Sewing a Bench Cushion with Piping
Yes, you can sew your custom bench cushions and add cute piping trim to it. It’s not hard and I’ll show you how easy Sewing a Bench Cushion with Piping can be.
Sewing a Bench Cushion with Piping
Before you run screaming, “I can’t sew to save my life!”, let me tell you I thought sewing a bench cushion was going to be difficult. But, I thought sewing a bench cushion with piping would be next to impossible. Little did I know, once I figured out an easy way to create the box, it was actually very easy!
My Secret Fabric Source:
Before we get started I wanted to let you in on a little secret: The bench cushion and side table fabrics you see below are shower curtains!
You read that right. Shower curtains are not only inexpensive, but they are durable and can stand up to moisture. This makes them perfect for outdoor use. I bought both of these at fabric shower curtains at Target for under $20 each!
 Materials:
(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)
- 3″ foam cushion
- Batting to cover foam
- Thread to match cushion
- Fabric to cover all six sides of your cushion (or inexpensive shower curtain)
- Sew-in velcro strips
- Sharpie marker
- Pins
- Piping trim (tutorial for making your own less expensive piping)
- Sewing machine with zipper foot
- Iron
- Scissors
- Batting (if you are cutting your own foam)
Okay, let’s get started!
Preparing the Foam Cushion
Lay your foam on top of the bench. Mark a line where you need to trim.
Use an electric carving knife to cut through the foam.
Wrap batting around your foam. Then trim the edges down to size. I had enough to put two layers on top of the foam and one layer on the bottom. This will make for a cushier and less “squared” cushion.
Cutting out the pieces
1. Lay out your fabric (err, I mean, shower curtain) folded in half. Place your cushion on top. Trace around the cushion about 3/4″ wider on all sides.
Cut through the two layers. This will give you the top and bottom panels for your cover.
2. Next cut out four strips of fabric for the sides. Cut your lengths 2″ longer than your cushion.
If your foam is 3″ and you use 1-2 layers of batting, you can use these measurements for your strips:
- Front: 4.25″ wide  by length + 2″
- Sides (left and right): 4.25″ wide by length + 2″
- *Back: 5.5″ wide by length + 2″
- *Back Fold Over Flap: 3.5″ wide by length + 2″
*The back is wider and has two strips because we need to sew an overlapping flap and velcro to make the cover removable.
Assembling the sides
1. Wrap the 4 strips around your cushion right sides facing in. (Reserve the back fold over piece for later.) Pin the edges where they meet at your cushion corners. The back strip should line up with the sides on the one edge. But, the other edge will extend 1.25″ taller than the rest.
2. Remove the sides and stitch where the pins are. When you get to the back strip, fold over the excess so it matches the same height as the rest of the strips.
Then stitch along the back strip’s folded over fabric to secure it.
Set your sides aside for now. It is time to pin the piping to your cushion top.
Adding the Piping
(Tutorial for Making Your Own Piping Here)
1. Lay the top panel right side up on top of the cushion. Pin the piping on top of the fabric. Line up the piping with the edges of the cushion. Be sure the raw edge of your piping is facing the raw edge of the fabric.
When you reach a corner, snip into the raw edge of the piping all the way (but not through) the rope piping. Then turn your piping at a clean 90 degree angle and continue pinning.
When you reach the beginning of your pinned piping, simply overlap the two about 2″ and cut off the excess.
Your top should look like this:
2. Set the top panel on your sewing machine and sew the piping into place. Your needle will be very close to the piping, but it shouldn’t stitch into the rope. This is where your zipper foot really helps!
Carefully sew and backstitch over the place where your piping overlaps.
Connecting the top and sides
1. Lay your top panel onto the cushion. Pick up your sides and begin pinning them to the top of the cushion. The hem on the back side should be facing up and away from the piping. Position your pins close to the piping but not on top of it. Try to line up the corners of your sides with the 90 degree corners of your piping.
2. Stitch the sides onto the top piece. Again, your needle will be very close to the piping but not over it. This is a little trickier because you can’t see the piping, but you can feel it. Just use your fingers to guide you. (Piping shown by the red arrowed line below.)
Turn your top cover right sides out and test the fit on your cushion.
Repeat the steps above for “adding the piping” for your bottom cover.
Adding the back flap
1. NOW, pick up that back fold over strip that has been sitting all by its lonesome. Fold the edges over twice on three sides (2 short and 1 long) to hem your flap. Press the hem with an iron.
Go ahead and stitch along the folded hem to secure it.
2. Center and pin the flap along the back edge of the bottom panel (right sides together) as shown. The raw edges should be facing out.
3. Stitch the back flap onto the bottom panel next to the piping. About an inch or so of the panel will extend on both ends. Leave it loose so it can tuck inside the cushion.
3. Turn your top panel and sides wrong sides out and put your cushion inside it. Then lay your bottom panel on top as shown.
Pin the bottom panel to the sides just like you did for the top panel. This time leave the back side unpinned (where your two flaps overlap.)
4. Now is a good time to trim any excess from your previously stitched seams. (There will be a lot of fabric on the sewing machine, and this is just one less piece that could get caught while stitching.)
