How to Make a Bench Pad

Making a bench pad can instantly change a hard seat into a comfortable and inviting couch. This project is easy to accomplish, even by sewing novices, in just a few short hours. The pad has basic, straight lines, with the biggest challenges being sewn boxed corners and attached buttons. Pick a fabric that will match the color or style of the room where the bench is located. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure the depth and width of the bench seat for which you are creating the pad. Trace this measurement onto the foam with a permanent marker. Cut the bench pad out of the foam using the electric carving knife.

2

Place high-loft quilt batting on a flat work surface. Fold the quilt batting into two layers. Add 1 inch on all sides to the foam bench pad measurement. Cut the double layer of quilt batting using this measurement.

3

Place one layer of quilt batting on your work surface. Center and place the foam bench pad on top of the quilt batting. Position the other quilt-batting layer on top of the pad. Overlap and pin the quilt batting on the sides of the pad. Hand-sew the batting around the pad.

4

Place two layers of your chosen fabric on your work surface. Measure and cut through both layers of the fabric using the quilt-batting measurement.

5

Place the two pieces of fabric with the right sides together and pin. Sew a 1/2-inch seam allowance around all sides of the bench-pad case, leaving a large opening on one long side to insert the foam pad.

6

Press the seams open. Make the boxed corners. Match a long seam with a side seam to create a point. Measure a 1-inch width across the point and sew. Repeat this process for the remaining three corners. Cut off the excess from the points.

7

Insert the foam pad into the bench-pad case, matching the corners of the foam pad with the corners of the case. Pin the opening together and hand-sew it closed.

8

Lay the bench pad on a flat surface. Place the flat buttons on top of the pad and arrange them in whatever way looks good to you, and using as many as you like. Using a hand-sewing needle and matching thread, attach the buttons to the bench pad, going for all thicknesses from the front to the back of the pad.