First up in my 2021 Refresh for my sewing room is RECOVERED CUSHIONS with the lovely Strawberry Fields canvas from Rifle Paper Company.

Pretty!

I am not making a tutorial for boxed cushions with piping and zippers. This is really a difficult project. Directions for these are way beyond my skill level! Everytime I make cushions I swear “NEVER AGAIN”. But I just love the look of fabric and contrasting piping. And I do it again.

I’m definitely a novice at slipcovers and upholstery. I like to look at stuff and figure out how it’s made. I also read a lot on other blogs and follow through on Pinterest to get tips and tricks. I had some trouble on these cushions (actually a lot) but I think they turned out very nice.

I have two chairs that I use in my office/music room and sewing room. Bought them at a used furniture store back in 2012, Terry and I ripped off the seats, gave them a new paint job, replaced the padding and stapled on upholstery.

And those updated chairs were about as comfortable as sitting on a concrete bench. I wish I could remember what I used back then for padding so I could put in big bold letters–DO NOT USE!

Then I made these cushions so we could actually use the chairs. I posted about them back in 2013–you can check out the original post here, DIY French Cushions. Made all the difference in comfortable seating and we used these chairs all the time. After seven years, the foam had smashed down. Plus I wanted to use my beautiful Rifle Paper Company fabric to update them.

Foam is expensive and I wanted to reuse it. I had 1/2″ foam stored away from another project so layered it on the top and bottom to make a “foam sandwich”. Yum!

Then I glued it together with Scotch Super 77 multi-use spray adhesive. Well, that’s what my can said. I’ve had it for several years. On Amazon it is now 3M Super 77. Assuming that it is the same stuff.

Next I wrapped it in batting and whip stitched the batting onto the cushion.

I put zippers on the cushions which sounds difficult but was relatively easy. The hardest part of making cushions is the piping. I didn’t plan on using piping on this project because I HATE making it and adding it to the fabric. But I found some that I had already made and there was enough to trim one cushion. All I had to do is make enough for the second cushion. (Sounds so easy, just one cushion, NOT!)

It was equally frustrating adding the piping.

But totally worth it. It really adds flair to these cushions. But I’m never doing it again (HA!)

Next project for my sewing room will be a bit simpler. Think I need a break!