I've got a futon with the heaviest freaking mattress ever. I also have several cats that like to shed, so the futon needs a cover that I can wash. I had a zip-on cover for it, but getting it off the crazy heavy mattress involved an hour long wrestling match that usually ended in sweat and bruises; getting it back on after washing was twice the trouble. I wanted something like those fitted sheets that go on your bed; those come off in all of 30 seconds. I also wanted the cover to fit closely, without any excess fabric or wrinkles. To that end, I patterned a cover that fitted the shape of the futon mattress, but was styled after a fitted bed sheet. I made this cover using equipment available at TechShop Menlo Park. I'll walk you through how I made mine, but I'm going to be vague about measurements because I didn't take many. Most of this I patterned by draping the fabric over the futon and cutting to shape. To make this, you'll need the following: A piece of fabric large enough to cover the top edge, backrest, seat and front edge of your futon plus about 16" to go around the back
Enough additional fabric to cover the side portions of your futon, plus about 8" extra to go around the back. 1/2 inch elastic, about 10' worth(ish) Two giant safety pinsStep 1: Wash Your Fabric, Even if You Hate This StepShow All Items First off, wash your fabric. This is the part of sewing where many people's projects fail before they're even begun. Fabric shrinks the first time you wash it. The entire point of this cover is that it can be taken off and washed. If you fail to pre-wash your fabric before you start to sew, the first time you wash the finished cover the fabric will shrink and your seams will pucker. Your cover won't fit anymore and will look horrible; even worse, you'll have wasted all the time you spent working on it. A couple of tips for washing your fabric- Zig-zag stitch or serge the cut edges of your fabric so that it doesn't become a huge frayed mess in the wash. See photo above for an example. Wash your fabric on the same settings you intend to wash your cover on.
If you plan to dry your cover on high heat in the future, dry your fabric that way. Remember, you want to get all the shrinkage out of the way before you start sewing. Cottons, linens and some other fabrics will permanently wrinkle if you dry them completely in the dryer. No amount of ironing will get dryer-set wrinkles out of these fabrics. Instead, take them out of the dryer while they're still somewhat damp (not wet; just damp) and immediately iron the snot out of them. Go wash your fabric. Futon mattresses come in all shapes and sizes, and we can even craft custom sizes for special needs (boats, RVs etc.) That being said the vast majority of futons we sell are Twin, Full & Queen, standard mattress sizes. Below is a sampling of the standard sizes we carry and pictures showing them in action. As always If you have any questions or just need more info let us know, we are here to help!Size - TwinStyle Single and Twin size mattresses are the same. The same length as full size mattresses, they are ideal for tight spaces.
They can be used on a tri-fold frame, on a 39" chair, or on a platform bed.Pictured here is a 39" chair with a built in ottoman, although it is also available as a 2-piece split cushion. When laid flat this makes a twin bed. When used as pictured, it is a great place to kick back and relax . Full and Double size mattresses are the same. Full size futons are the most common size sold for use as a sofa. They also provide adequate space to function as a guest bed. They can be used on bi-fold or tri- fold frames, or platform beds.Pictured here is a bi-fold couch frame. Full size is the most common size of futon mattress used on a couch. When used as pictured this style sits like a traditional sofa. When opened to a bed, it makes a standard a full size measuring 54"x75" between the arms. Size - QueenStyle Queen size mattresses are most commonly sold for platform beds. They can also be used as a sofa on a bi-fold frame, but the back of a queen size futon will stick up about 6" higher than a full size futon, which is sometimes awkward.
They are also a bit more difficult to operate than full size mattresses. A queen size futon can also be used on a tri-fold frame to make an over sized chair.Queen size is NOT the most common size of futon mattress used on a couch. When used as pictured this style sits like a traditional sofa with a back that is 6 inches higher than usual. When opened to a bed, it makes a standard a queen size measuring 60"x80" between the arms.Size - 28" ChairStyle There are a variety of ways you can set up a 28" futon chair. If you are only using it as a chair and have no interest in the ottoman, a 28"x54 chair cushion is perfect for you. If you want to be able to use the chair as a bed or lounger, you can purchase an optional ottoman. Depending on your preference, you can choose a split cushion or a one piece. Futon chairs are an invaluable addition to any living room. A 28" futon chair frame is narrower than a twin, and can be purchased with or without an ottoman. Pictured here is a 28" futon chair with a free standing ottoman.
When the chair is reclined, a 28x75" sleeping surface is created. Futon chairs provide a small extra sleeping surface, and also help complete a room's decor. The free standing ottoman for the 28 inch chair measures 28x21". Ottomans make a great place to rest your feet at the end of the day. They can also be used to in conjunction with the chair to make a bed. Size - 39" ChairStyle 39" futon chairs look like a miniature love seats or over sized chairs, but are actually the same width as a twin size. They have a built in ottoman so you can easily create a twin sleeping surface. You can choose to have a 39x21 inch cushion made for the ottoman, which is an ideal choice when you want a comfortable overs ized chair that also provides an extra bed, all without taking up very much space. Pictured here is a 39" futon chair with a twin size cushion and an attached ottoman. When the chair is reclined a twin size 39x75" sleeping surface is created. Size - Love SeatStyle Pictured here is a 54" love seat with a full size futon and an attached ottoman.
The love seat reclines to create a 54x75: sleeping surface. Pictured here is a 54" love seat with a full size futon and an attached ottoman. The love seat reclines to create a full size 54x75" sleeping surface. When not being used as a bed, the ottoman makes a great foot rest, or can be slid into the frame to create spaceThe type and level of use you anticipate for your futon will determine the type of frame to best suit your needs. Futon frames generally come in two broad varieties: folding frames and stationary platform beds. Folding futons are designed to fold in half or thirds and can be used as both a sofa or as a bed. They make excellent guest beds, and can also be used as a primary sleeping surface for the budget-conscious. Bed futons are specially designed to replace a traditional box spring and mattress on a platform bed.Futon love seats are versatile and a futon love seat can be used to complete a living room set. With the built in ottoman this love seat provides a unique sitting/ sleeping solution that folds flat into a full size bed.
Ottomans are built in to the frames using a sliding mechanism. Cushions for love seats and ottomans can be 1 piece or two piece.A Bi-Fold Frame is the most common type of futon frame. A Bi-Fold is a convertible futon sofa-bed frame that utilizes two slat racks. The bi-fold allows the futon mattress to fold once along its length. Full size bi-fold frames are approximately 75" inside the arms, while queen size frames are 80". When opened as a bed, a full size measures 54x75".Queen size bi-fold frames are approximately 80" inside the arms, while full size frames are 75". When opened as a bed, a queen size measures 60x80". The type and level of use you anticipate for your futon will determine the type of frame to best suit your needs. Bed futons are specially designed to replace a traditional box spring and mattress on a platform bed. In order to ensure you get a futon cover that fits your futon mattress, it is important that you measure your mattress correctly. To accurately gauge the size of your futon mattress, measure all three dimensions.