Okay, so I’ve been meaning to make some cushions for our volleyball team’s bench for a while now. Our bench is just plain beech timber, super hard and not comfy at all, especially during long tournaments. So, I finally got around to it!

Getting Started

First, I measured the bench. It’s pretty long, so I decided to make multiple cushions instead of one giant one. That way, they’d be easier to store and clean, and players could move them around as needed.

Next, I headed to the fabric store. I wanted something durable and easy to wipe down, considering it’s going to be used by sweaty volleyball players. I ended up picking a thick, water-resistant canvas-like material in our team’s color – bright blue!

Cutting and Stuffing

Back home, I laid out the fabric and used my measurements to cut out the pieces. I made sure to add an extra inch or so on each side for the seams. For the filling, I chose high-density foam. It’s firm enough to provide support but still soft enough to be comfortable. I got a big roll of it and cut it into pieces that were slightly smaller than the fabric pieces.

Sewing it all together

My sewing machine skills are, uh, basic, but I managed. I started by sewing three sides of each cushion cover, leaving one side open for stuffing. Then, the fun part – I stuffed each one with the foam pieces, making sure they were nice and snug.

Once the foam was in, I carefully sewed the last side shut. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, it’s functional! I double-stitched everything to make sure it could handle some wear and tear.

The finished cushions

• They are really nice.
• Easy to clean and store.

Finally, I placed all the cushions on the bench. It looked so much better, and the team was super happy with them. Now, sitting on the bench during timeouts is actually comfortable! The cushions are done. Mission accomplished!