Step by step- How to make a box cushion
- beth swade
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
First things first, what is a box cushion.
To me a box cushion is a cushion with a top, bottom and boxing or a border that goes around the edge of your cushion, the most common usage is for banquette seating or fitted cushions in windows or spaces your looking to make comfy. Lots of chairs especially modern ones will be some type of box cushion or have them incorporated in some way. The picture above is one I just finished which was 4 box cushions that sat within a wood frame that essentially had box cushions upholstered onto it.
If you would like to have a go at doing your own, try following my instructions below. I am thinking about adding as an option to my sewing lessons, so if anyone would fancy a one to one box cushion master class, let me know!!
Mark up & Cut
Mark up clearly all your pieces,
1- Top
2- Bottom
3- Boarder
4- 2 zip panels
5- optional piping
You need to decide on the size of your cushion and then add seam allowance, I add 1.5cm so therefore each peice will be 3cm bigger as it needs to be added for both sides.
For example if my cushion is going to be 8cm deep I need to make my border 11cm wide, and the zip panels will need to be 4cm + 3cm so 2 pieces that are 7cm wide.
Mark your fabric with something that will not smudge, sharpie might seem scary but its permanent so will not go anywhere! Check you cant see what ever you use to mark before, even Taylors chalk on the wrong fabric can be seen threw!
My most fave luxury item I have bought for my studio (apart from the button machine!!) Is my 150cm ruler! Such a game changer to be able to mark out the whole width of fabric- deffo worth it if your getting in the box cushion game!!
Notching and piping corners
Notch your pattern pieces.
Notch notch notch!!! What a weird word! So it doesn't matter so much with a little cushion like this, but notching is particularly important when your working on bigger cushions, to make sure that you don't loose alignment with your top and bottom piece. They want to stay exactly on top of each other, this will make sure you don't get wonky corners! So put your top and bottom piece together and mark every 20cm or so on the top and bottom, if your fabrics not fray-ish you can snip (as long as you don't go too close to your sewing line - stay smaller than 8mm)
PIPING!
Piping- if your having it!
Make up your piping, making sure that the flange (flappy bit) is the same as your seam allowance. Think about where any joins will be and avoid having them on the front edge. With your corners sew to 1.5cm before the end, snip and turn- hopefully the pics above show how important that snip is to take you round the corner!
Joining Piping- By joining your piping on the bias you spread the bulk of the join and makes it less lumpy. You need 4cm overlap (as my piping is 4cm wide) then you need to put your two bits of piping together, right-side to right-side at an L shape angle and stitch across (where the pin is in the second picture)
Don't be scared of zips. Easy zip hack!
Prepare your zip panel- Make your stitch the longest, mines 5… and sew your two zip panels together (right side to right side)
Put stitch back to normal, position zip under the seam you have just sewn, leave 3cm hanging out top. Feel with your fingers threw the fabric that the middle of plastic zip is in the middle of the seam. You can keep flicking the fabric over to check, where everything is (see second pic.
Once you have sewn both sides, carefully rip seam open to reveal your lovely zip!
Put on zip puller
Join it all together
Sew boarder panel in, manage where the zip will be, and then add the zip and join to border.
Clip your bottom panel in, this is where you must remember your notches and make sure that they are lined up.
Sew together with the bottom panel on the bottom.
PHEW DONE!!
Let me know if thats clear, I feel like its hard to explain everything in points sometimes! IRL workshop incoming so keep your eyes out- or sign up to my news letter if your interested :)
OR if your like NO WAY but would like a box cushion for your space drop me a message and I will book you in x
