Here’s a step by step guide to making cushions with zips. It’s really very easy if you follow these simple steps. I made these three cushions using some of the lovely fabric from our online shop.
I used 3 designs from the Delilah range by Tanya Whelan
Materials you’ll need
- I made 1×50 cm and 2x40cm cushions.
- Cushion pads – I bought mine from Amazon
- Fabric – I used 3 x ½metre pieces, from our online shop.
- The fabrics I chose were all from our Tanya Whelan range of fabrics which costs £2.60 per quarter metre.
- 3 zips – I used 3 x 40cm zips
- Thread, pins etc – and a sewing machine.
Step 1 – cut out your fabric
For the 50cm cushion I cut a piece 58cm square and for the 40cm cushion 48 sq.cm. This gives you plenty of seam allowance – if you’re tight on fabric it’s fine to make smaller as cushions always look best oif they are quite tightly fitted over the pad.
Step 2 – Prepare for the zip
Turn in about 1 cm of hem on one side of one of your squares and pin it in place. Do the same with one side of the other piece.
Machine the hem
Repeat this for the other square.
Step 3 – insert the zip
Fold in the fabric again to make a doublt hem With the wrong sides facing upwards put the two squares side by side with the folded edges together and lay the zipper on top, carefully aligning it into place so the zip teeth run along the join. Make sure the zip catch is facing towards the right side. Pin in place.
Turn the pieces over to make sure you have the zip correctly aligned and make any necessary adjustments. Attach your zipper foot to your sewing machine, then sew the zip in place, sewing down one side, across the bottom and up the other side.
If you’re a bit nervous you may want to tack the zip in place by hand first.
Step 4 – sew up the cushion
Turn the cushion right sides together and line the edges up, then pin together the three open sides of the cushion cover. Sew the three sides together, using your seam allowance so you end up with a cushion the size of your pad- about 2 cm. Make sure when you do this you leave the zip partly undone or you won’t be able to turn it inside out once you’re done!
Trim across the corners so you’ll get sharp corners when you turn it right way out. you can use the rounded end of a pencil to push the corners out neatly. Put your cushion pad inside and zip up. Close up any gaps between the ends of the zip and the side seams by hand sewing closed, using blind hemming.
Buy our Cusion Making eBook here for just £2.65 at amazon.co.uk!
Or buy it here for $4.16 at amazon.com!
Want to make your own? Be inspired by the fabrics in our online shop
We have some gorgeous fabrics and you can buy by the quarter – so they’re perfect for cushions.
great newsletter… fantastic competitions… offers…
Join us now – it’s FREE
