1

Get materials ready

Cut your chosen fabric to size – for our cushion we cut 2 x 18″ squares to make a cover for an 18″ cushion. If you are using a patterned fabric, take time to work out where you want the design to sit before you start to cut.

Choose a ready-made piping to match. (or you can make your own piping using fabric and piping cord).

2

Begin to stitch piping

Use a zipper foot in your machine, as this will allow you to stitch close to a raised edge, like piping and zips.

Lay your piping with the cord facing inward and with the fabric the right side up. Using your zipper foot, stitch close alongside the piping cord.

3

Tackling the corners

You’ll need to bend the piping around the corner of your cushion as you sew. To fit the piping snuggly, snip into the piping fabric on the curves. Use pins to keep it in place as you sew, if you wish.

Don’t cut right up to the cord otherwise this may be visible when the cushion is finished.

4

Join up the piping

Once you have finished stitching the piping around your fabric square, it needs to be finished off.

Pull back the piping to expose the piping cord, and cut off about 1/2″. Smooth down the empty piping cord.

5

Complete the piping

To get a neat finish to your piping cord, fold the empty end of the piping cord over the other end, hiding all raw edges. Finish by stitching over the fold.

Optional: Switch to a standard machine foot and sew a zigzag stitch along the flange of the piping for neatness and to stop fraying.

6

Putting in the zip

With the piping in place, you’re now going to put in the zip, then stitch the cushion sides together.

Working with right sides together, sew about an inch along each edge of the bottom. The zip is going to go in to the space you’ve created here.

7

Prepare your zip

Use a zip in a matching colour for best results. Position the zip on the side where you have just stitched an inch each side.

You can pin the zip in place if you find this easier but it is not essential. Have the zip undone so that you can see that it is positioned correctly.

8

Stitch your zip

Making sure you’re using a zipper foot, stitch as close to the teeth of the zip as possible. If you have used pins, be careful to take them out as you stitch – don’t sew over them.

9

Sew the rest of the zip

Sew the other side of the zip in place in the cushion, stitching as close to the teeth as possible.

Again, you can pin the zip in place if you find this easier but it is not essential.

10

Join the cushion panels

Now you’re ready to sew up your cushion. Lay the panels right side together and find the edge of the sewn-in piping cord. You are going to sew the panels together on the outside of the piping cord.

11

Stitch the cushion panels together

Being careful to stitch on the edge at the outside of the piping cord, join the cushion panels, stitching as close as possible to the line of the piping cord.

12

Zigzag stitch the edges (optional)

Zigzag stitch the edges. This can be a good option for fabrics prone to fraying, such as tapestry or soft linens. However, depending on the fabric, this is not essential.

13

You’re finished!

Finally, turn the cushion the right way round and make sure to push out the corners out fully. Insert an 18″ feather or fibre cushion pad.

You now have a completed zipped, piped 18″ cushion!