More Custom Cushion Covers
A few months ago I made custom cushion covers for the bench seat cushions in our 2015 Roadtrek E-trek (see my custom cushion covers page). What I had failed to do was to make covers for the small, oddly-shaped armrest cushions. I decided to get out of the heat this week and work on this unfinished project.
The bench seat cushions had been fairly straightforward, but for the armrest cushions I had to make a template for the sides of the armrest. The dimensions of the cushion were 15″L x 9″W x 6″H. Unlike the cushions, which had six pieces (top, bottom, front, back, two sides), the armrest cushion had one piece for the front, top, and back, a bottom piece, and the two side pieces, which would have to be custom-cut. According to the instructions found at http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-zippered-cushion-covers-sides-75006.html, the fabric should be cut 1″ bigger to allow for seam allowances plus and additional 2″ to allow for zipper insertion. As always, measure twice (or more) and cut once!
I cut two bottom pieces measuring 16″L x 10″W and two top/front/back pieces measuring 16″L x 20″W. When I measured the cushion back to top to front, using a measuring tape rather than yardstick, it was about 18″ I added 2″ to allow for the zipper insertion and seam allowance. For the side pieces, I placed the cushion on the wrong side of the fabric and traced about 1″ bigger all around. Then I used this piece as a pattern for the remaining side, as well as the sides for the second armrest custom cushion cover.
I inserted the zipper between the bottom and top/front/back piece. There are many ways to insert a zipper (I followed the instructions in my sewing machine manual). With right sides together, I machine-stitched the other side of the bottom piece to the other side of the top/front/back piece. With right side inside, I slid the cover over the arm rest, aligning the zipper with the zipper that was on the original leather cushion (see picture below). Then I hand-basted one of the side pieces before attaching it on the machine. With zipper opened, I hand-basted and machine-stitched the second side piece. Before turning, I notched around the curves and corners. I turned it right-side-out via the zippered opening, inserted the cushion, and zipped it up.
