How to convert a twin bed into a couch + DIY cover button & tufting tutorial

 Wondering how to convert a twin bed into a couch? You are at the right place. A few months ago, we planned to move and gave away our couch but at the last minute, our moving plan got canceled. Till we buy a good couch that suits over taste, we wanted something to fill the place of a couch for our guests to sit. That is when I decided I will turn the twin bed we had in the storage into a couch for time being. 

Until I got this idea, we tried different ways like wrapping a bunch of pillows as a backrest for the bed but didn’t like the look. We also considered making a bolster pillow for sides and one long pillow for the back then my husband got this idea of making everything together. I made the pattern and decided to give it a try. I loved how it turned out except for the tufting part which I will discuss later. Now, Let's jump right into the making process. 

Materials Used for twin bed couch:

One queen flat sheet/bedspread

10-12 pillows for stuffing

Hand sewing needle and thread

Sewing machine with matching thread

For DIY cover buttons & Tufting:

Any takeout box for the base

Beads to act as a loop

Hand sewing needle

Tape

Stuffing

Fabric to make the cover button

Scissors

Tufting needle

Waxed thread

Normal buttons with two or four holes for the back

Couch pillow pattern

I wanted to make this couch pillow as budget-friendly as possible so I used supplies I already had at home. Since it is a really big pillow I could not record or take pictures of the step by step process. In case, you want to attempt this project and have any doubt about the steps described below feel free to ask me in the comments below or DM me on any of my social media. 

Step 1: Cover the mattress using a fitted sheet and use the flat sheet on top to act as a bed skirt to cover the bottom portion of the bed frame. Just leave the extra flat sheet to overflow and tuck it in to look like a bed skirt. Here, I have used a full-size bed sheet set for the twin bed as the bigger size helps to cover the bottom area more. 

Bonus: Under the bed also acts as a toy storage

Step 2: Measure and cut the fabric panels for sewing the couch pillow. One queen flat sheet perfectly fits all the patterns and has extra for making cover buttons. 

Step 3:  Let's start sewing. First, sew the back panel to the upside panel. Then attach the front panel to the other side of the upside panel. Now, you will have something as shown below. 

Step 4: Attach 2 sides of the arm pieces to the upside-down "L" shaped front piece on both sides.  

Step 5: Attach the side panel to both sides. 

Step 6: Now, join the front square to the sides arms(Two sides from the "L" shaped front and third side from the side panel. 

Step 7: Join the bottom panel to the corresponding areas, leaving a decent size opening when joining the bottom panel with the back panel for stuffing. 

Step 8:Sewing part is now done, Remove the stuffing from the pillows and stuff it inside the couch pillow. Fill the pillow more than you think as the fibers get loose as you put them to use. 

Step 9: Thread a hand sewing needle and close the opening with a ladder stitch to complete the couch pillow. 

 

I absolutely love how this turned out except for the fact that I should have used a zipper at the back instead of hand sewing it with ladder stitch. Let me tell you why, once we started using this, my toddler started to sit on the top of the pillow on one side so I feel the pillow started to lose the structure just on the side where it is used a lot. So, I wish if I had used a zipper, I would have just opened it and fill it more. Let me know in the comments what you think about this part. 

This leads me to think, maybe I should try tufting to make it look nicer. Though, I don't want to spend $25 more for just the tufting needles and buttons. I decided to buy just the needles and make the buttons with the things I already had in my craft stash. 

How to make fabric buttons without any kit:

Step 1: Make a template for a 1/2" circle and use it to cut a 1/2" circle from a take out box using markers and scissors. 

Step 2: Use a needle to poke two holes in the middle of the plastic circle you just cut. (Just like how it will look in the two-hole buttons) Use a piece of cardboard at the bottom. 

Step 3: Take the bead you are planning to use as a loop at the back and attach it to the holes securely using a needle and thread. Double the thread for extra security. 

Step 4: Make three to four knot to hold it in place and cut the extra thread.

Step 5: Use duct tape or any glue to secure the knot in place. 

Step 6: Use the circle with a bead as a template, cut the fabric circle 1/2" more than the plastic circle diameter. 

Step 7: Use a needle and thread, make a running stitch around the fabric circle. Hold the end of the thread with a needle. 

Step 8: Place a small amount of stuffing inside the fabric circle. Then place the plastic circle with a bead on top

Step 9: Pull the thread with the needle end from the fabric piece to close around the plastic circle piece. Pull it tight and stitch around to secure the fabric and cut the excess thread.

Step 10: Your fabric button is now ready for tufting. 

How to tuft a pillow 

Measure and cut the waxed thread around 34", double the thread so it is 17". Thread it inside the bead/back of the button leaving the folded end of the thread inside and make a knot by leaving the loose ends inside the folded end. 

Thread the loose ends into the tufting needle. Mark the areas where you want to tuft, both in the front and the back. Squeeze the pillow, insert the needle from the front to the marked area at the back. Pull it tight to your liking. Then, thread the loose ends through two holes in a button and tie three to four knots to secure. Cut the excess thread. Repeat the same, to complete the tufting. (Why do you need a button?  As the hole, the tufting needle makes is bigger it is not possible for the thread to hold the knot to tie securely)

Now that the tufting is complete, tell me which one you like better. Before tufting ? or after tufting? I am kind of leaning towards the no tufting pillow. When I look in the pictures, I feel the tufting look better but in real life, I feel like the no tufting look was better. Oh god! It's hard, So tell me what you think in the comments below. 

In the end, I am happy that I finished this challenge successfully by turning a twin bed into a couch. And one more thing that I wanted to share here is, I kind of went with a follow of how I wanted things to work. Please don't take this as a guide to do perfectly but for sure take this as an inspiration and make your own. 

When you are sewing with the measurements in the pattern specified above, You will get an inch or half an inch extra fabric in some places which you can just trim and continue sewing. I actually made this pattern with the finished measurements in the mind and did not calculate the seam allowance perfectly. Please take note of that. Also, the tufting part, I am not sure if it is the correct way to tuft a pillow. It worked for me so I am just sharing with you all my processes. 

As always I am happy to hear your thoughts on this project in the comments below. See you all next time with another DIY. 

Other DIY pillows you might like, 

How to sew a body pillow

How to sew Baby head support pillow

DIY No-sew Shape pillows

DIY Nursing pillow

DIY Car neck pillow

DIY Travel Pillow