DIY Grain Sack Kitchen Barstool Cushions

Inexpensive canvas drop cloths, acrylic paint and basic sewing skills come together to create fabulous custom cushions for kitchen barstools or chairs.

DIY grain sack barstool cushion with red numbering.

Create a Grain Sack Barstool Cushion With Inexpensive Materials

Low-cost canvas drop cloths, acrylic paint and basic sewing skills come together to create fabulous custom cushions for kitchen barstools or chairs.

By: Marian Parsons

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Materials Needed:

4 'x 5' 8-ounce canvas drop cloth
2 cups bleach
1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
sharp scissors
permanent marker
pencil
measuring tape
yard stick
6 yards 6/32" cotton filler cord
(2) 3" x 15" x 17" poly foam cushions

cream all-purpose thread
4 yards 1" wide twill tape
fabric glue
acrylic paint
1" paint brush
2.0 liner paint brush
sewing machine
zipper foot
heavy-duty sewing machine needle
all-purpose sewing needle

Wash, Bleach and Neutralize Drop Cloth

Remove drop cloth from package and load into washing machine. Fill machine basin with warm water and one cup of bleach. Allow drop cloth to soak for several hours or overnight. Run remainder of the wash cycle. Repeat a second time to ensure thorough bleaching. Wash drop cloth a third time in warm water, laundry detergent and one cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to neutralize bleach. Dry on high heat. Tip: Use a plastic storage bin for soaking if a top loading washing machine is not available.

Cut Foam

Place foam on stool seat and, using it as a template, trace around the seat with permanent marker. Cut foam along line with sharp scissors. Hold scissors perpendicular to foam to ensure a smooth, even cut. Tip: If available, an electric carving knife is an excellent tool for cutting foam.

Making a template from a barstool onto foam with a marker

How to Create Grain Sack Barstool Cushions - Step 2: Cut Foam

Step 2 in creating grain sack barstool cushions is to cut the foam. Place the foam on the stool seat and, using it as a template, trace around the seat with a permanent marker. Cut the foam along a line with sharp scissors. Hold the scissors perpendicular to the oam to ensure a smooth, even cut. Tip: If available, an electric carving knife is an excellent tool for cutting foam.

Cut Fabric

Using the cut foam as a template, trace a line with a pencil for the top and bottom of each cushion, leaving at least a half-inch seam allowance. Cut along traced line. Four pieces of fabric are needed for two cushions. Add the length of the front and two sides of the cushion. Measure and cut a piece of fabric that length, plus a one-inch seam allowance and four inches wide. Measure the length of the back of the seat cushion and cut a piece of fabric with length, plus one-inch seam allowance and four inches wide. Two pieces of each cut of fabric are needed for two cushions.

Step 3A in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to cut the foam cushion. Using the cut foam as a template, trace a line with a pencil for the top and bottom of each cushion, leaving at least a half-inch seam allowance.

After making the line, Step 3B in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to cut the fabric along the traced line. Four pieces of fabric are needed for two cushions. Add the length of the front and two sides of the cushion. Measure and cut a piece of fabric that length, plus a one-inch seam allowance and four-inches wide. Measure the length of the back of the seat cushion and cut a piece of fabric with length, plus one-inch seam allowance and four-inches wide. Two pieces of each cut of fabric are needed for two cushions.

Creating a Grain Sack Barstool: Measure and Cut the Fabric for the Cushion

Step 3A in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to cut the foam cushion. Using the cut foam as a template, trace a line with a pencil for the top and bottom of each cushion, leaving at least a half-inch seam allowance.

Create Grain Sack Barstool Cushions: Cutting the Fabric

After making the line, Step 3B in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to cut the fabric along the traced line. Four pieces of fabric are needed for two cushions. Add the length of the front and two sides of the cushion. Measure and cut a piece of fabric that length, plus a one-inch seam allowance and four-inches wide. Measure the length of the back of the seat cushion and cut a piece of fabric with length, plus one-inch seam allowance and four-inches wide. Two pieces of each cut of fabric are needed for two cushions.

Paint

Select two seat pieces of fabric on which to paint the design. These will be the top sides of each cushion. Measuring side to side, find the center point and tape off two quarter-inch wide stripes. Using a one-inch brush and acrylic paint, paint the space between the taped lines. Allow some fabric to show through the paint for a time-worn look. Remove tape. When painted stripes are fully dry, use a pencil to lightly sketch letters or numbers on both sides of the stripes. Paint over sketch with a liner brush. Allow ample dry time. Tip: For a uniform look or specific font, use a stencil or transfer paper instead of drawing freehand.

When painted stripes are fully dry in Step 4A, Step 4B is to use a pencil to lightly sketch letters or numbers on both sides of the stripes. Paint over the sketch with a liner brush. Allow ample dry time. Tip: For a uniform look or specific font, use a stencil or transfer paper instead of drawing freehand.

How to Create Grain Sack Barstool Cushions - Step 4a: Paint Fabric

Step 4A in creating grain sack barstool cushions is to select two seat pieces of fabric on which to paint the design. These will be the top sides of each cushion. Measuring side to side, find the center point and tape off two quarter-inch wide stripes. Using a one-inch brush and acrylic paint, paint the space between the taped lines. Allow some fabric to show through the paint for a time-worn look. Remove the tape.

Creating a Grain Sack Barstool Cushions: Drawing on Fabric

When painted stripes are fully dry in Step 4A, Step 4B is to use a pencil to lightly sketch letters or numbers on both sides of the stripes. Paint over the sketch with a liner brush. Allow ample dry time. Tip: For a uniform look or specific font, use a stencil or transfer paper instead of drawing freehand.

