Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Difficulty level Beginner
Time to Complete Evening
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Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project
Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Join our overlocker expert Rebecca and her granddaughter Lemara in upcycling an old shirt into a lovely cushion cover. Now is a great time to recycle garments you no longer wear and get the kids sewing! Here is Rebecca’s project…
 
As we are spending more time at home, this is the perfect opportunity to get out the sewing machine or overlocker and start stitching.

My granddaughter, Lemara, is here with me and is dying to use my Bernina overlocker to make something. The only problem is that we are low on fabrics and the shops are closed.

However, this is a great time to use any scraps of fabric you may have around the home or why not recycle garments you no longer wear and put them to good use on the machines. Lemara wants to make a cushion for her bed using one of her school shirts, making a good point that she won’t be needing it for some time, with her usual cheeky but irresistible smile. I agreed, so that’s decided - we are going to make a simple cushion cover out of a shirt. No zips included so it’s ideal for a beginner. We will be using one of our cushions at home for this project.

You can use any overlocker, just make sure that you set it up for 4 thread (seaming and neatening).
 

You will need:

  • Bernina overlocker with four reels of thread or a sewing machine
  • Suitable fabrics, you can use: polyester, nylon, cotton, linen, jersey, polycotton
  • One cushion
  • A fabric marker or pencil
  • A ruler or tape measure
  • Dressmaking pins
  • Scissors
Find out more about the Bernina overlocker range here.

Click here to visit the Bernina online shop.
 

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Stage 1

Turn the shirt inside out and place it on a flat surface with the front of the shirt facing upwards towards you.

Stage 2

Now lay the cushion on the shirt making sure the cushion is central to the centre line of buttons on the shirt.

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Stage 3

Using a tape measure or a ruler, measure the width and length of the cushion and write this down. You should make some allowance in your measurements so that the cushion fits comfortably. Lemara added 2cm extra on all four sides.

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Stage 4

Using a marker and a ruler, draw the lines where you made the allowance for your cushion then use pins to keep the both sides of the shirt together for cutting.

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Stage 5

If you are using a sewing machine, place the fabric under the foot of the machine and remove any buttons that may be in the way of your sewing - you can hand sew them back on once your cushion is finished. Once you have sewn down one side simply sew down the 2nd, 3rd etc until all 4 sides are finished. You can neaten the edges with a zig-zag.

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Lemara is using the overlocker which will seam, neaten and cut away the excess fabric. She will guide the fabric so that half a centimetre (0.5cm) will be trimmed away. She has made sure that the pins are far to the left so as not to risk damage to the blade. If you are using a sewing machine, set it to a straight stitch and remember to leave an allowance to neaten with a zig-zag stitch.

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Stage 6

As Lemara is using the overlocker she sews to the end of the fabric, she continues to chain off then turn the fabric, place it back under the overlocker foot then sew the 2nd, 3rd etc until all 4 sides are seamed and neatened in one easy step.

Stage 7

Once your newly converted cushion cover is finished, you can undo the buttons, turn it the right way around and put your cushion inside.

Place it on your bed, stand back and admire your creation!

I hope you find this project fun and simple to do, it’s something that the whole family could get involved with!

Picture: Rebecca's Upcycled Cushion Project

Make sure to regularly check the Bernina UK Team projects page as we will be bringing you LOTS of fabulous new projects to inspire you throughout your isewlation!