outdoor cushions

Posted by earhtmother on September 5, 2009, 3:01 pm

Ok I have never tackled actual cushions before and I am looking for some
guidance. My daughter and I recently picked up some wicker and metal
patio chairs that need new cushions and before I start sewing them I want
to be sure it is not going to be cheaper and easier on my sanity just to
go buy them. The metal furniture is a lounger and chairs, while the
wicker is a large "papasan" style love seat
http://images.smarter.com/blogs/lonestartradingcompany_1963_3214019.jpg

I "assume'the easiest way for the metal furniture is just to take the size
foam that I need and make a cover - either in a pillow case style or box
edges depending on my time and patience. The wicker is trickier since I
am figuring it has to be fibre filled and tufted. this brings up a
question or two. Any guesses on how much fibre fill I am going to need
and I am "assuming" I should make a slip cover to aid in cleaning. Anyone
have any suggestions for fabric as these will most likely end up getting
wet since there are no guarantees people will bring them into the porch
when it rains(I dont see a problem drying out the foam but the fibre fill
is a whole different story)- fading is not an issue as I don't really
care. ok thats all for now, fire away with your responses.

elaine

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Posted by LottaTroublemaker on September 9, 2009, 3:38 pm

LottaTroublemaker had written this in response to
http://www.sewgirls.com/textiles/outdoor-cushions-4233-.htm :
Hi earhtmother,

Shoot, I wrote a long post for you, sharing all my experiences from when I
made chair cushions and a sunbed mattress, then I had forgot to log in and
it got lost! Well, I'll try again... :)

You need a fabric that is meant for outdoor use. These are expensive, but
I got fabric real cheap on eBay, from the US, even with shipping to Norway
it was real cheap compared to if I were to buy here! Search ebay dot com
for "outdoor fabric". I paid $5.99 pr. yard (shipping will be the largest
cost) and the fabric seems great, much better than I thought it would be!
Most such fabrics are acrylic, as that is very suitable for the outdoors.
There's lots of solids and prints to choose from, just steer clear of
those for awnings etc., those are a bit too thick and stiff to be comfy
for cushions. The one I got, is recommended for cushions for boats,
gardens, patios etc. If you want me to, I could probably dig up the seller
I got mine from (I bought a solid taupe one, to combine with some smaller
cushions, tablecloth etc. with dark taupe and blue "retro" flowers, this
fabric was on my old cushions that did not fit my new chairs - the two tie
nicely together and if I get tired of the pattern, it can easily and
cheaply be replaced for a new look while the larger and more expensive
cushions are more "classical" in their solid fabric).

I used an approx 5-6cm thick foam, with a layer of batting on top. The
batting is important to get real pretty and comfy cushions, they look a
lot better than just foam. For my sunbed, I used an old, very thick
(special anti pressure) bed top mattress, which is made from fibers rather
than foam, with an added cheap duvet to get it slightly thicker. Since I
wanted cushions NOW, and didn't take time to wait for the fabric, I made
the whole thing from fabric I had, and when spring comes, I'll sew
slipcovers from the new outdoor fabric, so the old fabric will serve as an
inner cover only. This is an advantage, as it will be much easier to take
the covers on and off with something covering the batting. I measured the
cushion around, including the sides, then after sewing up the sides, I
marked and pinned the corners and sewed to "box" them.

I cut the foam using an electric steak knife. Those work real well for
this purpose, you get clean and professional cuts, but be sure to keep the
knife at a 90 degree angle since it does not have the bars helping with
that that pro foam knifes have (but aside from that, they're almost the
same!). I got my steak knife cheap online, to use for craft purposes.

I bought a dirt cheap summer duvet, one that was flat rather than fluffy,
for a cheap batting alternative. Use your seam ripper to take out all the
stitching and pull the cover carefully off. You can then use the cover for
an inner cover (if it is 100% cotton, I would wash it first - mine was
100% polyester).

When the foam is cut, spread a layer of batting on it, and cut the corners
so they get only one layer. You can use spray glue on the foam first, I
didn't though, because I knew I had a great method of inserting the
cushions into the cover without disturbing the batting, using the
vacuum/Hoover. Here is a video showing you how to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqmMefGKoY8
I left an opening approx half of the back side wide, and when the cushion
was sucked flat, I simply rolled it around the vacuum's hose (with it
still in place, vacuum going), inserted it through the opening, opened it
inside and positioned it before I turned the vacuum off. BTW, I use this
method for lots of stuff now, e.g. I have used it to make lots of stuff
small for storage, when it's flat, I roll it up and wrap it in clingfilm,
then turn the vacuum off and remove the vacuum hose. Much better than
those expensive vacuum bags which often re-inflate after a while! Oh well,
that was off topic, LOL...

I closed my cushions using a simple, ladder stitch, by hand. Sure, could
have used zippers or velcro, but it really does not take much time to
stitch up cushions and when it's done, it really looks great, better than
with a zipper, I think, as the stitch is nicely hidden.

For the papasan loveseat, I think I would have used some foam at the
bottom too, but much more batting on top, to give it the right look at the
same time as you are sure not to feel the frame underneath. Ordinary poly
batting is not "substantial" enough for this. If you have something you
can recycle though, that might be a great idea. What comes to mind is old
comforters, old top mattresses, fabric scraps cut in strips, small foam
pieces (but that takes a lot of cutting - ouch, unless you have several to
help you)... You could sew a simple inner cover from some calico, with
some of the above mentioned inside, then cover that with some poly batting
outside, for a nice finish. A cheap polyester duvet could be a good
option. You could then use it's cover for an inner cover too. Then add
stitches through it all (and tie it well with a surgeons knot before you
hide the end inside the batting) at regular intervals to keep the filling
in place and to give it a nice papasan look - with matching such stitches
on your other cushions, that should tie it all together).

As mentioned, I chose to use a pattern only on details. The reason was
that I got cushions last year, and loved the fabric on them, so I really
hated having to see them go because of my new chairs and need to get a
much better mattress on my sunbed. So I ripped them apart and re-used the
fabric as well as the inside of the mattress (for chair cushions,
supplemented by the same thickness foam from an old chair cushion, so I
did not have to buy any foam at all). I made small rectangular pillows for
the chairs, as lumbar support pillows and also a neck pillow for my
sunbed, with long bands attatched to a little round sand-filled pillow,
that I toss over the top of the sunbeds back, making the neck pillow stay
in place nicely. I also made a little tablecloth and a round cushion to
put under my knees on the sunbed.

I still haven't sewn the final outer cover from the new fabric, decided to
let that wait until spring since it will be quick and no need to let the
new cushion covers collect dust over the winter, instead the fabric is
stored in a box.

Good luck!

Lotta :)

earhtmother wrote:

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Posted by DeMoores on November 3, 2009, 3:28 pm

DeMoores had written this in response to
http://www.sewgirls.com/textiles/Re-outdoor-cushions-4235-.htm :

Hi Elaine,

Well, sounds like you have your work cut out for you! How is the project
going. I
don't know if I can add anything to what Lotta said (wow! You have
obviously done
this before!), but I can add my two cents worth:

I recently made a shower curtain out of an amazing fabric. It was totally
washable
(which I think is good for outdoors), it had a black out quality (so you
could not
see through it - maybe it makes it more durable) and it was 100%
waterproof!

Would love to hear what you ended up doing.

Valerie
www.demoores.com

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