By now you've probably seen the cozy little outdoor space that we created at our studio so we can soak up some good summertime vibes outdoors. Josh made amazing bench seating to give us a place to lounge, but it can be difficult to lounge properly on stiff wooden boards, so we decided to add some thick outdoor cushions to make our seating area more comfortable. Here's what I did: Supplies:-canvas twill or outdoor fabric (I bought our stripe fabric at a local fabric store)-outdoor cushion filling (like this)-standard sewing machine-zipper the width of your cushion-fabric scissors and sewing pins First I measured the width and depth of each seat to see how big the cushions should be. The cushion filling I bought was 4" tall, so I knew that number would be the height of my cushion. To figure out the fabric dimensions for the cushion panels, take the width and depth measurements and add 1" to both numbers to allow for a 1/2" seam allowance all around. These measurements are for the top and bottom panels of the cushion.
To determine the side panel length, add the original measurements (the numbers before the additional inches for seam allowance) of all four sides of the large panel together. Add 1" onto that big number to allow for a 1/2" seam allowance. The height of your super-long side panel is the height of the cushion filling with 1" added for a 1/2" seam allowance. Take these dimensions and cut your top and bottom panel and your long side panel accordingly. Use fabric scissors to round the edge of your fabric corners on your two larger panels. To connect your long side panel strip and make one big continuous loop around the edge of your cushion, fold the panel in half (with the right sides facing each other), and sew 1/2" from the edge to connect the ends. Line up the edges of your side panel loop of fabric with the edge of the top panel (with the right sides together), and pin the edge in place. To make the corners easier to sew, add some "V"-shaped notches around each corner. Use your machine to sew all the way around the edges with a 1/2" seam allowance.
Pin the bottom panel to the side panel in the same manner as the top panel, and make notches on all the corners. Before you sew all the way around the bottom panel, you'll want to add a zipper at one of the ends so you can insert your cushion filling. Place the zipper face down onto the right side of the fabric at one of the ends of your bottom panel. Pin the zipper in place so that the zipper will be installed 1/2" from the edge. Use a zipper foot on your machine to sew the right side of the zipper in place. Repeat the process of pinning and sewing the other side of the zipper so that you have a functional zipper installed. Now you can sew all the way around the rest of the bottom panel (starting at the end of the zipper and stopping when you reach the beginning of it). Make sure to leave your zipper open a few inches before you sew all the way around so you can get back in later! Flip your cushion cover right side out, and you're ready to add the filling!Use a ruler and a marker to measure the appropriate width of your cushion filling.* If you aren't able to buy a cushion long enough that's in one piece, you just use as many pieces as needed to fill the cushion length.
*NOTE: I would highly suggest making the width and length of the insert a little bigger than your actual cover dimensions (maybe add an inch to both). This way the insert will fit snugly into the cover and you will have a full-looking cushion.Now, I've heard that some people use jigsaws or even electric turkey carving knives to cut foam and filling, but the thing that worked the best for me was actually a plain old handsaw. The saw was able to do most of the cutting pretty easily, but I did use some fabric scissors to clean up the edge a bit. Once my filling was cut to size, we folded the filling in half like a taco shell and inserted it into the cushion cover through the zipper opening. Use your waterproof spray to seal your fabric, and you're done! Having these cushions on the outdoor benches makes the space look much more finished and one million times more comfortable. Once you get this cushion-making technique down you'll be not only able to update your outdoor space, but you can also apply the principles to making cushions for lots of other seating options as well.
Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman. Photography: Laura Gummerman and Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Stella of the Signature Collection.Looking to purchase new outdoor cushions, awnings, umbrellas or other outdoor materials for this summer? There are a wide array of choices on the market and just like indoor fabrics, when it comes to buying outdoor fabrics you’ll want to understand how you will need it to perform. Let’s take a look at the basics for selecting outdoor fabrics and materials. Before you start looking at fabrics and cushions for your patio or deck, take a moment to assess what you want from your outdoor material. Do you plan on keeping this material outside all year or just for a few months out of the year? Will this material get wet a lot and need to be waterproof? The fabric you need for the occasional outdoor throw pillows may be very different from your outdoor umbrellas or awnings. Here are some typical differentiating factors between outdoor fabrics; many of these features should be listed directly on the tag of the material:
Understanding what type of material you are buying for your outdoor area is important. Outdoor fabrics and materials are offered in a wide variety of choices and can usually be organized by intended usage. If you are shopping at a store for cushions, for example, you’ll want to make sure it’s comfortable and resistant to fading. If these cushions will see a lot of spills and stains, you’ll want to make sure it’s easy to clean. Stores that sell outdoor cushions, tablecloths, awnings or umbrellas should be able to provide details as to the type of material used, its performance rating and cleaning instructions. Keep in mind that not all outdoor material is the same, and how the material is produced can determine how long it will last outdoors. Below you’ll see the most common types of material used in outdoor applications. Solution-dyed acrylic: With solution-dyed acrylic, the fiber is first dyed with acrylic pigments before being turned into yarn and woven into cloth.
By contrast, most fiber starts off colorless. The advantage of a solution-dyed acrylic material is that the color goes all the way through the material, making it less susceptible to fading, wear and tear, and in some cases, it can be resistant to bleaching. If sun fading is an issue for your outdoor (or even indoor) furniture, you’ll want to look for solution-dyed acrylic material. Acrylic coated polyester: This type of material is commonly used for BBQ or grill covers, boat covers or shades, awnings and umbrellas because of it’s tough exterior and resistance to fading, mold and mildew. Acrylic is used to coat the exterior of a woven fabric, enabling it to withstand rubbing, tearing, poking as well as extreme weather like rain and sun. Some manufactures coat both sides with acrylic to make it extra durable and reversible. Vinyl coated or vinyl coated synthetic fiber mesh: Vinyl (PVC) coating is flexible and durable, and when applied to a material it can create something that is strong, flexible and resistant to multiple elements like stains, sunlight, water and mildew.
Some find vinyl easier to wipe clean, especially with difficult materials like tree sap or sunblock. Synthetic fiber mesh is the type of material you might see on a sling chair, where the material is thin yet flexible and strong. A vinyl coated material is easy to wipe down and keep clean but can feel plastic-y on your skin. Acrylic versus vinyl: Acrylic tends to hold its color better, making it a good choice for areas where sun is strong. It’s also breathable compared to vinyl, and may not feel as hot to the touch. Because it is breathable, water may go through acrylic, so vinyl is better at keeping water off when used as an umbrella or awning. When torn, acrylic usually cannot be repaired as easily as vinyl. Waterproof vs. water repellent vs. water resistant: Waterproof means that water cannot penetrate the surface, a waterproof fabric is impervious to water. Water repellent means that water can penetrate the surface, just not very easily. A water repellent material means that it has been treated so it will not be easily penetrated by water.
Water resistant can be a material that has been treated to repel a certain amount of water but is generally less successful than a water repellent or waterproof material. Some materials have an external coating applied to it, making is water repellent or water resistant. Keep in mind that many of these coatings wear off over time, especially when washed in a machine or even dry cleaned. Make sure you read the label carefully and understand how best to care for this fabric. Topical sprays and treatments: There are waterproofing sprays like Scotchguard or NeverWet that can be applied directly to your outdoor fabrics to make them more water repellent (and sometimes stain resistant). Many of these sprays are designed to be applied easily to objects that are subject to water like cushions or seating. These topical applications wear off over time so you may need to reapply at a later date. Canvas and duck cloth: Canvas was traditionally made from hemp or linen, which are both naturally durable and easy to source.
Nowadays canvas is typically made from cotton; it is a thick, heavy duty cloth that is strong and durable. Unless treated, it is not naturally stain, water or mildew resistant and may need to be treated. Duck cloth or cotton duck (from the Dutch doek meaning “linen canvas”) is similar to canvas but much more tightly woven. Oil cloth: Oil cloth is generally referred to canvas that has been coated with linseed oil to make it impervious to water. Traditionally, leather was used for objects that needed to be durable, flexible and water repellant, like luggage, carriages, or other outdoor cloth. But leather was expensive and could be damaged by too much water. Boiled linseed oil was an easy way to transform cotton canvas into something more weatherproof. Waxed cotton was another version of this durable material and was used in clothing like overcoats. Nowadays oil cloth is usually a vinyl treated material offered in various thicknesses and used for outdoor tablecloths or placemats.