How the mattress works. How to make a foam mattress with your own hands

If it is not included, it can be sewn. You can find out how to sew a mattress topper yourself in less than two hours from our article. Step-by-step instructions will help to do this even for those who have not sat at a sewing machine since school days. A case with an elastic band is one of the most demanded models. It is easy to sew, put on and take off for washing.

Why do you need a case

When new furniture appears in the house, you want to keep it in its original form as long as possible. Covers help to do this. Since a mattress is a rather expensive item, it is often upholstered with beautiful jacquard fabric, it is difficult to clean it, then a cover is also needed for him. It protects from all sides against dust and dirt, moisture, mechanical damage.

Ready-made mattress toppers are different, they can even correct the imperfections of a berth due to the filler. The cover can be zipped and cover the product completely from all sides. And there is also a variant of a cover with an elastic band.

How to sew a mattress cover to prevent slipping?

He wraps himself around the mattress from the sides. In all cases, the sheet is laid over the mattress topper, so it should be non-slip and not shed.

Many people prefer to buy a ready-made cover, but since it is quite easy to sew a suitable mattress topper with their own hands, anyone who knows how to hold a needle and thread in their hands can handle this. There are not many details in it, and the sewing process does not take much time.

Materials, tools, measurements

Choosing a fabric. A cover with an elastic band is unlikely to perform decorative functions; rather, its purpose is to protect the mattress from dirt, dust, and liquids. The fabric should be:

Non-slip so that the bedding does not slide out;
Strongly dyed to avoid staining the sheet;
Non-marking so that you do not have to wash it too often;
Air and moisture permeable to make it comfortable to sleep;
Do not shrink after washing.

Give preference to natural materials. Perhaps the best choice would be a dense cotton or linen fabric: satin, chintz, calico and others.

Taking measurements

First you need to determine the amount of material. Take measurements for the length (L), width of the mattress (W) and height (H). We calculate the amount of fabric by the formula: L * W * H * 1.5. The height is multiplied by one and a half in order to be able to wrap the mattress around the edges. That is, if its dimensions are 200 cm in length, 160 cm in width and 20 cm in height, you need a piece of fabric of at least 200 * 160 * 30 cm.Do not forget about the allowances for the drawstring for the elastic of about 3 cm around the entire perimeter.

The length of the elastic is calculated as follows: we calculate the perimeter of the mattress and subtract about 30-50 cm (for a large product we subtract more, for a small one less). For example, if you have a mattress 2 meters long and a meter wide, then the elastic bands will need 200 + 200 + 100 + 100-50 = 550 cm.

We select tools

To sew a mattress cover with our own hands, we will need:

A piece of fabric of the right size;
Elastic;
Threads to match the fabric;
Scissors;
Crayon or pencil;
Sewing centimeter;
Sewing machine.

To sew a mattress topper with an elastic band, you do not need special skills in needlework. Even novice seamstresses can do it.

We cut out and sew a mattress cover with our own hands

Prepare a cloth, chalk or pencil, scissors, a centimeter. It is best to cut on a large table.

If the width of the fabric is equal to the height and width of the mattress. In this case, you need to carve out a single rectangle according to the above measurements:

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, fasten at the corners so that the material does not slide out;
Set aside a segment from the fold to the edge, the length of which is calculated according to the formula w / 2 + h * 1.5 + 3 cm.With a width and height equal to 100 cm and 20 cm, the segment should be 83 cm;
At this distance from the fold, draw a straight line along the entire cut of the fabric, equal to d + h * 1.5 * 2 + 6 cm.With a length of 200 cm and a height of 20 cm, the line should be 266 cm.

For a product measuring 200 * 160 * 20 cm, we got a rectangle of 83 * 266 cm drawn on the fabric. Cut it out with sharp scissors. The seam allowances have already been taken into account.

It is necessary to sew a mattress topper with an elastic band so that it holds well. To do this, the cover must wrap around the sides and corners. In each corner, you need to cut a square, the sides of which will be equal to the height of the mattress, multiplied by one and a half and minus 1.5 cm.That is, if the height is 20 cm, you need to cut a square with sides of 28.5 cm.Then the sections are grinded together and processed. You get a pocket, which will then be put on at a corner and close the sidewalls. We do this at all four corners.

If the fabric is narrower than the width of the mattress. To sew a mattress topper with an elastic band made of narrow fabric, you can do the following:

Sew two pieces of fabric together along the edge line;
Press the seam apart;
Make a pattern as described above;
Form pockets for corners.

