A client brought these patio loveseat cushions to me for reupholstery.
I don’t typically take on projects that are solely reupholstery, but the wrought iron loveseat these belong to was lovely and deserved great cushions. The years had taken a toll on these. They were faded and discolored and had burn holes from an old chiminea. Time to break out the sewing machine to refresh them.
Fabric… a LOT of fabric!
Not only were there six cushions to redo but also five throw pillows to match. We picked out a great print that would definitely make these cushions happier. This is an outdoor grade fabric from Solarium®. If you are looking to recover your own patio cushions, be sure to get fabric that’s suitable for outdoor use and fade resistant.
Deconstruction
Without a pattern to follow, it was necessary to reverse engineer these cushion covers. First, I picked apart all the seams to determine what pieces would need to be cut. As I did so, I took multiple pictures of each step so I could recall how they went together in the first place. Then I took measurements of all the seams to be sure my final product would be the right size.
Cutting
Once I had a general idea of how these pieces fit together, it was time to cut out the replacements. I used the originals as my patterns. Since every cushion can potentially be slightly different, I assigned a number to each so its new pieces would be guaranteed to fit its original foam. You can already tell how much brighter and cheerier these seats would be.
Sewing
Then it was simply (ha!) a matter of piecing it all back together. First, I had to make new piping for the decorative edges. I also had to reattach the zippers we salvaged from the original cushions. Then I seamed everything together to make the fabric “box” the foam would slip into.
And here we have one set!
I still have two more pairs of backs and seats to go, but this gives you an idea of the final product. I’m looking forward to seeing all six cushions on their intended loveseat. The dark coral color will really sing with my client’s clay-colored patio surface.
Off to finish the other four cushions and the pillows. Check back next week for a new reveal and stop by my Instagram (@serendipitysequelsmn), where I hope to post a pic of these cushions in their rightful home soon. If you have any questions about the items you see on my blog, please use my contact page.