Sew Piping

While painted fabric is drying, measure seat cushion perimeter. Cut cotton cord long enough to wrap around the perimeter four times (for two stools.) Cut strips from drop cloth, two-inches wide and the length of the cord. Sew strips together, if needed. Wrap fabric around the cord and sew using a machine zipper foot. Tip: Drop cloth fabric will rip in a straight line. Simply make a cut and rip the fabric to continue the cut.

While the painted fabric is drying, measure the seat cushion perimeter. Step 5A in creating a barstool cushion is to cut cotton cord long enough to wrap around the cushion's perimeter four times (for two stools.) Cut strips from the drop cloth, two-inches wide and the length of the cord. Sew strips together, if needed.

Step 5B is to wrap the drop cloth fabric around the cord and sew it together using a sewing machine zipper foot.

Creating Grain Sack Barstool Cushions: Cut and Sew Piping

While the painted fabric is drying, measure the seat cushion perimeter. Step 5A in creating a barstool cushion is to cut cotton cord long enough to wrap around the cushion's perimeter four times (for two stools.) Cut strips from the drop cloth, two-inches wide and the length of the cord. Sew strips together, if needed.

Creating a Grain Sack Barstool Cushion: Sewing Piping

Step 5B is to wrap the drop cloth fabric around the cord and sew it together using a sewing machine zipper foot.

Assemble Sides and Ties for Cushion

Cut twill tape into eight 16-inch lengths. Making angled cuts will minimize fraying. Gather the front, side and back pieces of cut fabric. Arrange cut fabric in place. Drop cloth fabric is the same on both sides, so it doesn't matter which side will be showing. Where pieces meet in the back corner, insert two lengths of twill tape at the center point and pin seam closed. Repeat on the other back corner, pulling fabric snug to ensure a tailored fit. Sew along pinned seams. Tip: When fitting slipcovers, everything is made inside out, with the seams exposed. Make sure that the ties will be on the outside of the cushion when turned right-side-out.

Step 6A is to cut twill tape into eight 16-inch lengths. Making angled cuts will minimize fraying. Gather the front, side and back pieces of cut fabric. Arrange cut fabric in place. Drop cloth fabric is the same on both sides, so it doesn't matter which side will be showing. Where pieces meet in the back corner, insert two lengths of twill tape at the center point of the fabric.

After placing the twill tape onto the fabric, Step 6B in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to pin the seam closed. Repeat on the other back corner, pulling fabric snug to ensure a tailored fit. Sew along pinned seams. Tip: When fitting slipcovers, everything is made inside out, with the seams exposed. Make sure that the ties will be on the outside of the cushion when it is turned right-side-out.

Creating a Kitchen BarStool: Insert Two Lengths of Twill Tape to Fabric

Step 6A is to cut twill tape into eight 16-inch lengths. Making angled cuts will minimize fraying. Gather the front, side and back pieces of cut fabric. Arrange cut fabric in place. Drop cloth fabric is the same on both sides, so it doesn't matter which side will be showing. Where pieces meet in the back corner, insert two lengths of twill tape at the center point of the fabric.

Creating a DIY Grain Sack BarstoolCushion: Pin and Sew the Tape in Place.

After placing the twill tape onto the fabric, Step 6B in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to pin the seam closed. Repeat on the other back corner, pulling fabric snug to ensure a tailored fit. Sew along pinned seams. Tip: When fitting slipcovers, everything is made inside out, with the seams exposed. Make sure that the ties will be on the outside of the cushion when it is turned right-side-out.

Pin-Fit Top and Bottom of Cushion

Place perimeter piece of fabric back onto cushion with seams facing out. Tuck twill tape ties down, so they don't get pinned or sewn into the top or bottom. Set painted fabric on cushion with design facing down. Make sure design is evenly placed. Pin seat piece to perimeter piece with piping sandwiched between the two pieces. The piping should face into the cushion and cross where the two ends meet. Using sewing machine zipper foot, sew along the pin line and trim excess seam allowance. Repeat on bottom of seat, working inside-out, but leave an opening large enough to insert foam cushion.

Step 7A in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to place a perimeter piece of fabric back onto the cushion with the seams facing out. Tuck the twill tape ties down, so they don't get pinned or sewn into the top or bottom.

How to Create Grain Sack Barstool Cushions: Pin-Fit Cushion

Step 7A in creating a grain sack barstool cushion is to place a perimeter piece of fabric back onto the cushion with the seams facing out. Tuck the twill tape ties down, so they don't get pinned or sewn into the top or bottom.

Close Up of Kitchen Grain Sack Barstools

Hand Sew Cushion Closure

Turn cover right-side-out and insert cushion. Pin opening closed and sew together using a running stitch and all-purpose needle. Remove pins and trim threads. Run a bead of fabric glue along edge of twill tape ties to prevent fraying. Foam cushion and cover are machine washable.

Step 8A is to turn the cover right-side-out and insert the cushion. Pin the opening closed and sew it together using a running stitch and an all-purpose needle. Remove the pins and trim threads. Foam cushion and cover are machine washable

After removing pins and trimming threads, Step 7B in creating a barstool cover is to run a bead of fabric glue along edge of the twill tape ties to prevent fraying.

Creating a Grain Sack Barstool Cushion: Hand-Sew Cushion Closed

Step 8A is to turn the cover right-side-out and insert the cushion. Pin the opening closed and sew it together using a running stitch and an all-purpose needle. Remove the pins and trim threads. Foam cushion and cover are machine washable

Creating a Barstool Cover: Prevent Ribbon Fray

After removing pins and trimming threads, Step 7B in creating a barstool cover is to run a bead of fabric glue along edge of the twill tape ties to prevent fraying.

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