Making Cushions For Children’s Rocking Chairs

Step 1

Measure your child’s rocking chair seat. Use your measurements to draft out a simple pattern. If the back of the seat is curved, you may find it easiest to cut an approximately sized piece of tissue or newsprint and fit it into place. Once you have the seat shape sketched out, add 1 inch to each side for 1 inch foam or 1 1/2 inches if you are using 2-inch foam. Be sure to keep your original lines in place to use when cutting the foam.

Step 2

Lay out your fabric and cut two seat cushion pieces. Cut your ribbon or twill tape into four equally sized pieces, each 9 inches long. Mark where your ties should be and pin the twill tape or ribbon into place so that it will be secured in the seam allowance.

Step 3

Using the original lines, cut your foam for your chair cushion with a serrated knife. Be as neat as you can, but any rough edges will be covered by quilt batting. Wrap the foam in a thin layer of quilt batting for additional softness and padding in your child’s rocking chair. Set this aside.

Step 4

Sew together the right sides of the rocking chair cushion with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving a generous opening between the back ties for stuffing. Be careful not to sew over the pins at the twill tape or ribbon ties on your cushion.

Step 5

Carefully insert your foam and quilt batting cushion form into the sewn cushion cover. Straighten as needed. Tuck the seam allowances at the opening in and stitch the opening closed by hand with a simple whip stitch.