SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 31, 2015 22:57:51 GMT -8
Sometimes, it's just faster to hand sew. I'm in the process of making my fancy cushion covers with zippers and piping and they are looking good but no way I could finish them in time for my trip. I needed covers on my cushions NOW! Sew,  this is what I did. I had 8 yds of indoor/outdoor soil resistant fabric I purchased at Walmart a couple of years ago. It's very close woven and feels like a lightweight canvas. It was only 45' " wide to my surprise. I cut it in lengths just a little longer than my cushions. It was too wide for the top cushion so I cut it lengthwise and added a piece of that to the width for my bench cushion (I did use a sewing machine for that part). Then I wrapped my cushions like a Christmas present. I pulled the material very tight and pin basted it together. Then I whip stitched it together as fast as I could. Took me almost 30 minutes but I'm pretty handy with a needle and thread and I wasn't trying to make it look pretty. (I considered using duct tape instead of sewing but I think even duct tape has it's limits).     |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 31, 2015 23:13:30 GMT -8
Wish it matched the floor, table, etc. as well as it looks in the pic, but it does not. It's killing me I don't have my for real cushions finished.
And I'm not suggesting anyone use this method. It's not a professional job but it's a cover. It will protect my expensive foam and give us a nice clean comfy seat and bed. It's also a better alternative to throwing sheets over the foam which was a thought of mine, too.
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shastajeff
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1965 Shasta Compact - "Stu"
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Post by shastajeff on Sept 1, 2015 4:42:12 GMT -8
Lookin good, SusieQ! I'm still making changes to the cushions I made covers for. I made mine like long pillow cases and whip stitched the ends closed. Then found out I should have added batting on top of the foam. Undid the whip stitching and pulled the covers off and added batting. Found it impossible to get the covers back on without the batting bunching up. Decided to add zippers and undid the machine stitching enough to put the zipper in. Struggled pretty well putting the first zipper in when I found out there is such a thing called a zipper foot for the sewing machine. I'm self taught when it comes to sewing and didn't know that. Sure speeds things up when you use the right attachment.
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Sept 1, 2015 5:02:43 GMT -8
Are you kidding...they look great!
I could spend the rest of my life with a needle and thread and never have it look that good. When I bought our last camper I spread my wife's good sheets over the dirty fabric and called it home.
By the way, your woodwork looks great too.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Sept 1, 2015 5:29:57 GMT -8
shastajeff, I remember your cushions and your sewing machine. You did a great job, especially for someone with no sewing experience. I didn't realize you hand sewed your opening instead of putting a zipper in. That's impressive. I love zippers and cording. My old cushions had zippers but the top and bottom of both cushions was one piece, which connected the two. I don't know where they found material that wide! If you ever need to hand sew a closing shut again, try a blind stitch. It doesn't show and there are no threads for anything to get caught on. It's not as fast as a whip stitch. It's hard to do with the pull on the fabric but you can do a giant basting whip stitch and then go back and do a blind stitch. Zipper foot makes all the difference in the world, especially if you know how to use it. And if you have a zipper with the zipper pull attached, there's a trick to making it come out neat, too. Going back and adding a zipper is a little harder than putting one in before you sew it up.
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stanley
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still eager, not yet jaded!
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Post by stanley on Sept 1, 2015 6:55:21 GMT -8
Can I just send my foam to you, SusieQ, and let you run with it?
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Post by danrhodes on Sept 1, 2015 17:28:48 GMT -8
I always assumed that I would do my cushions like refinishing old chairs...foam and batting glued to thin plywood, with the fabric "present wrapped" like yours and stapled to the wood.
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this is what I did. 
