Sewing? What tool do I need?

LilacLillie

I'm not good at sewing but I'm having a go at making a cover for a futon. It was given to me via Freecycle in great condition but the original cover is cream and has some stains on it.
I have some lovely Laura Ashley fabric to make a giant cushion cover, so it can be removed to be washed.
I need to keep it in place once on, at the moment it has sort of cloth buttons pressed through it.
Does anyone know (link) what tool I'd need to use to hold it in place?
Can I buy something to push through buttony things, or any other ideas to keep it in place once on. I want to be able to remove it for washing and can't sew in a zip, so it'll be a lap over cushion back with velcro, but I have no idea what to use to secure it once the new cover is on.
Please help otherwise it'll look a real mess.
LL

SpikyHedgehog

Hoping someone will come along in a minute who knows more than me about upholstery (not hard to know more than me ), but off the top of my head, I'm not sure if you'll be able to do what I think you're hoping to do...

I think it's a buttoned on cover to the futon, with the thread for the buttons going right through the exisiting cover from one side to the other, and that you want to do a cover for it, that you can remove for washing and still have the buttoned look that pulls the material into the padding of the futon?

I know the giant cushions on my sofa that are buttoned through cannot have the covers removed, though they have a zip in the side so you can reach in & plump them up and try to re-button then when the buttons pull through...

I'm wondering if you could do the cover like a giant shower cap, with elastic round it to keep it in place & still be able to take it off for washing?

Broomstick

Do you have an old duvet cover that will fit it? Could you try it out with this and see if you really do need to attach the cover to the futon as you think?

We were given an old double futon years ago and it fitted a double duvet cover exactly. Because it was a good fit it was easy to smooth it down and push spare fabric into the crease between the seat and the back to keep it looking tidy.

If you have a duvet cover of the right size it could also serve as a pattern for the proper cover when you get to sew that.

B x

LilacLillie

I'm now wondering if I can sew some velcro to the exsisting cover and the inside of the new cover just so it won't sag once its on?
I won't be sewing until the weekend so have a bit of time to think about it.
Hoping for some more idea's though..........
LL

valk_scot

Experienced seamstress here. I really think you'll either have to settle for a removable cover that isn't fixed onto the futon, or a fixed cover that's buttoned through from front side to back side as per the original. If you make it snugg fitting enough with box sides and a good tight zip at the rear it shouldn't sag, so don't worry.