Cushions are a critical part of outdoor furniture seating. Without cushions, you might find extended lengths of sitting outside unbearable. Outdoor cushions make the experience much more comfortable and even provide a decorative flair. However, they can be expensive. How do you make cushions for outdoor furniture by yourself?
We’ve got you covered! Read on to learn more about how you can use various materials and techniques to make cushions for your outdoor furniture. With a little bit of work, you can make your outdoor space as comfortable as possible. There are quite a few steps to cover, so let’s dive right in.
Pick the Design
First, you need to pick the design you want. Does your yard have a rustic feel? Something colorful? Do you need colorful patterns or something simple? You should also select the one you want to use. There are plenty of options online for you to use and print out.
Some other things to consider with your design include:
- How much the material will cost
- How it looks when it’s dirty
- How easy it is to clean
These should influence your decision just as much. Once you’ve settled on your design, you’ll need to know how much of the material you need to purchase to make your cushions. Let’s dive into the next step to make this portion clearer.
Measure the Furniture
Next, measure your furniture to know how much material you need to invest in your cushions. Use a flexible measuring tape here to get the most accurate measurements for your yard.
When the time comes to purchase the material, ensure you get more rather than less. This action gives you more wiggle room to mess up if this is your first time sewing and creating items with fabric. You should purchase everything you need from a local craft store or online, from the exterior material to the seat cushion.
Cut and Fill
Next, you can place the fabric over the top of the cushioning. Cut it to the proper size and lay down the layer of material. It should be long enough to cover the entirety of the cushion. The next few steps will detail smoothing out the design and making it look cleaner.
Fill the seat with the cushioning. Place the fabric over the top and ensure the cushion is squarely in the middle. If you have a solid piece, you can set it right down. If you have fluff, you can put the right amount inside the seat. Now it’s time to establish the corners of your cushion.
Fix the Corners
Now that you have the cushioning inside, it’s time to fix the corner of the cushion to make it appear clean. Find the front corners of your cushion. These will be where the fabric hangs over the corner of the cushion insert. Mark all four corners.
Once you have these spots located, you will need to:
- Place a pin on the cushion insert edge to mark the sewing spot
- Remove the insert from the interior of the seat
- Sew along with the pins, removing them as you do so
After this point, you can flip the pattern over and put the insert back inside.
Once you fix the corner, you’re almost done! Your edges are clean, and you need to close up the item at this point. Let’s talk about how you can put the finishing touches on your homemade cushion seat. After this point, you’re almost ready to decorate your yard with these seats.
Finish It Up
Once you have the corners fixed and the insert inside, it’s time to finish up the sewing process. Ensure the proper cushion insert you want is inside the cushion before proceeding. It will be difficult to undo the stitches and add more cushioning after this point.
To finish up your cushion, you should:
- Check the fit of the corners you’ve made
- Fold the back pieces over each other until they overlap
- Tuck the exposed edge to make a clean seam appearance
- Hand-stitch this area shut until the cushioning is buried underneath
This area serves as the underside of the cushion, so it doesn’t need to look as neat as the areas that are more exposed.
Conclusion
Once you have your piece finished, you can repeat for as many cushions as you need. It’s an excellent way to save money and dress up your yard simultaneously. It can be an exciting adventure to hand-make your cushions.
