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DIY Denim Cushion – Chevron

DIY Denim Cushion - Chevron

DIY Denim Cushion - Chevron
Active Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Difficulty easy

Materials

  • 3-4 Pairs of old jeans
  • 3m orange ribbon
  • 19" zipper

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Denim Sewing Machine Needle
  • Taylors Chalk
  • Quilters ruler
  • Zipper sewing foot

Instructions

Start by making the back for the denim pillow cover.

1. Cut your old jeans to form two pieces of denim which make a 19" square

2. Turn and press under one edge of the pieces of old jeans.

3. Place the pressed edges either side of the zipper. Using a zipper foot machine stitch to complete the back pillow cover, a 19" square.

Make the front of the chevron pillow

4. Cut a piece of denim 19" (piece together two pieces if need be)

5. With taylor's chalk mark a central line down the front of the denim.

6. Mark diagonal chevron lines on the cushion to act as a guide for your strips of denim and ribbon.

7. Cut approx 40 strips of denim 1 1/2" wide by 14|" long

8. Cut 40 strips of ribbon 14" long

9. Place the denim strips onto the pillow front following your guidelines, topped with pieces of ribbon. Stitch to secure.

10. Snip into your strips of denim every 1/4" or so towards the ribbon.

Complete the Denim Chevron Cushion

11. Partially un zip the back zipper.

12. Place the right sides of the denim pillow together, and stitch round.

13. Turn your completed denim pillow right side out through your open zipper and insert an 18" pillow

Notes

To fray the edges of your chevron pillow place in the washing machine, or leave hanging on your washing line in the wind and rain for a few days.

 One of my go to fabrics is denim – it is so versatile and strong. Old jeans have endless possibilities for being transformed, upcycled into something beautiful.

Recycled fabrics are my favourite materials to work with. What’s not to love? I can sew as much as I like without taking more of our worlds limited resources. Today I am going to share with you a chevron denim cushion.

 

Learn how to make your own denim rag cushion - chevron cushion cover pattern. Upcycle your jeans by sewing up your own cushion cover with a zip closure #cushionsDIY #easyDIYcushioncover

One of my all time favourite makes is a denim rag quilt (you can find the tutorial here)

This denim pillow is a perfect project for using up scraps of denim from other projects. Are looking for further ideas for what to do with your old jeans? Check out my 25+ craft ideas for old jeans

DIY Denim Cushion

To make you will need:

3 pair of old jeans or more
18″ navy zip
6 meters of thin orange ribbon
Denim sewing machine needle

Lets start by making the back for the cushion cover. Check your old jeans, pick a pair with a wide and straight leg.

Cut off the hem off the jeans, and then cut the leg off at 19″. Now we are going to cut down the denim leg, as you can see we will be keeping one leg seam. So cut down the seam with the most curve so the seam you are keeping is the straightest.  Cut a further piece of denim 19″ long from the other leg.

Place together – trim the two pieces to make a 19″ square. If  you do not have enough denim add another panel.

 

 

Turn and press a straight edge and place along the zipper. Pin and stitch using a zipper foot. Repeat for the other side of the zipper, thus completing the back of your pillow cover.

 

For the front panel cut a 19″ square of denim. If necessary piece together pieces of denim.

Using a quilters ruler and tailors chalk mark down the centre. Fold a square of paper diagonally in half. Place on your denim to mark the stitch line for your strips of denim. Mark several stitch lines both sides of the centre as these markings will act as your guide.

 

Cut a number of strips of denim measuring 14″ long by 1 1/2″ wide (you will need approximately 40 strips). Pin to the cushion with ribbon down the centre of the strip. Stitch in place to secure.

 

Place your next strip parallel, with your ribbons being approximately 1″ apart.  Stitch to secure. Continue until you have finished one side.

Repeat for the second side, ensuring you are aligning the ribbons at the centre of the cushion.

Snip in the denim strips up to the ribbon. Snip 1/4″ apart down both sides of every strip taking care not to snip your stitches.

 

Partly unzip the zip. Place right sides together of the cushion. Stitch with 1/2″ seam allowance.

 

Turn right side out – lastly wash your cushion to roughen up the edges.

Top Tip – do not place in the washing machine with other items unless you wish to be pulling lots of threads of denim off your clothes (learn form my mistake!).

 

I love the contrast of textures, the raw edges of the denim against the soft shiny ribbon.

 

 

Wasn’t that easy? What colour of ribbon would you choose?

If you love reusing your old jeans do check out the many different denim tutorials I have. Plus I have yet more fun DIY pillow cover patterns to share with you.

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RA

Wednesday 27th of December 2023

Absolutely love this pattern! And the receiver of my gift loved it too. Another one almost finished!!

All the Best Ideas for Making Denim Pillows (Cushions) - Pillar Box Blue

Wednesday 24th of February 2021

[…] 16. Chevron Denim Cushions – Vickymyerscreations […]

Nancy Myers

Saturday 28th of April 2018

Great idea. A question I have: Does this work as well if the denim jeans have some stretch in them such as lycra?

Kathy A

Saturday 6th of January 2018

Gorgeous. I think I would be tempted to do a flap over in back to avoid setting in a zipper. I would love it with red ribbon. Think it would be great for a man cave (Red Sox and Patriots colors are navy, red, and white!).

Vicky

Sunday 7th of January 2018

I confess for many years I have sewn cushions with flaps but give a zip a go, it is not as hard as you think:)

Bonnie Banks

Sunday 8th of October 2017

After reading through your directions and browsing your pix I had to slap the side of my head with "DUH!" :D I LOVE using this idea to make denim pretty! I just had long since forgotten about it...Thanks ever so so much for refreshing my memory with a wonderful project! My lawn swing, which I use in lieu of a couch, is going to love the new look!

Vicky

Sunday 8th of October 2017

So pleased I could remind and inspire you:) Enjoy your sewing.

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