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DIY Chair Cushion – How to Make a Chair Cushion [VIDEO]

Outside chair cushion tend to fade in the sun and having a beautiful outdoor area relies on fresh looking cushions. The ready-made ones come in a limited variety of colors and patterns, so why not make your own chair cushion? This DIY chair cushion is super easy to make and will cost far less than a ready-made cushion, plus you’ll have cushions that no one else has, if you choose an exclusive fabric. It may even be the start of quite a lucrative home business.

how to make a chair cushion

Are your outside chair cushions looking worn, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on new ones? Our step-by-step tutorial with easy-to-follow visuals shows you exactly how to make a chair cushion with either ties or velcro, so it stays securely on the chair. The DIY chair cushion is deeply quilted and quick to make. If you enjoy making these for your own home you can even turn your skills into a small business making cushions for people who say, “I can’t find ready-made cushions in the type of fabric that I like.” Now you can have fun sourcing stunning fabrics to create the handmade chair cushions of their dreams.

chair cushion diy

Below you will find my step by step written tutorial how to make a seat cushion with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners.

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How to Make a Seat Cushion

Supplies and tools

supplies and materials to sew a chair cushion

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How to Sew a Chair Cushion

Watch the diy seat cushion video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
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Chair Cushion VIDEO TUTORIAL

DIY chair cushion INSTRUCTIONS:

For the cushion you will need a strong cotton fabric suitable for outdoor use or a canvas type fabric.

  • Cut two pieces 16.5  x 16.5 inches (42 x 42 cm)

You can either use hook and loop closure or ties for this chair cushion:

  • If using velcro – cut 2 pairs 5″ (13cm) long each. I’m using 3/4″ (2cm) wide strips
  • To make the ties for the cushion to fasten it to the chair you will need 2 pieces of 1.5  x 20.5 inches (3.7 cm x 52 cm).

NOTE: If you want to make and use ties instead of velcro, scroll down to the end of the article and make the ties first!

FINISHED SIZE:

DIY chair cushion W x H x D – 16 x 16″ x 1.5 (40 x 40 x 4 cm)

Step 1: Lay the fabrics

layering fabrics for the diy chair cushion

Place the cushion square right side up on the worktop and place the second square over it, right side facing the first square. Mark a 6-inch (15-cm) gap equidistant from the sides – this is where you will insert the cushion stuffing. Line up the edges and pin in place, making sure you pin at either edge of the 6-inch (15 cm) gap.

Step 2: Stitch around

stitching around the diy chair cushion

Stitch around the edge of the cushion starting at one end of the gap and working around the cushion until you come to the other edge of the gap. Back tack at start and finish. To get sharp 90-degree corners, stitch to the corner, lift the presser foot while the needle is still in the fabric, carefully swing the fabric 90 degrees, depress the foot and carry on sewing.

Step 3: Box the corners

marking the corners of the diy seat cushion

Take each corner, open it up and fold to match the seams. Pin together and take your tape measure. Measure 4cm (1.5″) across each corner and mark with a pen.

Clip off the corners 1/4″ (6mm) away from the marks so there isn’t a lot of bulk when you turn the fabric, but take care not to clip too close to the stitch line.

Step 4: Insert vecros

inserting the velcro in the diy chair cushion

Unpin two of the corners that lie on the same side as the gap while they are still pinned. Insert the hook and loop strips. Pin again.

Step 5: Stitch the corners

boxing the corners of the diy chair cushion

Stitch all corners along your markings

Step 6: Turn around

Pull the fabric through the gap until the right side of the cushion is smooth, then make sure the corners are neatly turned by using a knitting needle or chop-stick to make sure they lie flat. Fold in the edges of the gap in line with the edge and press.

Step 7: Mark a grid

On the one side of the cushion cover mark off a grid of squares 4 inches (10 cm) apart.

stitching grid of the diy chair cushion

You do this by measuring 4 inches (10 cm) from one side, and 4 inches (10 cm) from the opposite side making marks with an erasable  fabric pen.

