Making Down-Filled Upholstery Cushions

Measure the old cushion, or if making a new cushion, measure the area where the cushion needs to fit. Add 1 inch to each dimension.

Spread the quilted upholstery fabric on the work table, and mark out the dimensions with the tailor's chalk. Place the quarter on the fabric, lining up the edges of the quarter with the corner marks. Draw around the little triangular area that forms to round the corners of the cushion. Measure the outer diameter of the drawn lines, add 1 inch, and make a rectangular strip 5 inches wide by the outer diameter's length. Mark the rectangle out on the fabric with tailor's chalk.

Cut out the two square pieces with the rounded corners, and the rectangle, with the scissors.

Fold one 5-inch end of the rectangle under 1/2 inch and secure the fold with quilting pins. Set the end in the middle of one of the square's sides with the fabric's right sides together. The rectangle's center seam will be the back edge of the cushion. If the fabric has an obvious pattern, make sure the rectangle starts at the back. Pin the rectangle to the square.

Sew all the way around the cushion, making a 1/2 inch seam allowance and removing the pins as you go. Overlap the unfolded end of the rectangular cushion edge when you get to the end.

Pin the other square of cushion fabric to the long, raw edge of the rectangular edge piece. Sew all the way around the edge of the square, again removing the pins as you sew. Sew around the cushion a second time using either a zigzag or other finishing stitch to prevent feather poking through the seams. Remove the pins from the end of the rectangular piece if they are still in place.

Gently turn the cushion cover right side out by tugging it through the opening in the rectangular edge piece. Fill the cushion with down through the opening you used to turn the cover.

Thread the hand sewing needle with an 18-inch piece of hand sewing thread. Knot the end of the thread and make very small slip-stitches by poking the needle straight through the folded edge and into the other end of the fabric. Move the needle forward catching about four of the thread-like fabric fibers and poking the needle straight through into the original side.

Continue making tiny stitches until you reach the end of the opening. Secure the end of the thread by placing at least three stitches in the seam line, right on top of one another.