How To Make A DIY Cushion Pad

Cushion covers come in all shapes and sizes. Finding the right sized cushion filler, can be time consuming and expensive. This is especially true when you buy the wrong one and can't return it. A few things I've noticed about shop bought cushion pads include:

they are never fat and juicy enough

they always need to be plumped,

they can't be washed

they don't offer any support

I've bought cushion pads before, only to realise that I needed about 6 of them to fill one cushion cover, because they were so flat and empty.

Of course you can buy really 'luxurious' (we mean expensive) cushion pads. Those ones have more cushioning and don't flatten because they were lent on.

Here's a quick rundown of my supplies and the steps I take to create a DIY cushion pad, using repurposed supplies.

Supplies

Fabric

Woven and non stretch is best I repurposed lining fabric.

Measuring tape / ruler

You can measure by eye too

Zipper

Your zipper should be long enough to span the length of your cushion,

Needle and Thread

Use a strong thread of a matching colour.

Pen or Pencil

or use sticky tape to create frames / stitch guidelines

Clips, Stapler or Pins

you can clamp your fabric panels together with any of these tools.

A Good Quality Pair of Scissors

you can use a rotary cutter or craft blade if you prefer

all purpose drop forged carbon iron scissors

Padding

fibre fill, feathers, cotton, wool, down, even polystrene snow will work well.

Are You Ready?

Step 1

Fold the fabric in two, with the REVERSE side facing you. If necessary iron along the fold. Cut the fabric along the fold to create two equal pieces of fabric. Lay your cushion cover down on top of them. Trace the shape of the cushion cover onto the fabric, leaving a one inch space all around

Step 2

Cut out the shape you traced. You now have two perfectly equal panels of fabric with the REVERSE of the fabric facing you. Keep the panels lined up together. You may add pins to hold them together especially if you use slippery fabric like satin. Remember our tip from '9 Hacks for Elegant DIY Upholstery?' Always draw a frame onto your shape.

Step 3

Open your zip and place one arm along the inside margin of your panel piece and pin it in place. You can see that my zip does not extend all the way to the corners of the cushion pad, and that's okay.

The main thing is that your zip will allow you to open the cushion pad to remove and replace the stuffing during cleaning and maintenance. Repeat the pinning process with the other zip arm. Now use a pin-back stitch to sew the zipper arms in place.

Step 4

Once each zipper arm has been sewn to each fabric panel, close the zipper half way. You can pin the other three sides to keep the fabric panels lined up. Use a pin-back stitch to sew the three sides. Cut off the excess margin, but becareful not to cut into your stitches.

Step 5

Now Open the zipper fully and flip the cushion pad cover the right way around. Push through the corners, also iron the cushion pad cover.

Step 6

You can use cotton, fibre-fill, feathers or down to fill your cushion pads. You can make your cushion pad as juicy as you like. This one is well-filled with cotton and offers great support.

Well Filled DIY Cushion Pad without Cushion Cover

I've come to the conclusion that rather than spend money on half-full cushion pads that have little to no support, it's a lot easier and more cost effective to STOP buying them and DIY your own cushion pads.

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