In this case, the seam will go exactly in the middle of the cover, and if it is rough, it can interfere with sleep.

There is another option, with cutting out several details:

Cut out the central part of the cover, equal to the length and width of the mattress;
Cut out the sidewalls: two sides equal to the height and length, and two sides equal to the width and length. The sides must be sewn together with the formation of pockets and sewn to the main panel. In this case, there will be no seam in the middle, it will go along the edge of the mattress.

If you are going to sew a mattress cover with your own hands, choose for this a durable, non-fading, non-marking fabric made from natural materials: cotton, linen.

You will need a rectangle equal to the width and length of the mattress, plus the height of the sides, multiplied by one and a half, and 3 cm by the drawstring.

Sewing in an elastic band

The cover is almost ready. Now you need to make a drawstring for the elastic. We process an open cut with an overlock or zig-zag. We bend the cut to the wrong side by 0.5 cm, secure with pins. Then we bend it again, now by 1.5 cm, take out the pins and fasten it manually with a needle and thread. We sew the hem on a typewriter, leaving an unstitched section of 2 cm, through which we will thread the elastic.

We put a safety pin (with a clasp) on the end of the elastic and thread it into the finished drawstring. When you have threaded the entire elastic, sew both ends together. Spread the elastic evenly. The cover is ready.

Now you know how to sew a mattress topper yourself. It is not as difficult as it might seem, and even easy for those with sewing skills.

Having mastered this technique and understanding the cutting principle, you can sew covers for upholstered furniture and chairs.

Mattress cover: purpose

The mattress topper performs several functions.

Protective is the most important.
If we are talking about a child's bed, then the possibility of contamination is obvious: the baby can spill juice or milk, describe himself at night, crush a chocolate candy on the bed, or even decorate the bed with a felt-tip pen with his own hand. If the latter is protected by a mattress cover, then to solve the problem, it is enough to remove and wash it.

This kind of trouble happens to adults too: the same juice, coffee, crumbs from a sandwich at night, and so on. Perhaps such pollution will be smaller in size, but it will add hassle. It is not easy to clean and dry the mattress surface, given its thickness and dimensions.

Hygienic - in a dream, a person sweats, although not as intensely as when moving. This moisture is mainly absorbed by the fabric of the sheet, and partly by the material of the mattress. If the sheet or cover is made of non-hygroscopic fabric, moisture remains on the skin, which causes overheating and, of course, disrupts sleep.

The performance of the same function is provided by another property of the fabric - breathability. No matter how high porosity the filler material is, if you sew a cover for it from an impenetrable synthetic fabric, this useful quality is lost in vain, since the mattress will lose its ability to ventilate and may become unusable.

Aesthetic - a product with spots and marks, even if it has retained its user qualities, evokes unpleasant feelings. A mattress topper made of the right, easily washable fabric will give it a more attractive, neat look.

Tools and materials

The fabric for the mattress topper must be dense, easy to clean, durable and consist of at least 50% natural fibers. If you need to sew a cover for a children's mattress, then the fabric should be 100% natural. Dense cotton fabrics are most suitable - satin, calico, flannel. Cotton jersey is a good option: the fleecy surface keeps the sheet from wrinkling.

Ready-made quilted fabric is available for sale. Its cost is higher, but it is ideal as a material for a mattress topper.

Sewing machine, needles, scissors, tape measure.
Chalk for marking fabrics, thread, zipper, cutter or cord, depending on which model you decided to sew: with a zipper or with an elastic band.

How to sew a case with an elastic band

Fabrics with a large amount of natural fiber in the composition must shrink during the first wash. To prevent this from happening to the finished product, before you sew the mattress topper with your own hands, the fabric for it is washed and ironed.

Measure the parameters of the product as accurately as possible.
The cutting of the fabric depends on the width of the roll and the size of the mattress. The pattern includes 5 parts: a rectangle with dimensions equal to the length and width of the product, 2 sides with dimensions equal to the width and height, and 2 - length and height. The elasticated cover protects the product from one side only.
For large roll widths, a pattern can be made from one piece of fabric. For example: with a fabric width of 200 cm, a mattress width of 80 cm and a height of 20 cm, the workpiece can be cut out entirely. The fabric is folded twice, a distance equal to the sum of half the width, height and a seam allowance of 1.5 cm is laid from the fold.A straight line with a length equal to the sum of the length, two heights and the seam allowance is laid along the fold line. A rectangle is drawn with chalk and cut out.
With a small width, all parts are cut out with their own hands separately with a seam allowance. All fragments are folded with the wrong side to each other and swept away.
How to sew a mattress cover yourself?

