Home >> Hobbies >> Sewing

How to Recover Church Pews

Many churches do not operate on large budgets and must find ways to repair or recycle existing materials and supplies. Church pews are often too expensive for churches to replace when the seat covers are worn out, but even a novice sewing hobbyist possesses the ability to recover old pews and give them new life, which saves a church considerable expense. Recovering the pew seats every few years will extend the usable life of church benches and provides an opportunity for parishioners to give back to their spiritual community.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
Cloth marker
3-inch thick foam padding
Fabric
Iron
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Thread
Needle
Piping (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length of the seat between arm rests as well as the seat depth from the backrest to the front lip.
- 2
  Mark the seat dimensions on a 3-inch thick foam pad and cut out. Prewash and iron your pew fabric.
- 3
  Measure the surface area of each foam pad face. Add 2 inches to the length and width and mark the dimension sums on the fabric you intend to use for the pew seat. Cut out the fabric pieces.
- 4
  Turn the fabric inside out and pin undersides of all cover pieces together except the strip that will cover the front face of the pew. The pieces should overlap to account for the excess 2 inches in length and width.
- 5
  Run each seam through the sewing machine. Pin one long edge of the front face to the open top piece edge and stitch together. The finished product should resemble a large pillowcase with a flap panel.
- 6
  Turn the seat cover right side out and stuff the foam pad into the fabric. Pull corners tightly to avoid bunching and a lumpy seat. Hand-stitch the open front panel to the three neighboring seams. Turn the front panel to the back of the pew and replace the old pew cushion.

Sewing