DIY Bench Cushion Cover: 1 Hour, $15 Makeover

Bigger than a pillow, simpler than full-on reupholstery — bench cushion covers are a great place to inject a large dose of color and pattern into your space. Our coworker just recovered this window seat cushion and the small amount of time and materials it required has even sewing beginners like us inspired! Follow the jump to see a few more pictures of this quick and easy DIY...

This great geometric fabric came from Calico Corners — who apparently has some new, more modern prints — for $15/yard. Using a simple mock box pleat, she stitched the cover together by hand in under an hour, opting to not include a zipper. Apparently she changes the cover a couple times a year and, since she's not a master seamstress, simply snips the stitch open when she's ready for a change. Now those are sewing instructions we can live with.

Comments (6)

And if folks are looking for help with the cabinet itself, I've had terrific luck with the The Wooden Radiator Cabinet Company.

http://www.woodenradiatorcabinet.com/

Not cheap - but fabulous work and great service.

posted by leepert on February 23rd 2009 at 3:52pm
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It would be nice to include some instructions....

posted by klem on February 23rd 2009 at 4:56pm
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could you include some instructions or how-to on this project?

thanks!

posted by k.c. on February 24th 2009 at 9:02am
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It looks pretty. The tiny pillow doesn't look very comfy, though. Is it a bench for wee people only?

posted by heather77 on February 25th 2009 at 4:46pm
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I have a purse holder in this exact same fabric from simplysarahshaw.com. Very cool.

posted by cassielynn on February 28th 2009 at 1:31pm
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Directions:
This took one yard of fabric (could differ with dimensions of cushion)
Wrap the fabric (wrong side facing out) around your cushion, make sure the fabric comes together in the BACK of one long side.
Pin (with straight pins) very tightly around all corners and along the bases of the short sides. Cut excess fabric away leaving about an inch for your seams (2" if you are unsure can always trim down later).
Pull out your foam insert. Straighten pins as necessary to make a straight lines. Pins at the corners should make a "T" shape
Sew (by hand might be easier) along the pinned seams. and turn right side out.
Insert Foam and fold the long sides of fabric under and do a whip stitch along the back to close (can easily be cut open again and no one is going to see the back!) You are only sewing on three sides so it doesn't take that long.

posted by Sydney, Newton on February 28th 2009 at 6:08pm
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