How to Make Dining Chair Cushions with Bonus Embellishment Goodness


So I’ve been redecorating the patio with my Membership Rewards points. I found some great chairs on superdeal, but the funky backs don’t work for normal dining chair cushions. Because they are metal, my booty requested some coziness. Guess I’ll have to make them!

Guess that’s also why I am in my pajamas at 2 p.m, having been in a sewing frenzy all day. I added a little sparkly thread and heat transfer arrows to match my new ace-hotel inspired patio look.

Let me show you how to make Dining Chair Seat Cushions after the jump…

How to Make Seat Cushions for Dining Chairs

First you’ll need fabric. I used Robert Kaufman Essex linen in Natural from Fabricworm.

Then you’ll need foam. I used four 14″ squares of 2″ thick foam from a local fabric shop. My cutting is sloppy, but it is not noticeable on the final cushions. Cut foam with an electric knife, if you don’t have one, use a serrated bread knife.

Now for each cushion cut two squares of fabric 15.5″. I went ahead and serged all the edges to start with, because I didn’t want to worry about my linen fraying.

I decided to add some sparkle, so I wound two bobbins with heavy braid gold and silver threads from Kreinik, and with regular thread in my spool, sewed a few lines of straight stitching across the top of my seat cushions. When doing this, remember to place your item upside down (so the wrong side of the fabric is facing you) so your decorative thread that is in your bobbin shows up on the right side.

Next I whipped out the trusty Silhouette, downloaded a worn-down arrow type of shape, and used some sparkly heat transfer material to make an iron on.

So here’s what I’ve got so far:

So lay the top piece of your cushion fabric right side up.

Then put the bottom piece on top, right side down (so right sides are facing) and sew from the center-right of one side, all the way around to the center-left of that same side, back stitching at the beginning and end. I used a zig zag stitch for extra strength, since this pillow will be being sat on by my big old booty.

Now at each corner, bring the two side seams together to create a triangle. Sew a straight line across one inch down from the top.

Cut off the tip of the triangle above your seam. You have now created a gusset. Repeat on each corner.

Turn inside out and stuff!

Now to make ties. You can use trim or anything you want, but I wanted matching ties. So I cut a 3″ wide piece of fabric (whatever length you prefer). Iron each side into the center, like you are making bias tape.

Now fold in half at the center and iron again:

Sew a straight stitch to close the open edge, and then another along the folded edge:

Tie the ends in knots:

Handsew the pillow opening closed, and attach your straps at the same time:

Almost done, but looking a little flat.

I used embroidery floss and four mis-matched black buttons. Just squeeze your foam and sew them on like you would any button. Here is the top:

And at the bottom I just left knotted floss, but you could use a backing button if you wanted too. I actually love the knotted floss look, this could totally be enough for the top too.

I like the mismatched button look. I also like not going to the store to purchase 16 matching buttons.

Also adore the sparkly thread. I think it manages to look modern.

Tie it on. Pull up a chair. Pour a drink. Change out of your pajamas.

Now go make three more!

Or just sit by yourself, that’s pretty nice too.

by

30 Comments

Kathy B

Thanks – I’m making some chair cushions and the pattern is perfect for what I want to do. Thanks for posting. June 1, 2012

Reply
ppags

This is exactly what I was waiting for when you said you would have some pillows tutorials…. I must go make one for me to put in my car. The scorching hot summer of TX isn't nice to my bare thighs.

Reply
Mary

I don’t understand how 15 1/2 inches covers one side of the pillow which is 16″ of foam (14″ top + 1″ + 1″ of each side of foam). How big of a seam did you use? Thanks

Reply
Chris

Hello, could you make some of these stool cushions for me ? I do not sew nor own a sewing machine. Please let me know as soon as you can – thanks !

Reply
Peggy

You did a great job on the cushions…I love, love, love them and their embellishments. They will look fantastic sparkling in the sun! I personally also appreciate the mismatched button thing. It makes it much more personal. Now, for the tutorial. Anybody who couldn’t follow this needs a good notes rest. I must tell you, it’s great & not everyone is good at this even though they think they are apparently cause there are so, so many horrible ones. Thank you very much for sharing your know-how & your work. I really appreciate both. I think I told you that already!

Reply
Margaret

Thanks for sharing your talents! I love these cushions and am going to make some for chairs in my breakfast room! They are really neat!

Reply
Audrey Gray

Do you make these and sell them? I have four Tabouret (Tolix) chairs in desperate need of cushions, but I am not a sew-er. Do you have an Etsy store?
Thanks,
Audrey Gray

Reply
Holly

Hi, I am making a seat cushion to go in our craft room and the seat is in the shape of a circle. I didn’t know if that would it matter or not. Anyway, I was wondering how you came up with the dimensions for cutting the fabric. If the dimensions of the foam is 14″ 2″ than how did you come up with cutting 15.5″ fabric pieces? Did it wrap around tights? Thanks!

Reply
Joe

Hello, may I know how you finish the knit after you fill it with cushion? all the stitch are inside right?

Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *