How To Make A Bench Cushion Cover With A Zipper

This method insures a crisp sturdy cushion cover that s easily removable for cleaning.

How to make a bench cushion cover with a zipper.

Tape multiple sheets of paper together so you end up with one large piece of paper that is big enough to cover the top of your cushion. With the zipper foot close to the zipper sew down the length making sure the center of the zipper remains in line with the seam. Now it s time to sew the zipper. Making a bench cushion without zippers or velcro can be done in the space of an afternoon or evening.

Change the foot on the sewing machine to the zipper foot. Their measurements are equal to the measurements of your inner cushion. On the underside of the fabric place the elastic over the raw edge of your fabric that you had folded and pressed earlier. Repeat on the other side.

Set your machine to zigzag and set the stitch length to 2 5mm. You may have to stop and move the pull tab so it s not in the way. Excess length will be cut off during construction. Place your top and bottom pieces together right sides facing in.

So zipper should face towards the middle. Measure across the top from front to back. If the original cushion insert will be used measure the width of the original boxing strip between the seams and add 1 for seam allowances. Press all the seams open with your iron at the heat setting appropriate for your fabric.

Your zipper needs to be wrong side up sewn onto the wrong side where the seam allowance shows. Cut out your fabric pieces. For a cushion with a zipper closure cut the boxing strip with the length equal to the measurement of the front and sides of the cushion. The elastic will cover up and protect the raw edge so it does not fray as much over time.

Then add 1 inch to each of those measurements for the final cutting length and width. Assemble the items needed. Then align your zipper to the front piece pinning it face down on the good side of the fabric at the bottom edge. With straight pins pin your zipper facedown with the teeth right on the seam.

The top piece and the bottom piece with the zipper. Place your cushion on a flat surface. Open your zipper a little so you don t sew it completely shut. Sew back and forth a couple of times at both ends of the zipper.

Pick a starting point. Double that number and add 1 inch to get the length of fabric you need for the top and bottom pieces plus the seam. To do this measure how long and wide the cushion is that you are covering.