Extend the life of your patio decor with Coats & Clark outdoor thread

Yesterday we talked about outdoor thread and fabric. Now let’s get started on a cushion for your favorite outdoor space.

Because outdoor fabric is quite heavy, I wanted to use simple design for my cushions. I went to one of my favorite reference books for modern quilt blocks, Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.

The 100 blocks in this book are all 6″ x 6″, but the simple designs are easy to re-size. I chose 3 different blocks for my outdoor cushions. Here’s the one I chose for cushion #1. I re-sized this block so the finished size would be 18″ square.

For my 3 cushions I bought 1yd of green stripe and ½yd of black and solid green. I also bought 1yd of black fabric for the cushion backs.

Here’s what you’ll need to cut for an 18″ cushion:

Green stripe

• 1 – 3½” x 6½” and 1 – 9½” x 15½”
• Bias strips 2⅝” wide. You’ll need about 74″ in length. Join pieces as necessary to make this length.

Black

• 1 – 3½” x 3½” and 1 – 6½” x 9½” for the cushion front
• 1 – 18½” x 18½” for the cushion back

Green solid

• 1 – 3½” x 15½”, 1 – 3½” x 9½” and 1 – 6½” x 6½”

18″ pillow form

1 spool of Coats & Clark outdoor thread in the color of your choice

You’ll also need about 74″ of cording. I used a soft, ½” diameter cotton cording.

Using Coats & Clark outdoor thread, sew the pieces together to make an 18½” square. Finger-press seams open. You may press seams open with an iron if you wish. Be sure to test the setting on your iron on a fabric scrap to make sure it is not too hot.

I find that the finished cushion is a better shape if you round the corners or cut them on a slight angle. I made a cardboard template to use as a guide for cutting. I started the angle at 4½” from the corner and removed about ½” of fabric at the widest point.

Trim the black 18½” square to match the cushion front.

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to make the cording and add it to the cushion for a very professional look!