If you only use pins, you won't be able to sew the cover neatly, especially if the fabric is thick.
The product is sewn and tried on.
Along the perimeter, a drawstring is sewn to the edge, and then a drawstring is attached - a strip of fabric 7 mm wide. An elastic band is pulled through the drawstring with a pin. The hole in the drawstring can be left open, or it can be sewn up - this is not essential.

In the photo you can see the mattress topper with an elastic band.

How to sew a zippered cover

A mattress topper with a zipper will require not so much more work as more accuracy. But such a product protects the feather bed from both sides. The zipper can be sewn in both on the short end side and the long one. The latter option greatly facilitates the process of removing the cover, especially from a mattress of great height.

Dimensions are measured - length, width, height.
2 large rectangles and side parts are cut out on a pre-washed and ironed fabric. In order to reduce the number of seams, you can cut out the sidewalls from one piece of fabric. Its dimensions are the height and perimeter of the product.
Each seam requires an allowance of at least 5 mm.
Details are cut out of the fabric with their own hands, swept with the wrong side to each other and overlaid.
From the end or side side, when connected to the bottom of the mattress cover, a zipper is inserted. The seams are processed with an overlock.

The video details how to sew a zippered cover.

Can I make a mattress for a sofa or bed myself?

A modern person is so accustomed to comfort and convenience that he cannot even imagine how comfortable it is to rest on a hard surface. The surface of the sofa must necessarily be relatively soft and comfortable.

We sew a mattress topper with an elastic band with our own hands

This term usually refers to a mattress. Like all other things in everyday life, they have properties to wear out and deform. Need a new mattress? Do you have golden hands? Is it expensive to buy a mattress for a sofa? You can try to do it yourself, showing your creativity. The eyes are afraid, but the hands do as you know.

In the manufacture, you can use natural and artificial materials. You can make a simple version with fillers or foam rubber. But the best is the product of our time - spring mattress on the sofa. Holidays on it cannot be compared with other options.

In order not to be mistaken in size, the cover and foam rubber must be cut out at the same time. To do this, you need to make a markup with a pencil, marker or a piece of soap. When marking the cover, leave a few centimeters for seams and allowances. It is more practical to make a cover for the future mattress in the likeness of a pillowcase, so it can be easily removed and washed if necessary.

To do this, leave 20-30 centimeters in length.

The next step is to work with a sewing machine. After cutting, you need to sew the cover and overwrap the edges. You can finish the work at this stage if foam was used for stuffing. All that remains is to put on the sewn cover on the cut piece of foam rubber. To increase rigidity and elasticity, you can insert several pieces of foam rubber on top of each other, or make one (several) layers of felt.

Should you make your own mattress?

The mattress can also be sewn from other materials. A synthetic winterizer product begins with sewing a cover. In this case, it should be with a zipper, for ease of stuffing. Having cut out the required size, they begin to work on a sewing machine, and a zipper is attached there. After that, it is filled with filler and leveled. In order to prevent individual pieces of filler from piling up, the product is stitched through and through in several parallel places with a thick thread.

The hardest thing to do on your own spring mattress on the sofa with a wooden frame. Not everyone can handle this laborious task. To do this, you first need to make blanks of springs (ideally, purchase ready-made ones). The assembly procedure begins with the vertical alignment of the springs in rows. The endings must be all strictly on the same level. In the lower part, you need to fix the structure with wooden boards and make a tight strapping of the springs. To do this, nails are driven in at the ends, connecting the wooden slats to each other.

The springs additionally need to be tied with a cord one by one - along the structure and along its diagonal. On top of an even layer, it is necessary to lay technical spunbond, then a layer of foam rubber or batting. Then the resulting structure is covered with fabric, which is fixed with a construction stapler. The manufacturing technology seems complicated at first glance, but if you are confident in your abilities and want to try to make your own mattress, everything is in your hands.

For manufacturing, you will need not only high-quality materials, but also certain skills. The production facilities strictly adhere to the technology, carry out numerous studies and control the quality. Modern orthopedic mattresses take the shape of the body, which contributes to the organization of proper sleep in terms of health. It is almost impossible to independently take into account all the details and make a high-quality, convenient product, so it is reasonable to know whether you need it or not.

What you need to make your own mattress for furniture

First you need to figure out what you may need for work, prepare the necessary parts and tools. It is necessary to think over what materials the new mattress will consist of, choose a cover and insides for stuffing. For covers, as a rule, a dense, wear-resistant fabric is used. Packing options can be different: foam rubber, synthetic winterizer, cotton wool, remnants of fabrics and threads, felt - these are cheap materials.

