How to Make Japanese Cushions
Japanese cushions come in many sizes and variations. The most common form is the zabuton, a floor cushion with a multi-functional purpose. Essentially they're floor cushions, which are also used on chairs or any hard surface where comfort is of concern. In modern times, Americans who practice meditation often use them in conjunction with a smaller, but thicker cushion called a zafu to balance the weight of the pelvis when the body is in a meditative position. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Two fabric squares (24 inches minimum)
- Zipper
- Needle
- Thread
- Cotton or polyester batting
- Heavy thread (optional)
Instructions
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1
Cut two square pieces of fabric. The size will depend on how big a cushion you plan to make. Traditionally, the Japanese zabuton is 24 square inches, but this is by no means a requirement. As long as you can sit comfortably on it without bruising your legs, the size is adequate.
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2
Sew the zipper on one side of each piece of fabric, so the completed project will possess the ability to be opened on one side to remove and replace stuffing as needed. The zipper needs to face inward at this point, as you'll eventually turn the fabric inside out before inserting the stuffing.
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3
Sew the other sides of the cushion together, with the side of the fabric that will be on the outside facing towards each other right now.
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4
Invert the cushion so the correct sides face outward. Three of the sides should be completely sewn up now, and only the side with the zipper attached should be open.
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5
Stuff the cushion with cotton or polyester batting. Tear little pieces of the batting off and fluff the fibers before stuffing them. Fight the urge to throw all the batting in at once; this won't be comfortable and will actually turn the cushion lumpy. The amount of stuffing you need will depend on whether it's going to function more as a floor cushion or if it will be on a chair more often. The latter probably won't need to be as thick as a zabuton that will strictly be used on the floor. If you plan to place a zafu cushion on top of it, for comfort reasons it will need to be rather thin to allow for the thickness of the zafu.
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6
Close the zipper when there's enough batting to give the zabuton enough thickness for your satisfaction.
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Sew a loop of heavy thread into each corner of the cushion, so both ends of the thread stick out of the cushion's top. Make each of the four loops into a separate bow or loose knot, to keep the batting from shifting inside the cushion. The bows shouldn't be too tight, because you'll undo them when you replace the batting. This step is optional, but recommended if you want to extend the lifespan of the stuffing.
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Tips & Warnings
The fabric you choose for the project is entirely a personal choice, but you'll want to keep comfort in mind just as much as decoration.
