Easy Patio Chair Cushion Recover. DIY

So, as I cleaned up the deck, the one day the weather was nice, I noticed the chair cushions were nasty...nasty ....nasty...

The female that I am headed to the Home Depot to get new ones.

They were anywhere from $18.00- 32.00 each!!!!

Holy Heck.

So just like I did when I covered the swing chair cover, I decided to cover these old things, again.  This is the 3rd time I have recovered.

I wanted to do an easy tutorial because , even though I sew and read and follow a ton of tutorials, sometimes even the most "simple" ones are not so simple.

I guarantee if you can cut a shape (no pattern needed), sew a line with a sewing machine...you can do this one

junk you need:

2 yard+ fabric.  

I needed 2 yards of large bolt upholstery fabric

 and this was actually weather resistant.

I purchased it from Hancock Fabrics, on sale, in the crap section, for 9$ a yard.

Thread

Sewing machine

Scissors 

pins? 

OOOH yucky 

 Step 1: lay out your fabric (doubled) and figure out how those cushions will fit so that the shape can be cut.  

 Step 2: Cut out leaving about 3/4" or so all the way around.  no need to be perfect.  just cut out the shape, like kindergarten.  Remember, the fabric is doubled so when you cut you are cutting out 2 at one time.

Step 3: Probably cut out all at once, but I cut out one pillow at a time, because I like instant satisfaction and I want to see what it will look like.  

Once cut, put RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.  You can pin at this point almost all the way around , but leave one side open so that you can get that ugly cushion inside it.  

Step 4: I start my sewing, with right sides together, about 3 inches up and head south, turn and go all the way around then stop about 3 inches into the las side.  that way it leaves the opening for the cushion cramming.

Remember! right sides together... and I sew about a 3/4 seam, but we aren't picky.  Just sew! we don't want difficult.

Step 5: put the ugly cushion in the new cover.  

Oh my, that is a lot of pattern going on there.  Sorry, its the ironing board cover clashing with the cushion cover.   

 Step 6: OK...the hardest part.  Now that the cushion is safe inside take the opening and iron the area where you are going to sew it closed into about a 3/4 fold.  it will match with what is all ready sewn. 

This just makes it easier to sew it closed in a few.  If you are super crafty feel free to put a zipper in, but if you know how to put a zipper win, you won't be reading this simple tutorial. 

Open....

 Step 7: This is where I pin the opening closed.  see?

Closed

 Step 8: Now take it back to your sewing machind and sew it on the outside at about a 1/4 inch topstitch.  I just line the outside of my presser foot with the fabric and sew that hole closed.

Don't worry if its a little wonky, your rear end is going to be sitting on this. If one of your friends looks that closely, they need to be scolded.

Step 9:  Pat self on back and go buy a 20$ bottle of wine because you will still be ahead on cash flow after the wine!

good job!

I'll take final pictures when the snow melts from my patio chairs.

Write you later,

m

feel free to share.

Father's Day

Yesterday was gorgeous. We spent the day at the Westword Music Festival. In and out of small bars watching awesome local bands. We didn't make it to the end due to the fact ...well, we were plain ol tired. We started at 11 am at Broadways...had some of the best Bloody Mary's I've had in a while, then off to Dazzle for Mahi Mahi sliders and a set by the Informants. They were great as usual. It was also the start of Gay Pride Week so the company was beyond spectacular. It was great to be out and about in the sunshine with not a care in the world. Great friends and great music. One of my new favorite local bands I got to see yesterday was "Yerkish". They are the epitome of local awesome music that should be more well known.

Today is Father's Day. Daddy got a new drill and a Tshirt...and is now outside cursing at the hotrod. (starter is broken, he's trying to get a new one in before this guy comes to look at it)...While he is practicing his sailor speak, I finished up the cushions for the patio. They came out nice. I love it when a task is completed. I sat outside as Olive worked on her artskills and contemplated life. Life is good.