Having decided on the choice, it is necessary to designate the dimensions and write them down for cutting the cover. The packing is chosen according to the dimensions of the future product.

The next stage of manufacturing spring mattress on the sofa preparation of the spring block and cutting of the required size wooden slats, which will be the frame for the product. For work you will need a hammer, nails, scissors. In advance, you need to prepare a sewing machine, threads, needles, cords.

Benefits of a branded product

If the self-manufacturing process turned out to be too complicated or there is simply no time for it, you can turn to traditional methods and purchase a branded product. Molto Bene offers Italian mattress options for every taste. A wide range of inexpensive and affordable models, original and exclusive options.

And in conclusion, I would like to note that the main advantages of quality mattresses are sound and healthy sleep, the adoption of an anatomical position for the spine of the joints. The design of the mattress is designed in such a way as to relieve tension from the whole body, allowing the muscles to relax.

To shoot or not to shoot?

Many buyers with
face this dilemma when choosing a mattress. Those of the manufacturers who make a removable cover with a zipper present this as a plus: after all, the cover can get dirty, and if it is possible to remove and wash it, then this is very good. Another plus: such a mattress can be easily repaired, because the rigidity changes over the years and the consumer may want to replace the filling. My experience in repair shows that when buying an expensive mattress in the 20-30tr category, the client does not mind giving 20% of the cost every 5 years for repairs: replace part of the filling, replace the cover, etc.

I will reveal a secret what the disadvantages for the manufacturer are in this technology: the cover is sewn by hand on a typewriter, the quality of sewing depends entirely on the experience of the seamstress, as well as on her mood, on whether the children and grandchildren are fed, whether they have done their homework, etc. I say this because I know, because I myself exploit unfortunate women) for my production of orthopedic mattresses in Yekaterinburg. Sewing a large double cover costs me 1100r, and the time is 5 hours. But what to do, sewing removable covers on mattresses is the lot of small manufacturers who cannot afford to buy a "helicopter". However, if sales continue to grow, then we can think about purchasing this shaitan machine, it’s too early to think about it.

The second approach is non-removable covers. At the factory
where I worked at the beginning of my mattress career, they use this technology. I remember how I was forced to learn by heart as the alphabet of the reasons why it is more profitable for customers to buy mattresses with non-removable covers. Like ready-made answers to questions, fighting objections. As a sales manager, I have even prepared template QPs for wholesale customers, where the non-removable cover technology is presented as an advantage. These are the axioms: 1. a non-removable cover is a smoother product, it is sewn directly onto the filling, which eliminates sagging or over-tightening of the cover. 2. if you want to protect your mattress from dirt - buy a mattress topper. 3. Want to see what's inside - order a viewing window with a zipper.

Having cooked a little in the mattress environment, I figured out what's what. The real reason for the application of the technology of sewing the cover directly on the filling is that any person can be the operator of this machine, any, as they say, “sober Tajik”. Showed a couple of times how and what to do and go! The quality remains consistent regardless of the operator's whim. This drastically reduces the cost of sewing the cover both in monetary terms and also comes out faster in time. No wonder the Sonreal factory today is a recognized leader in the region for cheap mattresses. And in the expensive segment, the same models of spring mattresses are cheaper than, for example, from Concorde or Consul.

So, the two technologies have both pros and cons. In my opinion, end customers are much more interested in buying a mattress that can be repaired, see what's inside, wash the cover.

DIY mattress topper - for children and adults

It's like buying a car - what for do you need a car that does not open the hood to be able to repair the engine? Or wheels are not removed? It is wrong somehow with a clever look to suggest to people "order six wheels for your car at the factory at once, in case any of the four are lowered." But at the same time, the method of sewing the filling without the participation of a professional arrogant seamstress burdened with family problems is very attractive for an entrepreneur. The cost of the equipment will pay off someday anyway.

It remains only to wait for the factories to understand the advantages of both methods and not start working really smartly and for people. It would seem that you have bought a "helicopter" - well done, you have reduced the cost and the time for making the mattress! But keep the ability to remove the cover! Make you a full-length zipper!

Making a foam mattress with your own hands is a great idea for those who want to provide themselves with a comfortable sleeping place, but at the same time spend a minimum of money. Depending on the materials used, you can save up to 50% of the cost of the finished product.