Trim off the corners at an angle.
Ever so carefully, peel the pinned cover off the cushion.
5. Stitch along the two sides and front of your cover. Leave the back length of the cover open. Remember, use your fingers to feel for the piping.
6. Turn the cover right side out and slide the cushion into the cover.
Check the fit and make sure you don’t have any stray fabric that might have gotten caught while sewing.
You should have an opening in the back like this.
Adding the velcro closure
1. Take out your coordinating velcro tape.
Pin the hook and loop velcro tape onto the backside and the back fold over flap. I used 4 strips of 3″ velcro evenly spaced along the length of the opening.
2. Stitch the velcro onto the cushion. You can use a zig-zag stitch for extra strength (if you have destructive little boys like I do!)
Check the fit of the velcro.
3. If everything looks good, you can turn the cover inside out and trim off any excess raw edges. Then turn the cover right side out and insert your cushion.
And that’s it! You are done and you have a professional-looking, washable, piped slipcovered cushion! Phew, say that 10 times fast. Now you know how easy Sewing a Bench Cushion with Piping can be!
Want to see the rest of my screen porch makeover? I spent less than $125, that’s what I call an extreme budget!
I’d also love to have you join me for some more easy sewing tutorials!
On a personal note: This week will be a busy one, I have several projects to start; several to finish; I need to pull a permit and I REALLY need to order a refrigerator. If you have one you absolutely love, I’m open to your suggestions. Currently, we have an 18 year old side by side. I’m thinking a 25 cu ft or larger french door fridge might be better suited to a growing family of boys.
Pin for later!
Is the shower curtain fabric waterproof? I am looking to make a cover for an outdoor swing bed. (It will be double encased in waterproof covers.)
Thank you so much for these amazing instructions! They are so much clearer than anything else I have seen online and the pictures to go with each step are a huge help. I am pretty new to sewing and have just finished my first bench cushion cover and I am so pleased! I definitely couldn’t have done it without your help, so thank you very much!
Lucy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m so glad you found my directions helpful. And I’m even more excited you were successful with your cushion! You go girl.
Brittany, thank you! Been sewing home décor for years, and never knew how to add piping to box pillows. I’m making a mud-room bench seat and a window seat, and have all the materials, so now I can get started. Really appreciate this tutorial.
We bought a Sears Kenmore Elite with ‘Grab & Go’ door on the right side . What I like about it is you only need to open the outer part of the grab-n-go door to reach for smaller things, like beverages, yogurt, condiments, without having to open the whole door. real energy efficient. It has French doors on top, and a single pull out bottom freezer door, with 2 drawers inside! ‘The ice and water dispenser is designed very neatly, and the door is still very slim. There’s so much room in this fridge, with a wide deli drawer, you’d be surprised how much it can hold. I love it, it has great value, and a modest price depending on the size.
Hello,
Thank you for your ideas and skills… I want to try this but need to get a new sewing machine (mine was damaged in Hurricane Sandy…) – what sewing machine do you use? I don’t think I will will use anything heavier than denim or upholstery cotton… I would love you r help.
Thank you,
Linda
Linda, I have this Brother sewing machine: http://amzn.to/1U2fhvp I’ve had it for over 5 years and it is a great machine for the price!
very nice tutorial. I’m getting ready to remake my kitchen chair box cushions using duck cloth. I didn’t do a very good job the first time around, so I am going to follow your tutorial. Questions for you- Sometimes, instructions say to make the top and bottom pieces 1/2″ smaller than the foam to prevent wrinkling. Is this the case with duck cloth? Can you provide me with instructions for inserting velcro straps for attaching the cushions to chairs? I plan to use a contrasting duck cloth for the welting and straps.
Do you think I could use this to cover 10 foot long cushions?
Hello Brittany, Thank you so much for the great tutorial. This is just what I was looking for. I recently learned the basics of sewing (don’t know piping as yet) and own a very basic machine so the DIY trick for piping that you have explained is just ingenious. I had one question though: are the target shower curtains %100 cotton? If yes are they really moisture resistant? Just wondering what I have to look for in the store.
Thank you.
Sharmilla, to tell you the truth I’m not sure if the fabric is sprayed or just a water resistant material.
Thank you so much for your thorough step-by-step tutorial. I made 2 bench cushion seats for our newly custom-built window reading nook and it looks amazing. We saved so much $ by making it ourselves. I can’t believe I did it! And it’s all thanks to you 🙂 I did leave out the piping, but with my new-found confidence, perhaps I will tackle that for my next bench cushion!!
Hi there,
I just want to know where you got the memory foam cushion for, I checked Joanne Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and didn’t see that for sale.
Diana, I didn’t use Memory foam, it is regular foam. And you have to watch for the sales. I bought mine at JoAnn’s.
Hi there, I just found this while looking for help as a novice seamstress trying to make a cushion seat for a reading book my husband made each of our girls for Christmas. I see you are in the Raleigh area. So am I. Any chance you might be interested in a demo?!?!
Thank you soooo much!!! Your hole explanation is just perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!