cushion cover | Yuki Clothing

I think there’s something very appealing about recycling. I like to think that it saves both the planet and my money. Of course, it’s not always that the idea that looked amazing in my head turns out great in reality. However, this particular one is one that I’m very pleased with. At first, I was planning on selling two of them on Etsy but before I even finished making all of them, my mother-in-law exclaimed “I wanna buy them! They would look great in our summer-house!”

Material-wise, this isn’t a cheap project but if you’ve got a bunch of jeans to sacrifice you’re good to go.

For one50x50cm cushion cover you’ll need:

A lapped zipper

25 12x12cm squares of mixed denim
52x52cm lining fabric for the front side
some denim for the back side (amount is dependent on how/where you insert the zipper
1 zipper ~47cm

Sew the squares together (if in doubt, check out how I made the bedspread). Don’t forget to press the seams!
Measure and cut the lining fabric.
Serge (or zigzag) the lining together with the front.
Sew the zipper (I used a lapped zipper here)
Sew front and back sides with their right sides facing together. Don’t forget to open up the zipper or you’ll have trouble turning it right sides out.
Press and you’re done!

and 4 cushion covers!

As I sit down to write about my latest project I can’t help but smile as my mind wanders off to that episode of Coupling where Susan and Steve are trying to buy a sofa but Steve goes off on a rant about the devious cushions. It’s pretty hilarious but you know what’s worst about his rant? It’s that he’s actually, to large extent, right. :) Have a look for yourself. Here’s a link to YouTube.

This cushion project isn’t for myself but for my mum. She bought this designer fabric and asked me to make her a 60x60cm large cover. To begin with, I cut the fabric into two 63x63cm pieces (1.5cm seam allowance). Since I only had a normal zipper and not an invisible one, I wanted to hide it a bit. With the zipper being slightly smaller (around 50cm), I began by sewing the pieces face sides together but leaving an opening for the zipper (slightly smaller than 50cm). With the iron, press a crease where there would’ve been a seam if not for the zipper. Then place the zipper under the opening and pin it in place.

From the front side, sew the zipper in place. I often feel that the fabric stretches a bit and to counter this, I never sew around the zipper. Instead I sew one side first, then start again from the top and sew the other side. This way the zipper will be equally “crooked” on both sides :) My narrow presser foot is 0.5cm wide and steering it close and parallel to the zipper gives me a nearby perfect seam.

Here’s how the zipper looks at this stage! Will you look at that insanely good pattern matching! The funniest thing is that I didn’t even notice it until now that I was going through the pictures.

Sewing the zipper was the hard part. Now just pin the cushion cover with face sides together and sew all the way around. Don’t forget to open up the zipper a bit, it makes things a bit easier later on. Finish the edges with zigzag or a serger if you’ve got one.

Last by not least, turn the wonderful creation right side out! I like to use my cooking chopsticks for the corners. They’re small enough to do a good job but blunt enough to not damage the fabric.