DIY Boxed and Corded Cushions: A Step-by-Step Guide

Transform your living space with custom-made cushions! This comprehensive tutorial guides you through the process of creating beautiful boxed and corded cushions, perfect for a variety of applications. Whether you’re looking to enhance your kitchen chairs, bar stools, porch furniture, patio set, or even create cozy window seats, sofas, chairs, floor pillows, dog beds, doll beds, or cat beds, this step-by-step guide will empower you to craft personalized cushions that perfectly match your style and needs.

For a more contemporary aesthetic, you can easily omit the cord detailing while following the same fundamental construction techniques. The possibilities are endless!

Embrace the spirit of Spring by experimenting with vibrant, large graphic print fabrics for your interior cushions. Explore the exciting array of new outdoor fabrics designed to withstand the elements and add a touch of elegance to your outdoor spaces. The options are truly irresistible!

Let’s embark on this creative journey!

What You’ll Need: Essential Supplies for Cushion Creation

• Sewing machine
• Zipper foot (optional, but recommended)
• Fabric of your choice
• Foam for cushion filling (high-density foam is ideal)
• Scissors
• Batting (for added comfort and shape)
• Stuffing (fiberfill or similar, for corners and adjustments)
• Zipper (long enough for easy insertion and removal of the foam)
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Pins
• Thread that matches your fabric
• Cording (if you’re making corded cushions)
• Seam ripper (for correcting mistakes)
• Pencil or fabric marker
• Large sheet of paper or cardboard for creating a pattern (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Boxed and Corded Cushions

This detailed guide provides clear instructions and helpful tips to ensure your cushion-making project is a success.

Step 1: Pattern Creation and Fabric Cutting

Begin by creating a pattern for your cushion. You can use an existing cushion cover as a template, measure your foam cushion directly, or create your own custom dimensions. Remember to add seam allowances (typically 1/2 inch) to all sides.

Fold your fabric in half, wrong sides together, and trace your cushion pattern onto the fabric. This will ensure that you cut two identical pieces for the top and bottom of the cushion. Cut out the fabric pieces carefully, following your traced lines.

Step 2: Preparing the Boxing (Side Panel)

The boxing is the strip of fabric that connects the top and bottom pieces of the cushion, creating the “boxed” shape. Measure the perimeter of your cushion pattern. This will be the length of your boxing strip. Determine the desired height of your boxing (this will determine the thickness of your cushion). Add seam allowances to both the length and height of the boxing strip.

For example, if your cushion measures 40 inches x 30 inches x 5 inches, the front piece of the boxing could be cut from a width of fabric measuring 54 inches x 6 inches. The front piece wraps around the sides, approximately 7 inches on each side. Remember that ½ inch will be lost to seam allowance on each side. Two additional pieces measuring 25 inches x 6 inches can be stitched onto both short ends of the front boxing piece. It’s always better to have a little extra fabric than not enough.

Step 3: Assembling the Boxing

If your boxing strip needs to be pieced together, stitch the shorter strips to either end of the longer front boxing piece, creating one continuous strip. Use a ½ inch seam allowance and press the seams open.

Step 4: Creating the Zippered Closure

Divide the remaining boxing piece in half to create the zipper boxing. Stitch the zipper to one end of the zipper boxing pieces. This will create an opening for inserting and removing the cushion foam.

Step 5: Marking Center Points

To ensure accurate alignment, cut small notches to mark the center points of the top and bottom cushion cover pieces, the long boxing piece, and the zipper piece. These notches will serve as guides when pinning and sewing the pieces together.

Step 6: Attaching the Cording (Optional)

If you’re adding cording, align the raw edge of the cording lip with the raw edge of the cushion top piece. Starting in the middle of one long side, stitch the cording onto the top piece, all the way around. Use a zipper foot for easier stitching close to the cording.

Step 7: Navigating the Corners with Cording

At each corner, snip the lip of the cording to allow it to turn smoothly. Continue stitching close to the cording.

Step 8: Finishing the Cording Ends

When you come around to the starting point, cut the cording approximately two inches beyond the start of the stitched-down cording. Open the stitching about 1 1/2 inches, snip off the cording where it butts up to the other cording end, fold the fabric back and under, encasing the other end of the cord, and stitch down.

Tip: Reference online tutorials for visual aids on finishing cord ends.

Step 9: Repeat for the Bottom Piece

Repeat the cording attachment process for the bottom cushion piece.

Step 10: Assembling the Cushion Cover

Align the notches on the cushion top piece and the long boxing piece, pin the boxing to the cushion top, right sides together.

Step 11: Adding the Zippered Back

Match the notch on the zipper boxing piece to the notch on the back of the cushion top. Pin the corners of the zipper boxing to the corners of the cushion top. Pin all the way around and stitch, using a ½ inch seam allowance.

Tip: Always stitch with the smaller piece placed on top of the larger piece for better control.

Step 12: Completing the Boxing Loop

Anticipating where the open boxing end will meet the open zipper boxing end, pin and stitch them together so that the boxing is continuous all the way around the cushion.

Step 13: Attaching the Bottom Piece

Pin the cushion bottom piece in the exact same way as the top, matching notches and corners to keep the cushion straight. Stitch with a ½ inch seam allowance.

Step 14: Turning Right Side Out

Carefully turn the cushion cover right side out through the zipper opening. Use a point turner or similar tool to gently push out the corners and create a crisp, clean finish.

Step 15: Preparing the Foam

Get your foam cushion ready to be inserted into the cushion cover.

Step 16: Inserting the Foam

Scrunch and wrestle with the foam cushion to insert it into the cushion cover. This may require some patience and maneuvering.

Step 17: Adjusting the Cushion

Work the foam around inside the cover, adjusting the cushion cover to ensure the cushion looks uniform and smooth.

Step 18: Adding Extra Stuffing

Use extra stuffing in the corners to fill them out and give the cushion a plump, professional look.

Step 19: Zipping Up and Enjoying Your Creation

Zip up the back of the cushion cover and enjoy your new, handmade cushion!

Tip: If there’s extra space between the zipper and the foam, cut a strip of batting to fill in the extra space.

Fabric Shopping and Continued Learning

Start fabric shopping to gather materials for all the new cushions you’ll be making this Spring! With each cushion you create, the process will become easier and more enjoyable. Happy sewing!