to the rest of the fabric. You should now have an empty, box-shaped cushion cover with one side open.
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8
Turn the fabric right side out and slide the upholstery foam into it. This might take a little work, but just be patient and wiggle it in there.
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9
Fold the open edges under and sew them closed with your needle and thread. If you like, you can also use the needle and thread to attach ribbons to the corners, so that you can tie the cushion to the glider.
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Tips & Warnings
Placing the straight pins perpendicular to the fabric instead of in a straight head-to-point line makes it easier to pull them out as you sew.
Make sure you have removed every pin before you sit on the cushions.