I work tonight. I am looking forward to a night of learning, as always.

Tomorrow I think I will start my next part of gardening. A path around the garden, removal of dead yukky grass and more perennials. I'll have to take a before and after. I hope everyone is having a great Father's Day

How to recover a patio cushion

So gross...like many things around here right now...after the neglect everything in my house has had for the past 2 years (nursing school) I decided to get my arse in gear and

start tidying up. The girls put the final kybosh on this nasty porch swing cover last weekend ...RIiiiPPPPPpppp. I decided to recover it. I know, you are thinking gross, she should just buy a new cushion. But it's fine...our butts go on it...it doesn't have to be perfect.

I bought the "Outdoor Fabric" on the long bolt...60"

on sale at Hancock for 6$ a yard...bought 2 yards

Lay your cushion on there and do a quick measure. I am old enough now where I like to just "wing it".

Now for the width of the fabric. My swing and cushion were about 48 inches long with a 2" thickness. I cut the fabric to 52" wide (from the 60" width fabric), that's 48" + 2" thick on the left + 2" thick on the right = 52 inches (that should leave plenty for seam allowance).

(really you can just lay it out and cut...you can make width corrections as you sew)

Cushion laid out, fold over once then over so it is about 1/3 over the top again...overlapped.

We are going to make a great big cushion envelope.

On the edges that are on the long parts of the foam, we will make a tidy "Hem".

First part of the sewing I did was to hem the edges. (these are the long edges)Fold once 1/4" iron, fold again over the 1/4 inch iron, pin and stitch. this will make the edges purdy.

Now for the short edges of the cushion.

oooh all ready looks better. I cut off the the edges, so that it will leave me enough room to stitch the "short sides" of the cushions together. Once you figure this out(this is the length of cushion plus the 2" on each side, like I said above) you want to turn your fabric right sides together, wrap it around the cushion again to make sure it will be snug in the little pocket and pin.

...see how there is 1/3 fabric hanging out? that is the "envelope part" which will fold over. When you are ready to sew up the sides, make sure you sew the right sides together. I pinned first, made sure it was snug then stitched...perfect...so far.

Now we are going to attempt those fancy box corners. I used some help from Craftapple so go and check it out for the corners...its really easy and makes a world of difference in looking neat and tidy. After you stitch the "pocket" and your cushion /foam fits snuggly in there take it out. Find one bottom corner, and turn it to a triangle like the picture (still inside out)...go look at Craftapple quick!

I made my box corner 1 1/2 inch down from the point. I just measured with a ruler.

draw a straight line to make a nice triangle...evenly and straight . This is what you will sew.

straight across...there you have it...magic...turn it right side out, take a celebratory sip of beer and admire your work, because no one else in your family will appreciate that box corner like you will!

so beautiful!!! look at it!

Now we will do the same with the other corner...good luck. :) should be easier now.

After those are done I turned it right side out and put the cushion in to see my progress. Looks nice, now we have to do the fold over envelope part. This part is easy.

From the point where the "envelope part sticks out. double hem again. Fold 1/4", iron, fold 1/4" pin and sew...nice and tidy.

Do both sides (width sides)

Now here is where I winged it again. Wen I folded it over after hemming I thought it looked nice, but maybe it needed box corners here too.

Because after you but the cushion in it looks kind of flat where it folds over... so I thought, why not...

lets try a box corner here. This is hard to show in pictures but right where the "envelope" folds over I pinned 2 1/2" down and sewed right sides together...on both sides. making a hem just like the top, made the triangle again, sewed straight across. and voila...another 2 box corners.

Remember right sides together.

and lookie here.

good job

that's about it. The fold over part I closed with buttons, but botton holes are an entire new tutorial ...you could use velcro, or nothing. It stays flat, because it is under ...you know, its the bottom...who's gonna see it? Now you have the swing cushion cover...

your porch and butt is happy :)