Home furnishings: a beginner's guide

Cushion covers and curtains are the classic starts.

• An envelope cushion cover needs no zip: two overlapping back panels.
• B&Q says basic curtains are beginner-friendly, and pencil pleat is the easiest curtain to make.
• A zipped cushion cover is a good next step: This 16 in (40 cm) cover uses two 17 x 17 in (42 x 42.5 cm) pieces (1 cm seam allowance each side, plus 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on the zip edge) and a zip foot.
• Prewash fabrics that shrink, like linen and cotton.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Ourlette: Sew envelope cushion covers
2. B&Q: How to make curtains