Create beautiful, affordable cushions for outdoor furniture using our outdoor fabrics. If you already have cushions on your outdoor furniture and just want to update the fabric, you can save money by re-covering the old cushions. No need to even take off the old covers unless the fabric is in really bad shape or you can’t clean it.
Cushion Filling
If you’re making new cushions from scratch, you’ll have to choose a stuffing. There are five types of outdoor cushion filling: Compressed polyester, polyester fiberfill, Polyurethane foam, open-cell foam, and closed-cell foam. The polyesters are inexpensive, but compress when sat on frequently. They’re best for pillows and backrests.
Polyurethane foam absorbs water, so it’s not a good choice for locations that might get wet. A better choice is open-cell foam, which water runs right through. It’s more expensive but lasts longer – especially if you get foam treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent mold and mildew. Closed-cell foam is even more expensive, but since it floats its a good choice for cushions used on boats.
Simple Cushion Cover
For fabric 54 inches wide you’ll need about 1 yard per cushion to cover the seats for a standard-size patio chair. With 2 yards, you can cut two cushion covers out side-by-side. To sew these cushion covers, set the cushion on the fabric then fold the fabric over so the right side of the fabric is facing in and the center of the fabric is on the front edge of the cushion. Pin the fabric together on each side to create side seams.
Remove the cushion and sew the two side seams. Put the cushion back in the fabric (still with right-sides of the fabric in) and place a pin long each of the two front corners to make corner seams. Remove the cushion, sew corner seams, then turn the fabric right-side-out. Put the cushion form back in. To finish the cushion, fold fabric over the back of the cushion like you were wrapping a present then hand-sew this seam.
Boxed Cushion Style
These cushions require more sewing but have a neatly finished look to all the edges. You’ll have to cut six pieces of fabric – a top and bottom plate and four “boxing†strips. To determine the size you need to cut for the plates, take the length and width of the finished cushion and add 1/2 inch all around (1-1/2 inches if you’re stuffing with fiberfill). Cut boxing strips as long as the sides of your plates and as wide as the finished cushion depth plus 1 inch (3 inches for fiberfill). If you want to finish your cushion with a French mattress-style seam, add 1/4 inch to each measurement.
Sew the narrow edges of the boxing pieces together to form a complete chain with right sides all facing the same direction. Now sew this chain to the top plate with right sides together. Attach the second plate the same way, but leave one side open plus 2 inches on each adjoining side so you can fill the cushion cover. Turn the cover right-side out and stuff (if you’re doing a French seam, finish that before stuffing), then close the final seam by hand-sewing or folding under and sewing with a machine.
When you are looking for a cushion and fabric store near Plano, TX, take a short drive to our Cutting Corners location in Dallas, Tx for great deals on discount designer fabrics and cushions. We have something for every home interior project from gorgeous drapery fabrics, colorful outdoor fabrics, light weight cottons and luxurious Dupioni Silks.
