Finally! Welcome to my FREE Wheelchair Cushion Slip Cover Tutorial!
This is something I made many years ago for a trip to the local hot pools here in Canterbury, New Zealand. A waterproof slip cover for our sons Manual Wheelchair. These have proven to be very handy for all sorts of reasons. Not the least because I was able to use very cool fabric and give him some personality to his often boring black cushions. If you have a nappy 'accident' as well these can be easily whipped off and thrown into the washing and the dryer as well. We recently had an accident with a Coke drink that the lid popped off of and spilt down into his lap, thankfully I had one of these covers on and was able to wipe him down, change him and of course change the slip cover too. Its been so handy to have on his chair. As an aside, most manual chair cushions often come with a waterproof cover, and the cushion itself is usually made with a waterproof cover over the foam/gel as well. So these aren't exactly 'necessary', but they are convenient. I think the main feature of them is the ability to give your chair a unique personality and style all of its own.
This tutorial is for a basic elasticated cushion slip cover, its easy, fast, and does the job. It could do with a few tweaks to make it even better and it won't work for all wheelchairs. But for a manual wheelchair with a removeable cushion, it works. If you have a layback wheelchair or another style that doesn't have the removable cushion this tutorial may not work for you. But have a play around and use this idea and you might be able to work on another style that works for you. This worked for us so I didn't go ahead and improve the design. I am all about fast and functional here LOL. In the past I did create a slip cover for the back rest as well, but as time has gone on his scoliosis has got worse and he required swing away laterals to support his torso so it became difficult to make a cover that worked with his head rest and allowed the laterals to be swung out the way as well. Instead I just use a piece of the softshell fabric I make my cushion cover out of just thrown over the chair as needed to make a waterproof back rest cover when we are at the hot pools etc.
As far as the fabric goes, I have used Eco Softshell for mine, purchased from Family Fabrics in the Netherlands. Its expensive, it was also a custom print of one of my own designs which added to the cost. Instead, if you are in New Zealand, I suggest buying the Softshell from either Spotlight NZ, or OTY Fabric NZ. OTY Fabric has lots of unique choices and often you can get the same prints as I have used here, as I design surface designs for them as well. If you don't want to use Softshell you can use PUL, Shower Nylon, Towelling TPU (also available from OTY Fabric NZ) or Cotton for the upper part and a waterproof fabric underneath, note that that won't stay dry on top and could get rather uncomfortable for the wheelchair user so I don't recommend it. You could even upcycle a shower curtain, or a vinyl table cloth for this cover, although make sure its in reasonably good nick and not flaking or the waterproofing isn't breaking down. Whatever fabric you use it will need to have some ability to stretch mechanically and be flexible rather than stiff and unable to mold into the cushion. I also recommend something comfortable, as your wheelchair user has to possibly sit on it for a long time, you don't want it hot sweaty, itchy, or generally lumpy. That's why I used softshell, its a smooth, moisture wicking fabric with a fleece backing so it soft and pliable and has an extra bit of padding. PUL will work as will cotton with a waterproof backing but both have a tendency to shift, crease, and be uncomfortable over time. So choose wisely for your fabric choice.
I have also used Fold Over Elastic (FOE) for the outer stretchy edge for my covers, but that isn't always easy to come by, feel free to message me on Facebook and I can sell you some of what I have in stock if needed. Otherwise FOE can sometimes be purchased from OTY Fabric NZ, or you can use some standard braided elastic in 6-10mm width and stitch it onto the edge instead. I will try to show an alternative make for these slip covers with elastic that is much easier to come by than FOE if I can.
Right without further ado lets get onto the tutorial!
What you will need:
Softshell (see alternative fabric choices in the paragraphs above) - you can purchase some here at OTY Fabric NZ
Fold Over Elastic (FOE) - you can get some from OTY Fabric NZ here too
Tailors Chalk or pencil
Measuring Tape
Scissors
Standard Sewing Machine with suitable 90/14 Universal Needle and thread
Wonder Clips or Pins (I recommend clips not pins)
Something to write down your measurements on plus a pen or pencil.
Measuring your Cushion:
In order to create a custom cushion cover you are going to have to measure the cushion itself. You want to avoid covering the lap-belt and the Velcro that often attaches the cushion to the chair seat itself.
Grab your measuring tape and measure across the width of the cushion top, making sure to tuck into any scoop or depression that is made to accommodate the legs/bottom of the user, if you measure straight across it won't fit properly so you will need to go into and out of the shaping of the main cushion across the middle (see photo). Write down this measurement. This will be the width of the cushion cover top.
Measure along the cushion too, from the back to the front as shown in the photo. Write down this measurement, this will be the cushion cover top depth.
