We have been making sure we stay creative and crafty during the extended COVID19 quarantine. Rebecca’s current project has been sewing cushion covers, this is both for decoration but also storage! Top tip for living in small spaces, fill cushions with spare bedding and Winter coats when not needed to save on storage space - an essential for most of us who live in London!
This is an intermediate step by step tutorial to making cushion covers, you will need a sewing machine, needle and thread, fabric, scissors and buttons! You will also need a something for inside, in this case, a mattress topper.
Step by Step:
1. To begin, measure the item you want to store in the cushion. Fold the material around the item and cut, leaving an overlap flap and enough fabric on either side for internal seams.
2. On one end of the fabric stitch the flap seam that will be outward facing.
3. Optional! Stitch button holes beside that outer seam. Button holes are not totally necessary but are a lovely addition (especially if you, like Rebecca, have a stash of assorted buttons for exactly this kind of project)
4. Now fold! Lay the material down with the inside of the flap seam facing down, fold it first so the inside of the seam is now facing up, then bring the other end on top to meet the top fold.
5. Pin both open sides of the folded material. Some times marking a straight line can help when stitching.
6. Stitch a straight seam down the open sides and then a zig zag reenforcing seam to make sure the seam won’t fray or open.
7. Now to fold your cushion right side out! Fold it out once, you’re half way there, then finally fold the flap over - your cushion is now right side out.
8. Now with your cushion almost finished and folded right side out, line up the button holes, open them up slightly and put a small mark on the fabric directly below, that way you know exactly where the buttons need to be stitched on.
9. Fill the cover with what ever you need to store, in this case, a mattress topper.
Hope you enjoyed this step by step! Keep an eye our in the coming months for more crafty tutorials and DIY project ideas so keep you creative during this quarantine period and beyond!