Types of structures

Most often, wadded and foam mattresses are made at home. The advantage of the first of them is the naturalness of the materials, and the main advantages of the second are that the foam rubber:

The disadvantages of this material are sensitivity to moisture, deformation (punching) during prolonged use.

Homemade mattresses are of two types:

Springless mattress. Its optimal thickness is 10 cm. Such a product is distinguished by the maximum ease of manufacture: it is enough to cut the prepared material, process its edges, sheathe it with fabric, and put on a cover.
Mattress with springs. This design is similar to a factory-made orthopedic mattress. The most beneficial to health are spring bases with independent springs, but if such a design cannot be found, a standard spring block can be used. The manufacturing process consists of two stages. On the first of them, a box is assembled, which acts as a base, and on the second, a filler is placed in the box. For the upper and lower parts of the box, foam rubber with a thickness of at least 5 cm is used, and for the side edges a material with a thickness of 3 cm is suitable.

In the manufacture of any of these structures, the master will need a dense fabric for sheathing, strong threads.

Springless product manufacturing

Let's try to figure out how to make a mattress with our own hands, without using spring blocks. For work you will need:

dense polyurethane that will support the structure on the sides (its thickness should vary from 5 to 10 cm);
main filler (at least 14-15 cm thick);
thick fabric for sewing a cover.

As a filler, it is desirable to use a single piece of foam rubber of a suitable size. If it was not possible to find a sheet of the required dimensions, then you can take several pieces of material and glue them. To make a sleeping place of increased rigidity, it is recommended to purchase a coconut coir and put it between layers of foam rubber. You can also make a structure with different rigidity of the sides, in which case coconut fiber is placed on one side of the filler, and on the other - polyurethane foam.

In addition to materials, the master will need tools, namely: a sewing machine, a sharp knife, scissors, tape measure. It is necessary to purchase a special glue with which the elements of the product will be connected. It is important that the glue is safe for health, does not emit toxins, and does not have unpleasant odors.

The step-by-step collection begins with the manufacture of the frame. When it is ready, you need to measure the length and width of the free space inside it, and then fit a piece of foam rubber to size and place it in the frame. It is recommended to cut the material with a sharp shoe or clerical knife.

Then the cover should be sewn. First, the mattress is measured, and then two pieces of fabric are measured. When cutting fabrics, it is important to reserve the thickness of the sides and seams. The seams should be left about 3 cm on each side. It is desirable that the cover is tight and fits on the frame with some difficulty. In this case, the finished product will be sufficiently elastic and durable (the foam rubber will not "walk" inside the cover).

It is better to sew a cover from natural fabrics, this will reduce the risk of developing allergies, in addition, it is much more pleasant to sleep on natural fabric. The threads used must be strong, since the durability of the product largely depends on them. The finished cover must be put on the mattress and sewn up from the free side. Such a cover is non-removable, but if you wish, you can make another, removable cover equipped with zippers or buttons. The finished mattress needs to be placed in fresh air for a while (on a balcony or loggia) so that unpleasant odors disappear.

Assembling the structure with springs

Now let's take a step-by-step look at the process of making a product with springs. First of all, you need to cut out all the elements of the future product, and then put a layer of foam rubber on a horizontal surface, on top of it - a layer of felt, a spring base, another layer of felt and a layer of foam rubber. Felt is necessary so that the springs do not damage the foam rubber. On the sides, the structure is closed with foam inserts.

To connect all the elements to each other, special glue is used, if necessary, you can replace it with ordinary PVA. Some craftsmen use liquid nails, however, a hard crust forms in the places where they are applied, which can crack during the use of the product.

To make the cover, you will need thick fabric and batting. From them you need to cut out parts of suitable sizes, and then sew batting to the fabric, and sew the resulting rectangle in several places. This is to ensure that the batting does not shift during use.

Then the protruding edges of the batting are cut off, the rectangle along the perimeter is stitched with an overlock seam. After that, the parts of the cover are connected to each other using decorative braids. First, it is sewn to large details (to the top, bottom of the future mattress), and then narrow parts are attached and sewn to it. At the request of the master, the cover is equipped with zippers that allow it to be removed from the mattress for washing.

There are different types of mattresses in the store. Most often, people make a foam mattress with their own hands using improvised means. This option is the most common and convenient. How to make a mattress with your own hands? You can get an economical option (spring, feather), but very acceptable for use.

Materials that will be needed for work

It is worth taking care not only to find free time to make a mattress, but also to prepare materials for its implementation, before making a mattress with your own hands, you will need certain materials.

