menu
Step 1: Calculate Fabric Required
FABRIC QUANTITY
The fabric required to make a piped zipped cushion is made up from the fabric to cover the cushion and the fabric to make the piping. We will calculate the quantities individually because you may want your piping to be in a contrasting fabric.
FABRIC TO COVER THE CUSHION:
The fabric required to cover the cushion is very easy to calculate.
- You will need 2 fabric panels each the same size and shape as the cushion pad
eg: For a 46cmx46cm cushion pad you will require 2 (46cmx46cm) fabric panels
CONSIDERATIONS:
- With a patterned fabric you may want to position your pattern in a certain place on the cushion cover. (this may require extra fabric)
- You may want the back of the cushion to be a different fabric to the front. (you need the same sized panel of each fabric)
FABRIC TO MAKE THE PIPING:
To make the cushion we need a continuous length of piping 5cm longer than the perimeter of the cushion pad .
eg: A 46cmx46cm cushion pad requires a length of piping 189cm long.
You will need a a strip of fabric 5cm wide and the length of the piping cord (it may need joins). To further complicate things the fabric strips need to be cut across the grain of the fabric at an angle of 45 degrees to the fabric roll (to enable the piping to bend in the right direction).
CONSIDERATIONS:
- You will want as few joins as possible in the piping fabric.
- If you are making everything from the same fabric, map out how you will where you will cut the piping and face panels from. Place a ruler at a 45deg angle to reserve this space before mapping out the squares for the cushion faces. Mark front and back panels with a vanishing marker or pin at each corner until you are happy you have placed them correctly.
Extra Help & Comments
Sew Helpful
Reply
Post your questions and comments here, we will reply so everyone can see the answer.
ReplyKate
How much seam allowance to you need? Or are the fabric panels EXACTLY the same size as the cushion?
I suppose if you want a soft cushion you would add a seam allowance but if a firmer cushion you would cut the panels the same size as the pad so it has to be squashed in quite tightly.
Sew Helpful
We use no seam allownace and cut the fabric panels the same size as the cushion as we don't like the cushions baggy and the pad moving around in them. We have made the videos for this tutorial and will hopefully have them edited and on the site in the next 4 to 5 days. You will them be able to see the how the cushion looks made with no seam allowance. Here are few a still images of the cushions made in the videos to give you and idea of their fullness, we are using feather pads.
sandra hoyte
How much fabric will I need to make 8 piped cushion pads 18 x18 in
Please thank you
Please thank you
Sew Helpful
There is a full set of written instructions above that explain how you calculate fabric quantity.
Alison kane
What size piping do I need for a box cushion cover
Sew Helpful
It varies and depends on what thickness piping you want. we use 4-5mm.
alex oconnor
how have you worked out that the piping fabric is + anther 5cm for a 46x46cm cushion pad?
Sew Helpful
We make the piping slightly longer as it makes it easier to attach, cut down and join together neatly in STEP 6 when making the cushion.
Your Question or Comment
Powered by Commentics
