Made-to-measure sewing pattern
Cushion cover sewing pattern for any size cushion
Enter the size of your cushion insert and choose an envelope back with no fastening, or a zip. The front and back are drafted from the insert size with seam allowances included, so it is a quick first project.
- Level
- Beginner
- Sewing time
- 1 hour
- Pieces
- 2
- Fabric
- 1.00 m × 150 cm
Styles and options
Make the cushion cover your way
Each style changes how the pieces are drafted. Pick one to open it in the studio.
- Insert width
- 20–100 cm (default 45)
- Insert height
- 20–100 cm (default 45)
- Closure
- Envelope back, Zipper + waistband
Fabric requirements
How much fabric do I need for a cushion cover?
Main fabric to buy for the 45×45 cm cushion cover, worked out from the actual cutting layout. Amounts are rounded up; the studio recalculates them for your measurements and design.
| Size | Finished size | 150 cm wide fabric | 110 cm wide fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 × 40 cm | 0.90 m · 1 yd | 0.90 m · 1 yd | |
| 45 × 45 cm | 1.00 m · 1 1/8 yd | 1.00 m · 1 1/8 yd | |
| 50 × 50 cm | 1.10 m · 1 1/4 yd | 1.10 m · 1 1/4 yd | |
| 60 × 60 cm | 1.20 m · 1 3/8 yd | 1.70 m · 1 7/8 yd | |
| 30 × 50 cm | Lumbar | 0.80 m · 7/8 yd | 0.80 m · 7/8 yd |
Suggested fabrics
- Home-dec cotton
- Linen
- Velvet
- Quilting cotton
Also needed (size M)
- All-purpose polyester thread1 spool, matching colour
- Cushion insert45×45 cm
What's in the pattern
Pieces, measurements and step-by-step instructions
Everything that comes with the 45×45 cm cushion cover: 2 pattern pieces, the finished measurements and the full sewing order.
Pattern pieces
- ACover frontCut 1
- BEnvelope backCut 2 (1 mirrored pair)
Finished measurements (size M)
- Fits insert45 cm × 45 cm
Sewing instructions
Prepare5 steps
- 01
Pre-wash your fabric
Wash and dry the fabric the way you will launder the finished project, then press it flat. This removes shrinkage before you cut.
- 02
Print and check scale
Print the pattern at 100% ("actual size", no scaling). Measure the test square: it must be exactly 10 cm (the small square is 1 inch). Trim and tape the pages following the page grid.
- 03
Lay out and cut
Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, selvage to selvage, right sides together. Follow the cutting layout: keep every grainline parallel to the selvage, and put pieces marked "place on fold" right against a fold. Cut lining and interfacing pieces as shown in their own layouts.
- 04
Transfer the markings
Snip 3 mm into the seam allowance at each notch. Mark dart legs, dart points and other placement marks with chalk or a washable marker on the wrong side.
- 05
Seam allowances
Seam allowance is 1.5 cm unless the piece says otherwise. Hem allowances are already included on hem edges. Sew with right sides together (RST).
Sew4 steps
- 01
Hem the envelope edges
On each B (Envelope back), press the top edge under 2 cm twice and stitch close to the fold.
- 02
Layer the pieces
Lay A (Cover front) right side up. Place one back piece on top, right side down, aligned with the top edge, and the second aligned with the bottom edge so the hemmed edges overlap in the middle.
- 03
Sew the cover
Pin and sew around all four sides, backstitching over the overlap for strength.
- 04
Clip and turn
Clip the corners diagonally, finish the seam allowances, turn right side out and push the corners out. Insert the cushion.
Finish2 steps
- 01
Final press
Press every seam from the inside with steam, then give the outside a light press using a pressing cloth.
- 02
Check the fit
Try it on (or test it) and make small adjustments now. Note any changes on your pattern for next time.
These are the instructions for the design shown. The studio rewrites them for the options you choose.
Questions
About the cushion cover pattern
Envelope back or zip: which is better?
An envelope back is the quickest and needs no fastening: two overlapping back panels hold the cushion in. A zip gives a neater, tighter finish and makes the cover easy to take off for washing.
How much fabric do I need for a cushion cover?
For the 45×45 cm cushion cover, buy 1.00 m (1 1/8 yd) of 150 cm wide fabric, or 1.00 m (1 1/8 yd) of 110 cm wide fabric. The chart on this page lists common sizes, and the studio recalculates it for your own measurements, design and fabric width.
What fabric is best for a cushion cover?
Good choices for the 45×45 cm cushion cover are home-dec cotton, linen, velvet and quilting cotton. The studio updates the suggestions when you change the design, for example between knit and woven.
How long does it take to sew a cushion cover?
The 45×45 cm cushion cover is rated Beginner and takes about 1 hour, not counting printing and cutting. The pattern comes with step-by-step instructions written for its pieces.
Describe the cushion cover you have in mind
Write it the way you would say it. The studio drafts it in your size.