How to Make Folding Cockpit Cushions

SKU: X-HT-300697
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Details

Details

If your boat needs new cushions, this is the DIY tutorial for you. Learn how to make an irregularly shaped cushion with a wedge in the back and an incorporated hinge separating the two seats. Why make a hinged cushion? Being able to fold the cushion in half makes stacking and storing your cushions much more convenient and takes up less room. It's also much easier to gain access to a storage compartment beneath the cushion without having to lift the entire seat. If your boat's seating area is an odd shape, you need to watch this video tutorial. With a deep inventory of sewing supplies and expert instructions, Sailrite® has everything you need to DIY for your boat. Let's dive into today's marine cushion DIY project.

Here you can see one side of our hinged cushion lifted to access the storage compartment underneath.

This isn't your usual cushion cover tutorial. Our cushion design has several key features that make it unique. First, we wanted to be able to access the storage unit underneath the boat's cockpit bench. So we created a cushion cover with a hinge in the middle so you can lift one side of the cushion as needed. Our boat's seating area has a slightly reclined backrest for comfort, which means the back edge of the cushion is not a 90-degree angle like a standard cushion. We added a wedge shape in the back to fit the boat's seating area. During the course of this tutorial, you'll learn several useful patterning and sewing techniques that you'll be able to apply to future projects.

Ready to learn some new sewing skills as you make your own folding boat cushion? Watch the video below to get started. You'll find a complete materials and tools list at the end of this blog, as well as important measuring information and calculations that we've included for you.

Are you looking for more marine DIYs? You're in the right place! Sailrite is your source for quality marine sewing content from DIY experts. Whether you want to sew your own bimini or dodger, update your upholstery, or sew dinghy chaps or sail covers, we have everything you need right here. Explore our website and start your DIY journey with Sailrite!

Video Chapters:

  • Intro- 0:00 min.
  • Measuring the Opening - 1:32 min.
  • Creating a Pattern - 5:15 min.
  • Adding Allowances to the Pattern - 10:50 min.
  • Lengthening Top Plate Fabric - 14:18 min.
  • Cutting Top Plate to Size - 20:18 min.
  • Cutting Bottom Plates - 23:55 min.
  • Adding Zippers to Bottom Plates - 27:09 min.
  • Cutting Boxing to Size - 37:52 min.
  • Sewing Boxing Ends Together - 50:02 min.
  • Joining Boxing to Top Plate - 58:47 min.
  • Sewing Bottom Plate to Assembly - 1:06:22 min.
  • Sewing Center Topstitch - 1:11:44 min.
  • Cutting Foam to Size - 1:18:32 min.
  • Inserting Foam in Cushion Cover - 1:26:14 min.
  • Materials & Tools List - 1:29:05 min.

Materials List:

  • Sailrite® Patterning Material 78" - SKU: 125402
  • Marine/Awning Grade or Upholstery Fabric from Sailrite® - We used Sunbrella® Awning Stripe - SKU: 4987-0000
  • Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery (36 yds.) - SKU: 122065
  • Cushion Underlining Black 54" Fabric - SKU: 772100
  • Lenzip® #5 Black Continuous Coil Zipper Chain - SKU: 124596
  • Lenzip® #5 Black Single Locking Metal Zipper Pull (Coil Chain) - SKU: 124600
  • Sailrite® Woven Sew In Tags (2 pack) - SKU: 121627
  • CushionRite® Dry Fast Antimicrobial Foam (Medium) - SKU: 124203

Tools List:

  • Tape Measure 120" - SKU: 102986
  • Deluxe Tape Measure 120" - SKU: 123120
  • Sailrite® Scratch Awl - SKU: 123270
  • Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - SKU: 102400
  • Gingher® Scissors Right Hand Lightweight 8" - SKU: 101017
  • Scribe-All® Water Soluble White Marking Pencil - SKU: 120681
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) - SKU: 311602
  • Magnetic Sewing Guide - SKU: 102983
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table - SKU: 120934
  • Sailrite® Canvas Patterning Ruler - SKU: 107040
  • Sailrite® Tempered Cutting Glass - SKU: 121915
  • Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package - SKU: 122177
  • Sewing Gauge Ruler 6"- SKU: 102995
  • Basic Thread Snips - SKU: 123222
  • Seam Ripper - SKU: 123175
  • Sailrite® Blade Foam Saw V2 with Carrying Case (110V) - SKU: 121244
  • Multiuse Pins 1-1/2" (250 pack) - SKU: 102985
  • Blue Painters Tape, Tape Measure, Marker, Straightedge

Build Calculations:

Cutting Top Plate to Size:

Desired finished length + 1" = Cut length

Desired finished width/depth + 1/2" = Cut width/depth

Cutting Two Bottom Plates to Size:

Bottom plate is the same size as the top plate cut size. However, at the fold position it is cut apart and 1/2" is added for seam allowance to both bottom plates.

Boxing Width Cut Size:

CushionRite® Premium, Standard & Dry Fast: Foam thickness + 1/2" = Cut width

CushionRite® Flotation (Closed Cell): Foam thickness + 3/4" = Cut width

Boxing Length Cut Size:

Cut boxing length should be the same length as each short edge of the rectangular plate. But for the front and the back longer edges, two pieces each are required. Their lengths should be measured from the outside corners to the center hinge location (topstitch). But add an additional 1/2" past the hinge location for each of the four pieces required.

Center Hinge Boxing Width Cut Size:

Boxing cut width/height - 1" = A

(A x 2) + 1" = Cut width of center boxing

Cutting Foam to Size:

Add 1/2" to both dimensions to the desired finished size of the cushion. (Basically that means you are adding 1/4" to all sides of the foam.)