How to Make Pillows for Outdoor Furniture

Spruce up an outdoor sitting area with fresh weather-resistant pillows. Avoid the stress of looking for pillows to coordinate with your cushions or hunting pillows just the right scale for your furniture. Create cushions yourself using affordable vinyl tablecloths that are available in an array of color and patterns – so many patterns that you can create pillows for all seasons – including holiday themed throw pillows.

Vinyl tablecloth
Paper or cardboard for template
Scissors
Measuring tape
Heavy duty thread
Pillow form

Instructions

- 1
  Create a pattern or template for your pillows on newsprint or cardboard using an old pillow as the model or by drawing the depth and width of your finished pillow. Add 1/2 inch around the pillow for the seam allowance.
- 2
  Lay out your vinyl tablecloth, front side down, on a flat surface.
- 3
  Place your template on top of the tablecloth. Note how the pattern repeats on the cloth if you want to highlight a design element or match patterns at the seams. If the cloth is solid, layout the pillow template to get as many pillow fronts and backs as possible from the cloth.
- 4
  Pin the pattern to the tablecloth and cut front and back pieces.
- 5
  Pin the tablecloth pieces together, right sides facing, and sew three of the sides together using heavy-duty or nylon thread.
- 6
  Insert your pillow form or fill with foam. If you used an old pillow as your model, it can be upcycled by stuffing it inside the new cover. Close the fourth side of the pillow with a slipstitch.

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