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.

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.

Block design for cushion #1
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.

Outdoor fabric to use for 3 cushions
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

Pieces cut out for cushion #1

2⅝” bias strips for cording cut from striped fabric
You’ll also need about 74″ of cording. I used a soft, ½” diameter cotton cording.

½” soft 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.

Pieces sewn together for cushion #1
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 corners using a cardboard template as a guide.

All 4 corners have been trimmed.
Trim the black 18½” square to match the cushion front.

Back of the cushion has been trimmed to match the 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!