We will use 5 of these dots as indicated in the drawing – the top 2, the middle one and the bottom 2.

Step 8: Transfer the marks

tranfering the marks on the other side of the diy chair cushion

Using a pin to indicate the position, poke it through the fabric marks to the other side and mark where the pin exits, so you have grids on the back and front of the cushion that line up with each other.

Step 9: Stuff the chair pillow

diy chair cushion - stuffing with filling

Using loose fibre fill, stuff the cushion, making sure the filling is spread equally across the whole cushion, and that it is sufficiently full and puffy.

Pin the gap closed, lining up the edges carefully.

Step 10: Sew the gap closed

pinned gap of the diy chair cushion

Stitch across the edge of the gap as close to the edge as possible, making sure you catch both edges of the fabric.

Step 11: Create puffing effect

Take a strong needle and thread with double thread that is the same color as the cushion.

diy chair cushion -stitching to make puffing

Starting in the middle marking stitch from the one side of the cushion though to the other side, pulling the cotton tight to create a puffed effect. When you are done, tie of the ends of the thread and cut.

diy chair cushion - puffing

Repeat with the other 4 marks on the grid, until you have a deep quilted effect on the cushion.

chair cushion cover finished

Your chair cushion is now ready to use. If you are able to do these quickly you can create made-to-order chair cushions. Most people find it difficult to find a ready-made cushion in the fabric they want. This could be the start of a lucrative home business – especially as you can sit in front of the TV and do the hand sewing of the quilted part of the cushion. If you liked this step-by-step tutorial for DIY chair cushions with accompanying visuals for the handmade seat cushion then please click on the subscribe button to have clever sewing projects delivered straight to our inbox. You need never miss out on a project again.

diy seat cushion

OPTIONAL (IF MAKING TIES):

STEP 1.1:

Starting with the ties lay one flat on an ironing board, with the wrong side facing upwards and turn over the short ends ½ inch (1cm) and press.

Fold the fabric in half along the whole length and press. Open out the length of the fabric and press one side in towards the opened-out fold on the long side, repeat with the other side, folding in to meet the pressed mark of the middle and pres. Finally fold along the original fold your pressed, so all the raw edges are neatly tucked inside and press again.

Stitch all along the length of the folded  edge as close as possible to the edge of the tie, and along the short side edges, back taking at start and finish. When this is complete, repeat steps 1 to 3 with the other tie.

Step 1.2

Take one of the squares for the cushion place with the right side facing upwards on the worktop. Along the side at the top measure 1 inch (2.5 cm) in from the left-hand and right-hand sides and make a mark. This is where you will place the ties.

Step 1.3

Take each tie and fold it in half, then place the folded edge against the top edge of the fabric where you made the marks and pin in place, level with the edge of the square piece.

Step 1.4

Stitch the ties in place ¼ inch (0.5 cm) from the edge stitching back and forth 4 times. This stitching has to be strong so the ties don’t pull out from the fabric.

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diy chair cushion

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 7 comments
Ellie - August 22, 2022

Chair cushions can be so expensive! What a great tutorial and love your choice of fabric too! Thanks for sharing!

Reply
    Helen - August 24, 2022

    Thank you so much, Ellie. I’m glad to hear you like them as much as I do!

    Reply
Joanne - October 14, 2022

I love the pattern you picked! What a fabulous tutorial.

Reply
Julie Briones - October 18, 2022

What a lovely chair cushion, Helen… and a great tutorial! I needed this as my outdoor chairs need pads, and they are a custom size! I’m happy to be featuring your post at tomorrow’s Tuesday Turn About party! Pinned!

Reply
    Helen - October 18, 2022

    Thanks so much Julie! I’m thrilled to see my pattern featured on your lovely blog

    Reply
chickenruby - October 18, 2022

I need to make one of these for the kitchen stool. Thanks for linking with #pocolo

Reply
Donna @ Modern on Monticello - October 19, 2022

I have needed to make some of these for a couple of years and just haven’t made the time to do it. Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial. This post will be a feature this week. #HomeMattersParty

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