How to Make a Flip-Open Chair Bed

Cut three 10-inch-thick pieces of foam to the right size using the electric knife. Two pieces of foam should be 36 inches square and the third piece should be 36 inches by 12 inches. Set the foam pieces aside.

Use the measuring tape to measure and cut fabric to cover the foam. You will need four 37-inch square pieces, ten 37-by-11-inch pieces, two 37-by-13-inch pieces and two 13-by-11-inch pieces.

Cut two pieces of fabric to use to attach the foam cushions to each other. Each piece should measure 37 inches by 8 inches. Set these aside.

Spread one 37-by-11-inch fabric piece flat on your work surface, right side facing up. Lay another 37-by-11-inch piece on top of it, lining up the 11-inch sides. The right sides of the fabric should face each other. Pin along the 11-inch side. Lay another 37-by-11-inch piece of fabric on top of the other end of the fabric and pin together along the 11-inch side.

Sew the pieces of fabric together along the 11-inch sides with a half-inch seam. You should have a "U" shape of fabric. Repeat with three more 37-by-11-inch pieces of fabric.

Pin the 37-inch sides of the U shape of fabric to three sides of one of the 37-inch squares, right sides facing each other. Sew the fabric together with a half-inch seam. Repeat with the other 37-inch sides and another 37-inch square of fabric, then repeat with the second U shape of fabric and the remaining two 37-inch squares. Turn the fabric right side out.

Place one 37-by-13-inch piece of fabric on top of one of the remaining 37-by-11-inch pieces, right sides facing in, lining up the 37-inch sides. Pin along the 37-inch side, the sew with a half-inch seam. Pin the other 37-by-13-inch piece of fabric to the other side of the 37--by-11-inch piece, then sew with a half-inch seam. Pin the remaining 37-by-11-inch fabric to the other end of the 37-by-13-inch piece and sew. Pin and sew the 37-inch edge of the 37-by-13-inch and 37-by-11-inch pieces together to make a fabric tube.

Pin one of the 13-by-11-inch pieces to the end of the fabric tube, right sides together. Line up the 11-inch sides of the 13-by-11-inch piece with the 11-inch sides of the tube. Stitch together with a half-inch seam, then turn right side out.

Slide the 36-inch squares of foam into the fabric covers, then slide the 12-by-36-inch piece of foam into the fabric tube.

Pin the remaining 37-by-11-inch pieces of fabric to the open ends of the 36-inch foam squares. Tuck the ends of the fabric under to conceal the raw edges. Hand sew the last piece of fabric to the foam cushion.

Pin the last 11-by-13-inch piece of fabric to the open end of the fabric tube, tucking the edges under to conceal the raw edges. Hand sew the fabric to the tube. You now have two covered 36-inch cushions and one covered 12-by-36-inch cushion.

Fold the two 37-by-8-inch pieces of fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing in. Stitch along the long side and along one short side, then turn right side out.

Turn the raw edges of the short, open side under and sew closed. Repeat with the second 37-by-8-inch piece.

Turn one of the 36-inch squares over and pin the piece of fabric to one 36-inch side, so that the fabric extends beyond the cushion by 3 1/2 inches. Hand sew the fabric to the cushion.

Press the other 36-inch cushion against the side of the first cushion, so that the fabric is lined up along one 36-inch edge of the second cushion. Hand sew the fabric to the cushion. Fold the fabric so that the second cushion rests on top of the first.

Pin the second piece of fabric to the top edge of the cushion on top, on the 36-inch side opposite the side with the first piece of fabric. Hand sew the fabric to the top edge of the cushion.

Pin the other 36-inch edge of the fabric to one 36-inch side of the 12-by-36-inch cushion, then hand sew it in place. Set the 12-by-36-inch cushion top on the top 36-inch square.

Push the 12-by-36-inch square off of the top cushion and pull the bottom cushion out from underneath to make a flat, 84-by-36-inch bed.