The main ones are:

Sheathing. Cloth of a dense type, which can be used to wrap the frame and other details;
Threads. They must be very durable;
Sewing machine;
Foam rubber.

You will definitely need hard foam rubber, a cover that can be used indefinitely. The density of foam rubber for a mattress is a relative indicator. The denser it is, the better. Otherwise, he will quickly rinse.

Such products have a certain classification. There are those that go only for upholstery. They are soft and porous. Those that are useful for a mattress are elastic, almost non-porous. Soft foam is only suitable for soundproofing.

Polyurethane is often called foam rubber. This is right. If you can find latex-type polyurethane, which is used specifically for upholstery, then you can consider yourself lucky. It is this material that will be needed in order to make a mattress on your own. Latex-based garments are categorized as "orthopedic". So, without overpaying, you can get a wonderful, soft backing. It is known that a model of an orthopedic type costs a lot of money, especially a branded one.

It is important to choose a cover that is particularly durable. Spring mattresses are the hardest to make. But it justifies the effort. Despite the fact that there will be a reliable cover, and felt as protection from all sides, you can get an excellent model of a mattress without overpaying. After all, branded products are very expensive.

It is enough to pay only for the materials. For the rest, a person will not spend a penny, but only his own efforts. However, you will need more details that will help you make a mattress:

Springs;
Reiki made of wood;
Long, wide nails;
Hammer;
Stapler.

Rivalry in strength

Cotton or foam? Or maybe an orthopedic one? In terms of value on the market, the first 2 positions are at the same price level. But the orthopedic one is beyond competition. For its manufacture, you will need foam rubber, the density of which is quite high. A cover is also needed. It will not be difficult to choose this material in modern conditions.

Cotton wool has the advantage of being natural. Cotton wool is made from cotton. Although this material has a low density, it is safe for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. But it is better to use synthetic filler if there are no people prone to allergies in the house.

Cotton is a priority and because of the excellent property of cotton to keep warm longer than its competitors. But cotton wool has several disadvantages:

Short service life;
Environment for the "settlement" of various kinds of insects.

The required density and rigidity by combining several types of material is justified. It is permissible to simultaneously use a synthetic holofiber, the density of which is high, or polyurethane.

How to make a mattress with your own hands if you use foam rubber? You will need a good cover, it is not necessary to buy a ready-made one. You can make it yourself without overpaying. At the same time, it is very convenient to equip the cover with a zipper to create an opportunity for washing.

Foam rubber is a material made from a liquid that is poured into a special mold.

In the process of using things that contain foam rubber, it is important to avoid getting on the surface of water. It spoils this material, no matter what density it has. Foam rubber can become soft or creep altogether. This filler should only be used in dry rooms. If this product falls into a wet shed, you can say goodbye to it.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

How to make a mattress? You need to decide what parameters the thing will be. Next, measure and cut off the desired piece of foam rubber. The higher its density, the more difficult it is to use scissors. It is better to use a sharp knife for this purpose. If you managed to cut beautifully along the marks, then things will go easier.

Now the cover. It is important to use the dimensions of a ready-made piece of foam rubber. In this case, it is worth considering the seam allowances.

If the cover will have a zipper, you should cut an even larger piece of material in order to successfully insert the zipper.

It is necessary to sew the cover across, and then make longitudinal seams on the other sides. Then you need to process the edges for the zipper insert. It is advisable to choose a non-stretching material that will tightly fit the workpiece.

When you need to make a more rigid version, it is recommended to use felt. This material will protect the foam rubber from quick moisture penetration. The felt is dense and natural. It is made on the basis of wool. Such a filler must be placed on the foam rubber on each side in one layer before placing the blank in the cover.

Another option is to first prepare a cover to match the furniture according to the size of the bed, and then place the material in it. Filler - synthetic winterizer, pieces of holofiber, felt. You can use foam rubber. To prevent the filler from felting, it is advisable to sew the product with a dense thread.

Products using springs

Spring models are easy to make. It is worth using purchased springs. It is easy to choose them by asking the store for special materials for the manufacture of furniture. If you do everything right, you will get an orthopedic mattress with your own hands. Sometimes it is enough to use springs from an old mattress or sofa, making new upholstery. It is recommended to use foam rubber as it. It is easier to create an orthopedic mattress with your own hands if you have:

Spring mechanisms;
Dense material;
Foam rubber.

To make your own mattress, you will also need twine. They need to tie the springs tightly together. Then set up your structure and put it under the bottom of the rail. Secure. Spring structures add density to the product. Then you need to use the filler. Pull the cover from above. The orthopedic mattress with your own hands is ready.

