@WilliamHayden,
Hello Community,
Bar stool cushions turn a plain old backless bar stool into a comfortable decorative accent piece. But cost and limitations on colors and fabric choices often deter decorators from using cushions. Fashioning cushions yourself open up a world of possibilities, while remaining so affordable anyone can do it. Buy upholstery fabric that suits your decor, or save even more by recycling fabric you already own, and you can easily make cushions for any backless bar stool. Here are some instructions for making a bar stool cushions.
1. Lay out a large sheet of paper. Turn the bar stool upside down on top of the paper. Trace around the seat with a pencil.
2. Measure five inches out from the edge of the circle using the measuring tape and make a mark. Continue measuring and marking five inches out all the way around the circle. Connect the marks into a continuous circle. Cut the paper following the lines of the outer circle.
3. Lay the upholstery fabric in a single layer and place the paper circle on top. Secure it to the fabric with straight pins. Cut the fabric following the edge of the paper pattern. Remove the pins and take the pattern off the fabric circle.
4. Lay the fabric circle face down with the wrong side of the material facing up. Fold a 1-inch hem around the outer edge of the fabric circle using straight pins to secure the fold. Using a sewing machine or a hand needle, stitch around the circle, staying about 3/4 of an inch from the edge. Leave an opening in the hem big enough to slip a safety pin through. This will make a tunnel for the drawstring.
5. Pin a safety pin to one end of the elastic. Guide the safety pin, with the ribbon elastic attached, all the way through the tunnel. Make sure both ends of the elastic are left hanging from the opening. Remove the safety pin. Set the fabric cover to the side.
6. Take the paper circle pattern and cut the inner circle out of the pattern. Lay the foam sheet on your work space and pin the new smaller paper circle to the foam. Cut around the circle pattern. Remove the paper pattern. Stand the bar stool upright. Place the foam circle on the bar stool. Lay the fabric circle on top of the foam circle. Pull the tails of the elastic, gathering the fabric around the foam cushion and under the edges of the bar stool seat. Tie a secure knot in the elastic and clip the excess ends. Remove the cover and stitch the tunnel opening closed. Replace the cover over the foam cushion and stool seat.
Best Regards,
John Marrison