Upholstery Fabric (for bench slipcover and pillows)
Poly-fil® (for pillow forms)
Optional for Bench Cover:
3/4" x 1" Elastic (additional straps for long benches)
Velcro (same width as elastic)
Cord Locks, suitable for 1/4" elastic (2)
DIRECTIONS:
NOTE: Use 1/2" seam allowance. Zig zag stitch all edges of fabric that frays.
Measure W x L of bench. Cut one upholstery fabric, top panel, W + 1" x L + 1".
Measure thickness of foam and bench top.
Add measurements together + 1/2".
Measure depth of return under bench (best to have at least 1" to cinch slipcover in place) + 1".
Add all measurements together for H of side panels.
Cut four upholstery fabric side panels 2 @ W + 1" x H, 2 @ L + 1" x H. On wrong side of side panels mark 1/2" down from top edge and 2" up from the bottom edge. The 2" mark is for a bench that has 1" of return space under the bench. This is space for a 3/4" channel for elastic.
Right side together short ends of side panels to create a loop. Sew 1/2" seam allowance starting at the 1/2" mark (top of sides) and ending at the 2" mark (bottom of sides). Press seams open. Topstitch 1/4" from seam from top to bottom of panels.
Create channel for elastic. Lay side panels wrong sides up. At seam fold bottom edge of fabric up at 45 degree angle away from the seam. Repeat for opposite side of seam.
Baste in place with one line of stitching from one side to the other. Backstitch at crossover of original seam between side panels. Repeat for all corner seams.
Wrong sides together fold the bottom edge of the side panels up to the 2" mark.
Sew 1/4" from the cut edge. This should create a 3/4" W channel for elastic with corners that will lay flat under the bench when fabric is cinched together.
Place top panel and side panels RST matching corners. Flare sides at seams to match sides of top. Sew 1/2" seam allowance.
Trim corners. Press seam toward sides. Topstitch on sides, 1/4" below seam.
Insert 1/4" elastic through channel on sides. Attach safety pins to each end of elastic, one end to guide elastic through channel, the other end to secure to fabric. Leave elastic long. When elastic is through channel overhand knot ends together or slide ends through two cord locks on opposite diagonal corners then overhand knot the ends together. Turn cover right side out.
Place slipcover over bench top. Pull on elastic to cinch fabric tight under frame. Overhand knot elastic to secure or slide cord locks tight. Tuck ends of elastic under fabric. Settle fabric corners to lay flat.
Bolster Pillows:
1/2" Seam allowance unless noted. Zig zag stitch all raw edges if fabric frays. The short side of rectangles is the width of the bench + 1".
Determine diameter of pillows. For reference, pictured bench is 18" W x 56" L with 5 1/2" thickness of bench cushion with bench frame. Pillows were made 18" L x 7" diameter with 2 1/4" W straps.
Cut 4, 4" L strips of 3/4" Velcro.
Upholstery Fabric and Muslin:
Cut 4 circles 1" larger than finished diameter.
Cut two rectangles the circumference of the finished circle + 1" x the width of the bench + 1".
Construct pillow forms from muslin. Right sides together sew short edges of muslin rectangles leaving 4" open in the center to turn. Mark quarters of circles and quarters of ends of rectangles. Sew circles to ends matching quarter marks. Turn right side out. Fill with Poly-fil. Hand stitch opening close. Repeat. Set aside.
Construct pillow covers from upholstery fabric. Cut two straps the desired width of the strap x 2 + 1/2". The length of the straps is determined by adding: 2 X the thickness of the seat cushion and bench frame + the width of the bench + 1/2" (to attach inside the front seam of the bolster pillow) + 5 1/2" (1/2" Seam allowance at end and 5" that will have Velcro to attach strap to the underside of the pillow). Fold right sides together. Sew 1/4" Seam allowance. Press seam open centered on one side. Sew one end closed. Trim corners. Turn right side out. Repeat.
Place Velcro strips flush with one another. Add two strips of one side of Velcro to the no seam side of strap. Start Velcro 1/2" in from finished end of strap. Repeat. Add two strips of opposite side of Velcro to the RS of rectangle. Position 2 1/4" in and parallel to one short side. Start the ends of Velcro 1 1/2" in from long side of rectangle. Reverse and repeat for second pillow (same long side but 2 1/4" from opposite short side).
Baste short raw end of strap, seam side to right sides of side rectangle. Set strap 2" in from short side (opposite long side from Velcro on rectangle) lining up raw edges. Repeat.
Set zippers. Put Right sides together of the short sides of rectangle. Sew tight stitch 2" from either end, baste the center. This will create a tube. Open seam and press. Set zipper wrong sides down centered on seam. Start and stop zipper 2" from ends of seam. Use zipper foot to sew on either side. Remove baste stitch. Open zipper. Repeat.
On wrong sides of circles mark quarters. If directional print is used mark the top center of the print as the first quarter mark. The opposite mark on the circle should line up with the center of the Velcro on the tube side panel. On wrong sides of ends of tube side panel mark quarters starting at the center of the Velcro strips (bottom of the pillow). Right sides together sew circle to end of tube matching quarter marks. Repeat. Turn right side out.
Topstitch circle seams toward side rectangles, 1/4" from seam. Insert pillow form.
Set the pillows on the bench with the attached strap toward the front of the bench. Wrap the strap under the bench and back up and under the back of the pillow. Press the Velcro strips together to secure the pillow to the bench. Repeat.
JOANN HACKS:
Cord locks may be added to the ends of elastic that runs through the channel of the slipcover. This will allow the elastic to be easily adjusted. A large eye needle may be used to thread the ends of elastic through the lock.