So, to make a mattress with your own hands, you don't need to make huge efforts. But it is important to be able to cut the material by making the correct measurements. It is necessary that the density of the foam is high. Spring designs are also popular, but their manufacture will take more time, skill and material. An orthopedic option will become more convenient, which is suitable for any person.

It is inconvenient to sleep on the couch all the time: even designs equipped with a French folding bed mechanism are inferior in terms of comfort to a bed with an orthopedic mattress. If, in addition to organizing a comfortable sleep, you need to seat guests somewhere, you cannot do without a piece of furniture with a back that can accommodate several people. Then it is worth making something like a sofa out of the bed - making a soft headboard (back), stitching removable covers from a suitable furniture fabric.

As you can see, both furniture products are in demand in everyday life; it is difficult to make a choice between them. It's good if the size of the apartment allows you to attach a sofa and a bed, but if not? In this case, you need to figure out how to sew a mattress on a sofa or make a soft back with a bed cover.

Choice of fabric

The fabric should not only have a stylish look, but also be easy to carry out washing. Quite often, even in fabric catalogs, only dry cleaning or dry cleaning is indicated as a method of cleaning textile material. However, as practice shows, this does not mean that washing is contraindicated.

In order not to sew again, buy a small piece of the fabric you like and wash it in a washing machine at a water temperature of 30 ° C (flocked fabric will not survive washing - it will peel off, do not even try to use it).

Measure the cut before washing - further comparison will show if shrinkage has occurred. Assess the color change, appearance or absence of lint. If the result of the experiments is positive, this piece of fabric will come in handy: you can use it to drag a chair or make a cover for a sofa cushion.

Since furniture fabric is not cheap, sew the invisible part of the cover from coarse calico.
Before cutting, the fabric should be washed, especially coarse calico, which noticeably decreases in size. In addition, the coarse calico must be ironed with steam.
To determine the required amount of material, lay out the patterns on a sheet in a cage. Do not forget to make a reserve of material for shrinkage when cutting.

Mattresses are different

Even in a perfectionist home, annoying misunderstandings happen, so your sofa and bed need to be protected from contamination. If you don't feel like doing anything, get a sheet with an elastic band of a suitable size. She can cope with small dirt, but any spilled liquid is too tough for her. Cleaning a sleeping place is quite problematic, changing every time is too expensive.

What to do? It is best to sew the cover yourself - the purchased one may not fit in size, it will sit on your mattress as a "new thing from someone else's shoulder." After all, mattresses differ in the size and shape of the corners (rounded and straight), and the covers - in the way they are sewn.

The perfect cover fits the mattress tightly, protects it as much as possible from dirt and is easy to clean.

A good solution is to protect the sofa or bed with an additional thin mattress about 5 cm thick.It is easy to make it with your own hands from foam rubber (cheaper option), polyurethane foam, artificial or natural latex (more expensive option). A similar mattress can be washed in the bathroom or just made a new one. Why? The cost of replacing it is much less than purchasing an orthopedic mattress or replacing the upholstery.

Making a thin foam mattress

A sheet of foam rubber (density not less than 25) is easily cut with a sharp knife. Most often, a construction knife with replaceable blades is used for this operation. This is done like this:

A sheet of foam rubber is marked with a marker (felt-tip pen), marks are put.
With the help of a wooden plank, all marks are connected with a straight line.
Under the place of the future cut, we put some unnecessary solid canvas (a piece of board, a piece of thick cardboard, etc.).
Taking the knife strictly vertically, with unhurried, precise, strong movements, we perform the cut.
We check the depth of the cut: we push the resulting hole with our fingers and cut the foam rubber to the bottom.

If there are a lot of seizures at the cut, the tip of the blade (or all of it) should be changed. Curvilinear cuts are made in the same way: a piece is applied, marking is made on it, excess foam is cut off with a vertically installed knife, the resulting cut will not be ideal, but quite acceptable. If necessary, the foam rubber easily sticks together, the resulting seam will be strong and elastic.

Note! When heated, cyanide-containing substances, hazardous to health, are released from the foam rubber, affecting the respiratory and nervous systems even in small doses. Therefore, hot cutting of this material at home is categorically unacceptable.

