How to Make a Chair Pad With Velcro Closure

Measure the width and length of the chair seat. If your chair has an existing pad on it, use that to make your measurements.

Draw a square onto a sheet of paper or newsprint to make a pattern for your chair pad; the pattern should match the length and width of the chair seat. Draw a second pattern that measures another 3/4 inch on each side (so that a total of 1.5 inches is added to the length and width). Cut out both patterns with scissors

Place your smaller pattern on top of a piece of 1-inch-thick foam padding. Trace around the pattern with a marker, and then use a serrated or electric knife to cut out the foam padding. Set this aside.

Use your larger pattern to cut two pieces out of your home decor weight fabric. Trace around the pattern with a pencil on the wrong side of the fabric, and then cut out both pieces.

Cut a piece of Velcro adhesive that measures approximately 2 inches shorter than the width of your fabric. Peel apart the two pieces of Velcro, mentally labeling them piece A and piece B.

Fold down the back edge of one of your fabric pieces by 1/4 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric; this side of the cushion will be at the back of the chair seat when you finish. Press in place with an iron. Repeat this step with the other piece of fabric.

Line up Velcro piece A along the folded edge of one piece of fabric. Position the edge of the Velcro so that it is just within the folded edge of the fabric but overlaps or covers the inner edge of the fabric that you folded. Pin in place with straight pins. Repeat this with Velcro piece B on the other folded piece of fabric.

Use your sewing machine and thread to sew the Velcro strips to the fabric. Sew using a small zigzag stitch all around the perimeter of each piece of Velcro.

Position the two pieces of fabric together with the right sides facing each other. Pin the fabrics together all around the edges.

Cut two pieces of half-inch wide ribbon that each measure 12 inches long. Fold each piece in half and sandwich the fold between the layers of fabric, just outside the edges of the Velcro on both sides. Position the ends of the ribbon on the inside of the fabric "sandwich," and keep the folded portion in between the outer edges of the fabric so that you can sew over it.

Use your sewing machine to sew the chair pad cover. Start on the Velcro edge on one end of the Velcro, and sew all the way around the other three sides of the chair pad cover, stopping when you reach the other end of the Velcro. Use a straight stitch positioned one-fourth inch in from the edge of the fabric, going through both layers of fabric and catching the ribbon folds in the seam when you get to that point. Go back over the edge of the seam with a zigzag stitch to stabilize it.

Remove the pins and turn the fabric right side out. Use your fingers to fully push out the corners of the fabric, and then insert the foam pad through the open side where the Velcro is located. Close the Velcro by pushing the two halves together, and use the ribbon ties to tie the pad to the rungs on the back of the chair.