How to Make a Casket Lining

Caskets can be purchased in simple or luxurious styles. Some caskets can be preordered with deluxe interior linings. Most caskets contain the coffin proper and some sort of an interior lining of fabric, batting and cardboard. Lining a casket is not difficult and can be accomplished without sewing. The success is in the preciseness of the measuring and the fit of each template section. No matter what size or style, lining a casket can be done efficiently and without an extravagant budget.

Measure the width and length of the interior right and left sides of the casket. Cut two pieces of cardboard to fit these measurements to serve as templates. Cut the side templates so they fit below the closing lip of the casket and the lid closes properly.

Measure the width and length of each interior end of the casket. Cut a piece of cardboard according to these measurements for each casket end.

Measure the width and length of the interior bottom of the casket. Cut a piece of cardboard according to this measurement for the casket interior bottom.

Measure the width and length of the interior lid of the casket. If your lid is concave, follow the contours of the lid with the measuring tape to get the correct measurement. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit the interior lid of the casket. You may decide not to use the cardboard if the lid is concave and instead glue the batting and fabric directly to the lid.

Cut a piece of batting for each cardboard template (right side, left side, top end, bottom end, bottom, lid) measuring one inch longer and wider than each template.

Center the templates on top of the corresponding piece of batting and glue the extra inch of batting on each template edge to the back of the template. Stretch the batting so it lies smooth and flat on the front of each template. Mark the templates with a marker on the backside to identify which template it is.

Cut the fabric to measure 1 inch wider and longer than each batting-covered template. Center the fabric on top of the front batting side of each template and flip the template over. Glue the fabric to the back of the template as you did the batting. Allow the glue to dry. Remove any dried strings of glue.

Apply glue to the edges of the backside of the casket bottom template and press the fabric/batting-covered template into position with the fabric fronts facing the center of the casket. Glue the top and bottom ends into place. Glue the right and left side templates into place. Glue the casket lid template/liner into place.