Measure the front side width as shown in the photo, write this measurement down, it will be the width of your side strip of the cushion cover.
Also measure across the side width of each side of the cushion this will give you the width of your cushion cover side strip. (see photo).
Also measure across the depth of the back of the cushion so you know how wide to cut the strip that you will attach to the cushion top.
Also measure across the width of each side of the cushion this will give you the length of your cushion cover side strip. (see photo).
You should have all the measurements you need to create your cushion slip cover now. You will need the width and depth of the top of the cushion to cut out your square for the cushion top and you will need to cut at least two side strips to stitch to the cushion top as well. You will need the measurement from all around your cushion sides to give you the length of that strip, and the depth measurement of each side/front/back to find the required width of your side strip pieces. You will also need to add at least a 1cm or more seam allowance around all your pieces. See diagram below:
Use this guide to help you measure your wheelchair cushion.
Cut out 1 Cushion top from the softshell and a strip that can wrap around each edge of the cushion top (usually its about 2 strips of softshell as wide as the measurement you took of the depth of the cushion plus at least 1cm seam allowance on each side)
On the cushion top piece trim each corner into a slight curve as shown below.
Sewing up your Cushion Slip Cover
If you have one or more side strips you will need to clip the short ends together (taking care to make sure the print goes the correct way on both pieces of the strip if the print is directional). Stitch the strips together using a straight stitch and approx 1cm seam. Smooth the seams open with your fingers.
Fold your cushion top together so you can mark the centre back.
Starting at that marker clip the side strip to the cushion top right side to right side, allowing a slight overlap of a few cm from that marker (this will be your centre back seam on the side strip).
Continue to clip the strip around all sides of the cushion top and curving at each corner that you previously cut. NB: If you have a directional print make sure the print is the right way up when clipping the side strip to the cushion top, you really want the print to face away from the cushion top rather than towards.
Start stitching a few cm away from the centre back marker and stitch the side strip onto the cushion cover top.
Take care on the curves and squeeze the strip into a curve as much as you can, you may need to clip the strip edge to allow it to curve nicely.
Stop stitching the strip on a few cm away from the centre marker again.
Overlap the end of the side strip over the start of the side strip and cut off any excess leaving enough to sew at least a 1cm seam. Clip the short ends together right side to right side and stitch the seam closed with a 1cm seam.
Smooth your seam allowance flat with your fingers and clip the strip onto the cushion top piece.
Stitch the strip seam closed to the cushion top as shown. Turn cushion cover right side out.
Starting at the centre back seam overlap the seam edge with the fold over elastic (FOE) with the matte fluffy side of the FOE using a tripe zig zag or wide zig zag stitch on your sewing machine start stitching a few cm away from the end of the FOE. Stitch a few cm then with the needle in the elastic and fabric start stretching the elastic. Continue pulling the elastic and making sure it encases the raw edge of the side strip. You want to 'bind' the edge with the stretched FOE.
For more info you can watch our reel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGuWLkBJcmd/?igsh=MjJlczQ1YWdzZnNh
Continue stitching on the stretched FOE until you are a few cm away from where you started stitching the FOE on. Cut the FOE excess off keeping at least 1cm or more of the elastic to overlap the short end of the beginning of your FOE stitched on (as shown in the photo).
Stitch the two short ends of the FOE together right side to right side using a straight stitch.
Encase the raw edge of the side strip with the stitched together FOE and finish encasing the edge again using the large or triple zig zag stitch.
And you are done! One finished Cushion Slip Cover.
Alternative Sewing Ideas:
There are a few different ways you could sew these slip covers. If you don't have Fold Over Elastic (FOE) available you could instead overlock the raw edge of the Softshell and then fold over the edge approx. 1.5cm and create a hem, leaving a 8cm gap for threading your elastic into. To calculate how much elastic you need multiply your strip length measurement by 0.7 to get your elastic length. e.g. 120cm x 0.7 = 84cm elastic length. Use approx. 8-10mm elastic width. Thread your elastic into your hemmed edge and then tie a knot in the elastic end or stitch the elastic ends overlapped together. Then stitch the opening closed.
If you intend to sew these covers with a different fabric (which I don't recommend) ensure the fabric is very taut with its elastic to stop the fabric from bunching or slipping. Alternative fabrics like PUL or Shower Nylon although water resistant won't be as good at providing good coverage and are much more lightweight without moisture wicking properties of Softshell. Both could pool water on the surface and get cold and uncomfortable. So I will let you choose your own judgement on what fabric you use for these slip covers. Make sure you check in with the wheelchair user and make sure they are happy with your choice and if they are uncomfortable they will let you know!
Happy Sewing everyone :-)
Vivien
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