How to Sew Basic Cushions for a Bay Window Seat

  • 2 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 40
What You'll Need
Foam
Fabric
Scissors
Utility knife
Thread
pin needles
Sewing needle
Sew machine
What You'll Need
Foam
Fabric
Scissors
Utility knife
Thread
pin needles
Sewing needle
Sew machine

Sewing basic cushions for a window seat is easy and gives you the freedom to choose the fabric that best suits your home and personality. If you can sew a straight (or somewhat straight) line, you can sew a cushion. Here are some steps to follow to help you through the process.

1. Prepare the foam

1.1—Get a piece of foam that will serve as the inside of the cushion. Foam can be purchased at most fabric stores. Look for a piece that is about 3inches thick and at least as long as your window seat bench. You don’t want to have to use more than one piece of foam.

1.2—Cut the foam to fit the dimensions of the bench. You’ll want it to be slightly smaller than the actual bench so that it fits without hanging over the sides or being too wide. Once it’s cut, it will serve as the pattern for your fabric.

2. Prepare your fabric

2.1—If you aren’t an expert seamstress choose a fabric with a simple pattern that won’t be too hard to match up at the seams. Stripes, plaids, and solids are always good for this. The more intricate the pattern, the more fabric you’ll need. Also, make sure that the fabric is wide enough to cover the cushion in one piece with enough extra to sew the seams. You don’t want a seam through the middle. This may mean using the pattern the long way, so be certain you’re okay with the way it looks. The people cutting the fabric should be able to offer advice to ensure that you purchase the right amount. If you’re in doubt, take the foam with you.

2.2—Once you have your fabric and foam, it’s time to start cutting. Lay the fabric with the right side down over the top of the foam. Center it where you want it and be careful not to have too much waste at either end. You want to use the fabric as efficiently as possible. For a very basic sewing job, wrap the fabric all the way around the foam. This will give you the least amount of seams to sew and it will make the front depth of the fabric look very clean. Cut the fabric so that you have enough for at least a 1/2-inch hem.

2.3—Once the fabric is cut, use stick pins to tack the seams where you want them. Do it for both sides and most of the back leaving enough of a hole to turn the fabric right side out and cover the foam prior to finishing it off.

3. Sewing the cushion cover

3.1—Remove the foam prior to sewing. Use a basic stitch in the sewing machine to sew the seams down both sides, using the pins as a guide and removing them as you go. Do the same for the back up until the point that you chose.

3.2—Turn the fabric right side out, insert the foam, position the cover the way you want it to look, and finish by hand sewing the opening.

That is all you need to know to create a basic window seat cushion. Once you become more familiar with the mechanics, you can get more creative with embellishments and added treatments.