How to Make Boat Cushion Templates
- 1). Choose fabric that will wear well. Look for fabric that has some polyester in it to help give it durability as well as making it easy to clean. Use medium- to heavy-weight upholstery fabric that can take a lot of use and still look good after months of wear. Additionally, find a pattern that is busy so stains are easily hidden.
- 2). Lay out a template for the cover from brown painter's paper or a brown paper bag that you cut open to lay flat. Place the paper on top of the seat cushion and trace out the shape, allowing about 1-inch extra around all edges to accommodate seams. Label the sides of the pattern so you will know how to lay it on the fabric when the time comes.
- 3). Draw a second pattern just like the first one, but this time do not add extra width to the edges. The second pattern will be the template for your cushion shape. This template should be the exact size you want your finished cushions to be. Label it so you don't get it confused with your fabric pattern.
- 4). Place the pattern for the cushion on a piece of dry-fast foam for the body of the cushion. Trace around the edge with a marker. Cut the shape for the cushion with a box cutter or razor knife. Trim the corners with scissors to make them slightly rounded.
- 5). Wrap the cushion with a layer of polyester quilt batting to give it some softness. Glue it in place with multi-use adhesive glue or double-sided tape.
- 6). Pin the template for your cushion cover on the fabric to cut out the top, bottom and sides of the cushion cover. Cut along the edges, allowing for seams. Cut the bottom fabric from the vinyl-coated mesh to allow water to drain and help prevent the cushion from slipping. The remainder of your cushion cover should be cut from the upholstery fabric.
- 7). Stitch together the pieces of fabric for the cover on the sewing machine, allowing about a 1-inch seam all the way around. Leave one side open where you slide in the cushion.
- 8). Attach the D rings to 1-inch wide strips of nylon fabric on the bottom of the cushion cover along the side that will be up against the back of the seat to hold it in place on the seat.
- 9). Slide the cushion into the cover and close the edge with Velcro, snaps or hooks, which make it removable for cleaning.
- 10
Attach the finished cushion to the seat by hammering hammock hooks into the wood to match up with the D-rings under the cushions. - 11
Use your template patterns to make additional matching cushions for the remainder of the boat seats.
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