The Best Advice I was Given for Making a Cushion with a Hidden Zip
sewing lesson edinburgh
cushion cover
making a cushion
cushion making
make your own cushion
cushion session
how to make a cushion with a zip
bespoke cushions luxury soft furnishings scotland
cushion making luxury fabric
cushion mairi helena
I have been busy making samples cushions for my new Spring 2016 collection with my trusty sewing machine in my Edinburgh studio!I particularly wanted a a hidden zip closure for my cushions, I think this looks neater and more stylish! I thought I'd share a few photos from my sewing machine escapades as well as the way I have found easiest for making a cushion with a hidden zip.A step by step guide for making a cushion with a hidden zip:My cushion making checklist: fabric cut to symmetrical size, a suitably sized zip, matching thread, chalk, ruler, scissors, iron, sewing machine and zip foot.Start out by ensuring your cushion fabric material and zip are neatly ironed (think this is the only time I ever get out an iron!!)Turn back and press a 1.5cm seam allowance for the cushion fabric sample front and back panel Ensure that you match the middle of the zip to the middle of the fabric edge and align the zip to the fold (fold fabric in half to gain mid point, phew no ruler required!)Pin the zip to the fold Ensure you have attached your zipper foot to the sewing machine and adjust the needle so that it is as close to the teeth of the zip as possibleStitch as close to the closed closed end of the zip as you can and backstitch at the start and end of the zip to secure it (I turned the fabric around the right way to get a pretty picture - sorry to add confusion!!)Now for the back panel. Align the teeth of the unattached side of the zip with the fold. Check the front and back panel are alignedSew to the corner with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Once you get to the corner, lift the presser foot to pivot the fabric.Sew all four sides in the same way until you reach the other end of the zipSew as close as possible to the end of the zip and backstitch to finishTrim off the corners of the cushion cover to reduce bulkTurn the cover to the right side and push the corners out Insert your cushion pad and hey presto!Final step: feel smug and spend a while admiring your new handmade cushion!Good luck and please let me know how you get on with making your very own cushion!If you like what you see then please do pop over to see more of my Mairi Helena cushions and soft furnishings here!You can also keep track of our events and photos on our Instagram page or Facebook, go on, give us a like! ;-)