How to Make Your Own Zafu
I “borrowed” this from Michigan Buddhist and Buddhamind. The borrowed is in quotes because I am re-borrowing it. This article first came from a site called No Zendo, who, in turn, found it in an out-of-print book, “To Forget the Self: An Illustrated Guide to Zen Meditation
” by John Daishin Buksbazen 1. I posted it on a small directory and article site I had at the time, and it got more of a response than any other article. That site has been down since 2002 or 2003, and I was pleased to see that the article was still out there… I even recognized my own edits and additions to the original 2.
Here’s the article with a few additional additions:
First, what is a zafu?
It’s a cushion to sit on during sitting meditation.
Do I need one?
Nope.
Having said that, here are some instructions which I borrowed from a wonderful web site called No Zendo. Unfortunately they are no longer online.
The following information was originally published by the Zen Center of Los Angeles and was found in one of their fine books, entitled “To Forget the Self: An Illustrated Guide to Zen Meditation” by John Daishin Buksbazen. Unfortunately, this book is now out of print. It is gratefully presented here as a help for those getting started on their own.
SUGGESTED FABRIC
A sturdy material such as a cotton/polyester blend. I used 100% cotton duck fabric in my zafus. It’s natural, and heavy duty…but make sure you have a strong needle in your sewing machine! Unless you plan to use your zafu strictly at home, you might want to consider using a solid, dark color of fabric. That wild, Hawaiian print you find so attractive in the store might be distracting if you are doing zazen with others.
SUGGESTED FILLING
Kapok is traditional. I like using buckwheat hulls. This can make the zafu a little messy to fill at first 3, but the buckwheat provides a nice, firm seat. You can also use polyester fiberfill, but I find that makes it too soft.
BASIC PIECES
STEP 1.
Pleat the length of cloth. There should be fourteen 3/4 inch pleats, 3 inches apart. To pleat:
a) Beginning 6-1 /2 inches from the left edge of the length, make three marks, 3/4 inch apart, thus marking out the first pleat:
Three inches after the first set of pleat markings, make the second set, as indicated above. Continue doing this till you have 14 pleats. When you finish, the last pleat marking should be 3 inches from the right edge. (If you wish to have narrower pleats, of course, simply increase the number of pleats.)
b) Next, iron the pleats and pin them. They should all be folded and ironed in toward the left-hand side. For each set of pleat markings, fold the third in toward the first as shown, and then pin as shown below:
STEP 2.
Now, having completed the first step, take the right edge of the pleated strip cloth and pin it to the left end of the strip, 3-1/4 inches from the left edge:
STEP 3.
Mark each circle of cloth at four equidistant points. Turn pleated length of cloth inside out. Pin each circle to the pleated strip, one circle to the top edge and one to the bottom edge, at each of the four points:
STEP 4.
Next, ease (pin) all the pleats in to the circles, top and bottom. Sew the circles to the length of cloth:
STEP 5.
Turn inside out and stuff with kapok or buckwheat hulls (through opening in the side that the zafu will have) It’s best to use a lot of stuffing material. Kapok will slowly compress with use and buckwheat hulls eventually breakdown:
That’s it!
You could sew a zipper in the opening or simply sew it closed.
If you’re like me, your zafu may end up with a bad-looking hand stitched opening on the side. To cover it up try sewing an extra piece of fabric on for a handle. Take a piece of cloth 2-3 inches wide and little longer than the zafu is high. Sew the long edges together and then turn it inside out. Iron with the seam in the middle. You could try a decorative stitch down both edges or embroider your name (if it will be on the floor with many other zafus). Sew the handle over the opening into the top and bottom seam line as you stich the top, bottom, and sides together.
Most important of all…..
sit on it regularly!
Love your handiwork by regularly meditating 
- I’m going to have to pick this one up sometime, though it’s out of print, looks like it’s available online. ↩
- Including the intro and the strap to hide my bad side stitching – which I had not seen at the time, but that I was pleased to find as a feature on a new Zafu I ordered a few years back (I’m lazy about sewing these days). The handle makes a heavy, buckwheat-filled zafu much easier to carry. ↩
- And make sure you sew all the seams very carefully, so you don’t leave a trail of hulls behind you. ↩
Notes on stuffing your zafu with buckwheat hulls: These are small and can be messy. If you prefer to stuff your zafu with buckwheat, I'd leave a smaller opening, and use a large funnel to get the hulls in there.