Pillow Covers for Crate Seating

We bought foam cushions on sale at Hobby Lobby. Everything is on sale there eventually so if you need things, be patient. Also, use the app for coupons!  

Crates at school for small group seating are much more comfortable is you have a cushion. We wanted these to be economical, fit the Animal Print/Jungle theme, and be simple to make. As an added plus, the pillow covers can easily be removed and laundered!

Who needs a pattern, right?

Jessica will be teaching second grade again this year, and since I'm retired, I'll be volunteering now and then.  She's also enjoying sewing, knitting, and cross stitch... in her spare time, haha.

We measured fabric so that it would go all the way around the foam cushion, plus about 6 inches. This extra amount allows for a tiny folder on the short ends and for some overlap where you will insert the cushion.  (See where my hand is showing you?)  You've probably seen many pillowcases made in this way.

After you make the folds on the short edges of your long piece of fabric, fold the end towards the center and leave a 3 inch overlap.  Lay this out with the right side of the fabric on the inside!
Stitch across the top edge of the pillow cover and then the bottom edge.

Turn right side out, press, and insert your cushion.

 In this last photo, you can see how badly she needed to replace the seat cushions!  We had cut the old ones out of a foam bed cover and they were not very "cushiony" any more.  You know as well as I do that it's always something in your classroom, right? There never seems to be enough budget for things in your classroom, so any way you can make the budget stretch, go for it!  Children need a nice classroom environment to reach their potential and learn to love to come to school.

Good luck this school year, everyone! May you teach them to believe in themselves and dream a little bigger for their futures.