Using old t-shirts is a great way to recycle unused clothing. You can use pretty much any fabric for your cushion cover, but be mindful of how it will be used. This zipper also needs to be shorter than the length of your pillow, so you may need to shorten the zipper. Whether they’re sat on, thrown around, or used as pillow, cushion covers need to be sturdy and durable. Beginners would do well learning how to make a cushion cover without a zipper. This tutorial from Georgina Burnett walks us through turning an old shirt into a cushion cover. Upholstery fabric like wool and cotton blends can be great cushion cover choices. Place large sections of the slipcover fabric on a flat surface, then cover with each of the pattern sections. Finish the seams to make sure that the fabric doesn’t fray. The back covers … The back covers should have a width equal to Measurement A, and a length equal to Measurement B. Then, stitch as loosely as you can between both marks. Align the edges. This will be measurement B. Their measurements are equal to the measurements of your inner cushion. Of course, it’s always possible to borrow a sewing machine from a friend. Please note, this site is part of the Amazon Associates Program as well as several other affiliate programs. None of these programs affect the price that you pay on any purchases made – but it does help us keep the bills paid. With dressmaker’s chalk, outline the measurements of the cushion around the middle of the shirt. With a ½ seam allowance from the mark, straight stitch from the edges to the mark. After stitching the zipper to the front fabric piece, you can now align it to the back piece. These steps are adapted from Hey There Home. Shops can offer the same boring patterns, with the wrong textures and sizes. Arrange it so that the pattern is going in the direction you would like for your finished pillow. First, cut out two pieces of fabric. Stitch the rest of the edges of your cushion cover. Then, iron out the creases. Since it doesn’t have a fasten, this pattern is best for smaller cushions. If you use shirts that aren’t button-downs, you can add a zipper, a button, or a bit of velcro, in the middle. Then, divide this measurement in half, and add five inches. Another added benefit of old t-shirts is that they’re generally less work than the usual cushion cover pattern. As a plus, they’re a nice touch on the pillow itself. In that regard, choose a fabric that is stain-resistant, or at least one that you can easily throw in the wash or spot clean. Using scrap fabrics may be too complicated for beginning sewists, but it’s still doable. Cut around the shape, and sew! Fabrics made of natural, non-synthetic fibers are also a good bet. To do this, fold the fabric from about ½ an inch from the edge. You can do this using a sewing machine, stitching so that the needle lands just off the outer edge of the fabric. Then, remove the loose stitch where the zipper is. For example, cushions are often 20×20 inches; this means that your back covers should be 20 inches wide and 15 inches tall. Lay down the first piece, good side up. Jane is the Editor of SewingFromHome.com and has over two decades of experience sewing, knitting and embroidering. If the latter, avoid fabric that may cause allergies. Are you making a throw-pillow cover or a sleeping-pillow cover? Cushion covers are a great way to add fresh décor to a room, and they’re an incredibly fun project to make. No matter the type you pick, both of them do well in hiding the zipper from plain view. SewingFromHome.com is part of the Amazon affiliate program. While they can be crucial décor in a room, it can be hard to find the one cover to bring your room together. Here’s a video showing an example of how to make a cushion cover without a zip. While they look easy, zippers can be a challenge to new sewists. Then, finish off the seams. Thank you for your support! Now, it’s just a matter of stitching along the rest of open edges of the cushion cover. Cut out two pieces. And yes – you can make your own cushion covers even if you’re a complete newbie! First, lay down the front piece, good side up. As a novice sewer, I’m trying to make a larger one – 50cm by 50 cm. Cut off the excess fabric about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the pinned edge. For extra plump pillows, add some allowance on all sides. Is that on purpose? As a bonus, you can make them out of pretty much anything, with only a bit of stitching. Since their design isn’t complicated, you can trial and error your way through the process and pick up skills as you go. We hope you enjoy our reviews and tutorials on Sewing From Home! You can do this with a sewing machine, but it can be easily done by hand. What are your favorite cushion cover patterns? She runs a small teaching business in her native Kansas and is passionate about helping her students learn a variety of crafting skills. Fabric that is thick and bulky can be unwieldy to work with, but can save you a lot of headache down the line. Also if the cut pieces are the exact measurement of the cushion insert, that does not take into account the seam allowance. If you’re buying a cushion cover from the store, the zipper is often hidden behind one seam. Finally, sew the edges to avoid fraying. If you have a shirt that you just can’t throw away because of the memories it holds, upcycling it into a cushion cover is a great way to keep it around. Place a pin on all the edges to secure it in place. Make two diagonal cuts 1/2-inch long from the first cut to finish the "Y" cut in the fabric. So, pick out your favorite pattern and prepare your fabric; your new cushion cover is waiting for you. Our posts contain affiliate links where we may be compensated for any purchases you make. Cut out your fabric; You will need to cut out three pieces of fabric for one cushion cover: one for the front and two for the back. The front cover would be equal to Measurement A on all four sides. Sew the bottom edge of your top piece, as well as the top edges of your back pieces. Because of that, it’s a much friendlier approach for beginners and allows people to sew the pattern easily by hand. These fabrics may include those with a great deal of loose fuzz, which can irritate the throat and nose. Mark the dimensions on the fabric with the chalk and cut … Then, lay the zipper, good side down, at the middle of the bottom edge of your fabrics. With that in mind, what better way to save money than to reuse what you already have lying around? Check out the tutorial from Sew Katie to see the specific feet she uses for both zipper types. There are two main cushion cover patterns: the first is one with a zipper, and the other is an envelope design. Since it’s going to be around a lot of people, and possibly drinks as well, stains will be an unavoidable problem for cushion covers. We start by washing and ironing the shirt, as you would any fabric for a sewing project. Then, flip the cover inside out, and you’ve got yourself a new cushion cover! This zipper will have finer teeth than your regular zipper, which means that it can be easily hidden inside of your pillow seams. Then, align your zipper to the front piece, pinning it face down on the good side of the fabric, at the bottom edge. Ironing it, as well as adding pins, can be a big help – especially for beginners. Cut … To prepare your fabric, wash it on its recommended setting, especially if it’s made of natural fibers. The envelope cushion cover is a great pattern for this purpose, since you can simply insert the inner cushion without needing a special closure. They’re easy to make, and great to have around the house! This pattern is great to use with button-down shirts, as the buttons are ideal for letting you change the inner covers. This video shows an example of how to make cushion covers with a shirt. This will be Measurement A. She regularly contributes reviews of sewing machines, from which she’s built up quite the collection! In this way, you can be sure that your fabric can be measured accurately and handled better. You will need a zigzag stitch for this. Then, lay down the second piece, good face down. Repeat this "Y" cut at each corner. The front cover would be equal to Measurement A on all four sides. Once everything is pinned, use a sharp pair of fabric scissors to cut the excess fabric off from the area you just pinned together. Below, we have two patterns to get you started. Is it decorative or will people be resting their faces on it? Good fabrics to choose from are linen, cotton, and silk. Pin both sides of the shirt. Thank you for your support! Open up both pieces of fabric, still face down. Mark out where the zipper starts and ends on your fabric. Now all you need to do is turn your cushion cover inside out, and it will be ready for your cushion insert! That means we earn commission for purchases made through some of our links. We are also part of several other sewing-related affiliate programs in the US, UK and Europe. Today I am able to get my measurements, cut the fabric according to the measurements, pin fit the fabric on the piece of furniture, then take the pin fit cover to the sewing machine and once the slipcover is sewn, put the cover on the furniture with a perfect fit every time.