DIY Cushion Tops on a Chest

Turn a low chest into a cozy bench by sewing a box cushion for the top. Lengths of fabric, called welts, are sewn to the top and bottom cushion pieces to create extra depth. Depending on your sewing machine skills, you can make a simple box cushion in about an hour.

Measuring for the Cushion Pieces

• 1

  Measure the length of the chest top. Add 2 inches to the length of the top and bottom pieces of the cushion. This is the modified length.

• 2

  Measure the width of the chest top. Add 2 inches to this measurement for the width of the top and bottom of the cushion. This is the modified width.

• 3

  Place the fabric on the table. Fold the fabric so the right sides are touching, and the wrong side is facing up. Folding the fabric allows you to cut two rectangles at the same time.

Drawing and Cutting the Cushion Pieces

• 1

  Measure and draw a rectangle measuring the modified length by the modified width, using chalk. Cut out the rectangle. Slide your scissors inside the fold to separate the fabric into two rectangles. These are the cushion's top and bottom. You'll need approximately 3 yards of fabric for most chests.

• 2

  Draw two rectangles measuring the modified length by 4 inches. Cut out the rectangles. These are the cushion's front and back welts.

• 3

  Draw two rectangles measuring the modified width by 4 inches. These are the cushion's right and left welts, or sides.

Sewing the Cushion

• 1

  Place the four welts in a row with the side, front, side and back welts touching end to end. The wrong side of the fabric should face up.

• 2

  Place a side welt on top of a front welt with the fabric print touching. Align the edges. Pin the right end of a side welt to the right side of a front welt. Unfold and place the other side welt on top of the front welt with the fabric print touching. Pin the end of the side welt to the unattached end of the front welt. Pin the remaining back welt to the previous side welt. You'll have a strip of pinned rectangles: side, front, side, back.

• 3

  Sew the strip together using a 1-inch seam allowance and straight stitch. Remove the pins.

• 4

  Align the right welt with the right-end edges of the cushion top. Pin horizontally. Continue aligning and pinning the edges of the welt strip with the cushion top. The cushion top and welts will begin to resemble a box.

• 5

  Sew the strip to the cushion top using a 1-inch seam allowance and straight stitch. Remove the pins. Continue sewing along the pinned edges to join the welts with the cushion top. The cushion top now resembles a box.

• 6

  Align the right welt with the right end edges of the cushion bottom. Pin horizontally. Continue aligning and pinning the edges of the welt strip with the cushion bottom. Leave a 5-inch opening along the back welt near one corner. Remove the pins.

• 7

  Sew the welts to the cushion bottom using a 1-inch seam allowance and straight stitch. Continue sewing along the pinned edges to join the welts with the cushion bottom. Don't sew the 5-inch opening closed. Remove the pins.

• 8

  Reach inside through the 5-inch opening. Turn the cushion cover right-side out. Stuff the cushion through the opening. Make sure you stuff the corners. Fill until the cushion reaches the desired appearance. Fold the edges of the opening inside. Pin the opening closed. Sew it closed with a ¼-inch seam allowance and straight stitch. Remove the pins.

• 9

  Cut a nonslip rubber drawer liner to the measurements of the chest top. Place the nonslip liner on the chest. Place the cushion top on the nonslip liner.