DIY: Foam Zabuton Mat/Cushion Set

Here’s a way to make your own affordable foam Zabuton mat with high density firm foam from Amazon. You can purchase the pillow cushion on Amazon as well or just put a sheet or wrap it with a piece of fabric as well. You will be able to make three foam mats for $27 and there will be extras for Dhamma family. The cushion instructions are for 2″ tall ones and will make eight for $30. You can stack them to make them taller/better suited for your sitting position.

Tools you will need to make the mat and cushion:

  • A sharp box cutter or a serrated bread knife.
  • A ruler to measure the foam to cut.
  • A hard straight edge to use to cut the foam into squares or use a marker to make the cutting line.

Things you will need to make the mat:

Things you will need to make the 2″ tall cushion:

Making the Zabuton Mat:

  1. Use the ruler and mark the 72″ long foam into three pieces of 24″. This is where you will cut the foam and it will create three cushions.
  2. You can either use the ruler and mark a line to cut or you can use the hard straight edge and place it at the 24″ mark cut it.
  3. Now if you use the box cutter, just extend the blade a bit longer about 1-1.5″ long so you can put pressure on the line or straight edge and push firmly down and run the blade down the line/edge. The blade should be sharp and you should have a hard surface underneath the foam to make the cut quick and easy.
  4. Now if you use the serrated bread knife, you can stand the foam on the 2″ side so you can cut down on the foam. Use the marked line or edge in place to slowly saw the foam.
  5. Now you will have three piece of 2″ Height x 24″ Width x 24″ Width.
  6. You can buy a pillow case to fit that size or just use a sheet to cover and tuck in the sides.

Making the Zabuton Cushion:

  1. Instructions are the same as making the Zabuton Mat, but measure, mark, and cut the foam in half so it will be eight 9″ wide pieces.
  2. You can buy a pillow case to fit that size or just use the sheet of the Zabuton Mat and put it underneath it.

If you have any other questions or need clarification just ask in the comments. Sit Happy!

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