DIY Cushion Covers

There’s no need to toss those old throw pillows!  Refresh your bedroom or living room without breaking the bank – all you need is some fabric, a needle and thread, and a little bit of time.



Never feel limited by the selection of pre-made
cushions and covers again! Almost any fabric can
be stitched into a great accesory for your home.



What You’ll Need:

• Fabric (avoid delicate or lightweight stuff, I also recommend pre-washing it so you avoid any awkward shrinkage later.)

• Ruler, yard stick or tape measure

• Pencil or tailor's chalk

• Scissors

• Iron

• Pins

• Needle and Strong thread (Or a sewing machine if you are so inclined.)

Start with your existing cushion.  Remove the cover, if possible.  If you can’t, be sure to choose a thick enough new fabric that will hide the old cover.  Measure the cushion from corner to corner.  Then, on the back side of your new fabric, draw a rectangle that is the same width as your cushion and twice as long.  (What about seam allowance?  Making the cover the same size as the cushion will make sure it stays all plump and full-looking.  If you’d like a little “wiggle” room, or if you plan on removing and washing the cover, add a half inch to each dimension.)

...Just make sure you don't
get carried away!

Lay your newly cut rectangle flat with the pretty side down.  Fold the short edge over ¼” and iron flat.  Then fold it another ½” and iron it flat – pin it to secure.  Use a running stitch to fasten the edge down, and remove pins.  Repeat this with the other short edge.

With the pretty-side up, fold the short ends toward the center of the fabric until the length is the same as the length of your cushion.  Pin the non-sewn edges together, leaving the short ends open.  (Making a sort of “envelope” for your cushion.)  Using strong thread (or doubling-up standard thread) backstitch down each of the pinned side about ¼” away from the edge.  Keep your stitches as even and straight as possible, looking out for puckering or gaps.

Trim any loose threads, and look for any errant pins… Flip the whole thing inside out, insert your cushion, and voila! A brand new cushion.