Cover for a thin mattress made of coarse calico or satin

It is permissible to use ready-made quilted fabric (more natural in composition, with a cotton content) used for making linings or sewing bedspreads. We start by taking measurements: length, width and height. To avoid creating unnecessary seams, take the fabric in one piece. Remember that natural fabrics shrink noticeably; after washing, a piece of 2 m length can completely decrease by 10 centimeters. Therefore, it is best to wash the fabric beforehand.

Leave 1.5 cm of seam allowance. To cut the fabric evenly, wrap the rest over the main part, level the edges. Holding it with your hand, we slightly pull the fabric over ourselves with scissors and make a cut.

We fold the piece of fabric along the fold line, round the corners like on a mattress. We sew the cover along the perimeter on a sewing machine, we pass the edges with a zigzag or overlock.

On the shorter side, we leave a hole for installing the zipper, the indentation along the edges is from 20 to 30 cm.

There is almost no slippage of the fabric on the foam, so carefully, without tugging, we pull the cover over the mattress. We tighten the fabric, straighten the corners, then pick up the folds and tighten again, after which we fasten the zipper.

Cover for a thin mattress made of upholstery fabric

So that our fabric covering neatly covers the mattress from all sides, after marking in the corners, mark the auxiliary lines of the detailed pattern. Applying the template, we round the corners of the upper part, do the same with the corners of the lower part (hem) and draw a straight line at 45 °, following through the intersection points of the lines indicating the height of the mattress.

Cover for orthopedic mattress made of upholstery fabric

The side of the case is essentially a long ribbon. If there is not enough fabric for it, sew from several pieces. Make sure there are no seams on the visible front, or make the seams symmetrical.

2A + 2B - not the exact size (the difference appears due to the presence of rounded corners), the side part will turn out to be longer, the excess is simply cut off. To calculate the length more strictly, you can measure the perimeter of the top.

We process the edges of the seam allowances with a zigzag (if the fabric is frayed), the seam allowances are folded onto coarse calico and straightened along the edge. Sewn on in front of the upper part, the cuts are processed and detached, as well as the sidewalls. The upper part of the cover is ready.

We sweep and sew on the sidewalls. Fold down the seam allowances and shake them off, making an indent of 2 mm. We sew a piece of coarse calico to the sidewall, immediately overlapping the previously unsewn area, we lead a line along the edge.

A double hem with a closed cut, approximately 2 cm wide, is made along the entire bottom edge, secured with a stitch, from 2 to 3 cm remains unstitched for laying the elastic.

You will need

- foam rubber;
- synthetic winterizer, batting or other stuffing;
- fabric for the cover;
- sewing machine;
- threads;
- spring blocks;
- wooden slats;
- cord;
- nails;
- hammer;
- stapler.

Instructions

Before you start making a mattress, determine what will be inside. If you need a removable mattress that can be folded and removed after use, choose a foam or padding base, and for a stationary bed, you can also make a spring mattress.

To make a foam mattress, buy a piece of foam and mark out the shape. There may be several options here. If you need a foldable mattress, make it out of several pieces by placing them across the bed. For a stationary bed, carve out a large mattress from one or two longitudinal pieces. Cut the foam rubber together with an assistant, one of you should stretch the halves, and the other with a sharp knife cut exactly along the marked line.

Mark the pattern on the fabric, adding a mattress allowance on each side and a few centimeters for the seams. To make the cover washable, make it like a pillowcase - with an overlap. To do this, add another 20 cm along the length.

Sew the mattress cover, first all cross sections, then along the length, laying the corners across the side seams along the same width as the width of the foam rubber. Overlock or zigzag all seams. Slide the foam into the cover.

To make a mattress out of batting, padding polyester, or other soft padding, start with a cover. Measure the size of the bed and take into account the thickness of the mattress when creating the pattern. Then sew a cloth cover of the required size, with an overlap or a zipper. Fill it carefully with padding, considering that it will nail down pretty quickly and become twice as thin. To prevent the padding from getting tangled in a lump, sew through the mattress in several places, attaching small pieces of fabric on both sides.

If you want to make a boxspring mattress, you need to buy boxsprings, their number depends on the size of the bed. Arrange them in order, strictly vertically, make sure that the upper ends are at the same level. Fasten the lower parts of the springs with wooden slats 2 cm thick and 6-7 cm wide.

Wire the springs. To do this, drive large nails (50-60 mm) into the ends of the bed opposite each row and bend them away from the springs. Take a strong cord 2-5 mm thick and tie all the springs of each row, first across the bed, then along and last along two diagonals. Lay burlap or other dense fabric over the springs, then a layer of batting or padding polyester, cover the mattress with an upholstery fabric, securing it with a furniture stapler.