Easy No Sew Diy Bench Cushions (A Budget Friendly Mattress Alternative)
Make your own easy, inexpensive custom bench cushions. No sewing machine is required. Watch the video and learn how to make your own cushions, then check out the DIY gallery. Keep reading and watch the video to learn how to make Easy No Sew DIY Bench Cushions Cheap French Mattress Alternatives!
If you’re curious (or in a hurry)…
It’s an excellent brand glue gun and yet, you’ll also find that it is one of the cheapest options you’ll find online.
No-Sew DIY French Mattress
I’m using my favorite glue gun from Surebonder in this tutorial which is a mini cordless glue gun with a detailed tip. I also used a full-size dual temperature glue gun for this project to finish off the seam so it gives a stronghold if someone were to jump on these cushions.
I’m using a clear glue stick from Surebonder with the cordless mini glue gun so the initial application of glue doesn’t show on the fabric seam. You don’t want globs of glue showing… you want it to look like you sewed the fabric and that’s exactly what the Surebonder clear glue and the detailed tip glue gun do for this project. Surebonder also has a fabric glue state that you can use, but the clear sticks work fine.
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French Mattress Bench Cushions Tutorial
I’m including a detailed video below sharing how to make DIY French Mattress Cushions.
In this video, I show you how to sew in one piece and make a french mattress bench cushion from 2 layers of foam insert and a mattress pad. It’s really easy no sewing machine is required at all. Just cut, glue, and stitch the french mattress edge!
DIY Tutorial to Make French Mattresses (No-Sewing Machine Needed!)
If you want to learn how to make cheap bench cushions with a no-sew method, make sure to follow my tips below! I use 2 different glue guns to achieve these cushions and I include glue gun tips after the tutorial.
Supplies:
- Cordless Mini Glue Gun
- Full-Size High Temp Glue Gun
- Clear Mini Glue Sticks
- Tough Stik Glue Sticks
- Canvas Drop Cloth
- Foam Cushion (ours is 4-inch)
- Mattress Topper (optional, ours is 1.5-inch)
- Scissors
- Sewing Pins
- Finger Protectors (to prevent glue gun burns on fingertips)
Directions:
- Gather Supplies.
- Wrap the canvas drop cloth around the foam (with mattress topper if you are using one).
- Canvas dropcloth already has seams on the ends, so try to use those ends if possible. If not, you will need to cut excess fabric so you have a taught fit.
- Pin the fabric all the way around the cushion. I folded any cut edges down so you have a nice crease.
- Iron the fabric so you can see if you need to tuck and repin anywhere. You want a little extra fabric if you are going to create the French mattress look, so it doesn’t need to be super tight.
- Use a hot glue gun to glue in the edge of the seams, be sure not to glue those pins!
- I used a small detailed tip cordless hot glue gun first, then finished with a full-size hot glue gun with SureBonder’s Tough Stix hot glue stick. I’ve used the Tough Stix on many cushion and upholstery projects and it holds up amazing!
- Use finger protectors whenever working with high-heat hot glue guns.
- Once the hot glue is dry and cool, remove the pins.
- The finished edge should look like a sewed seam. You have just made a no-sew cushion!
- To sew the French mattress, you will need upholstery thread and upholstery needles.
- Start 2-inches from the edge.
- Insert the needle on the edge on the top and through the bottom so you create a pucker in the fabric edge.
- Do a slipknot on the otherside.
- I like to stitch 1-2 more stitches for durabilty.
- Your hands will get sore so I recommend taking breaks and using hand cream after this project!
- Repeat the stitches until all sides are complete.
- I like to watch a movie while I hand stitch to pass the time.
- Once all sides are complete, you can add the tufts in the center.
- I used a long needle for the tufts since my foam insert is 4-inches. I also recommend a pair of pliers to help pull the needle through.
- Decide where you want the tufts in the cushion and insert the needle through.
- Insert the needle back through the other side so both ends are on the first side.
- Tie a knot and pull tight to create a divot.
- Repeat the stitch and knot a few times to make sure it’s secure. I’ve had these pop out after kids jump on the mattress and it’s easy to restitch if needed.
- That’s it! Now you have a custom French mattress cushion!
Upkeep
We keep our canvas drop cloth clean by spot cleaning with Branch Basics cleaner and a wet rag. I’ve also had fabric pills develop on our cushions and I use a fabric lint shaver to clean them off. Both of these cleaning tricks will keep your canvas drop cloth cushions looking good for a long time (yes, even with young kids!).
These huge French mattress cushions ended up costing $50.00 each (at the time of publishing this article) to make so they are really affordable to DIY 🙂
No-Sew Bench Cushions Tutorial Wrap Up
Wrap a no-sew foam mattress pad bench cushion to create an affordable French-style bed substitute. Find out how to do it here. Learn how to adorn your bare bench and make it a place to sit and gather with family and friends. These instructions are easy to follow and budget-friendly!
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Print the Tutorial and Watch the Video to Make the French Mattress Cushions
DIY French Mattress Cushions
Supplies
Video
Don’t forget!
A Note About Using High-Temperature Glue Guns
High-temperature glue guns should be used with caution and children should not use high-temperature glue guns.
I highly recommend wearing finger protectors when using glue guns to protect your fingers from burns. Do not use your hands to hold glued items together or you could sustain burns on your hands as well.
A detailed tip on a glue gun makes application easier and in my opinion, might reduce the chance for burns.
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If you enjoy updating your home, want to increase your home value or just want your home to look better, you should check out thee 10 Cheap Home Hacks That’ll Make Your House Look So Much Better.
Tour Our Homes
Take a Tour of our Second Home here
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