Making new patio furniture cushions - need advice! (with photo)

15 years ago

Hi! This is one of my first posts. I love this forum so much!

I recently purchased a new lake home and the owners left their patio furniture. The furniture is only a year old and in perfect condition. I would like to make new cushions for it as these are the original ones and not very comfy, plus the fabric has moved on the foam. I would really prefer to not have the 'boxed' kind of cushions and I want to use a much thicker foam. If I use thicker foam and then put batting over it, can I just sew covers without the piping (or whatever that is called)? Or will it look too homemade?

Also, this set is inside of a 3-season room and will never be outside, so can I also use a regular upholstery fabric?

I'm an experienced quilter but rarely have sewn anything else -- think this is too much to take on?

Any help and advice appreciated! Thank you!

Here is a photo of the set:

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (7)

capcapia
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh - one more question! The coach is rather long and unusually deep. Would it be better to split that cushion and make two? Or keep it as one?

{{!gwi}}
damascusannie
15 years ago
I think you can do everything you've pondered. If you eliminate the piping, the job will be even easier. This isn't terribly difficult construction, easier than some piecing 8^). I'm a quilter, too, BTW.

Annie
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I have the same situation as you. We converted an old small carport to a decent patio (doesn't that sound fancier, LOL) by extending the length and width, laying mortared patio brick in place. This resulted in half the patio/porch being under roof and the entended part being open. This gives me a sheltered, shady seating area and an open, sunny area. I have a faux vinyl wicker set with very nice cushions (loveseat, two chairs, a cocktail table, and an end table) under roof. I also have/had a cheaper, glass-top table with vinyl slinged chairs that came with cushions. The cushions were always wet/damp in the morning or after a rain, so we just used the chairs with the vinyl strips. They were very closely woven and were extremely comfortable without the cushions. We had a severe hail storm last spring and destroyed my chairs so I am also on the quest for a new user friendly set for that area. I DO NOT WANT CUSHIONS, so will probably go with the sling-back style that is some type of woven mesh material. These are more commonly seen in the discount stores - Walmart on-line has a nice selection - and usually have the glass or tile top. I do not want to sit on wet cushions or have to dry a seat when I step outside to have my coffee in the morning. I will also say, I love how easy my faux wicker set from Target is to maintain. They stay outside, minus the cushions, year around, and even though they are under roof, they still get exposed to wind, rain, blowing snow, etc. I just give them a good water hose and soft brush scrubbing in the spring.
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Lucy, thanks for writing me off-group and giving me the heads up! (hope my reply was helpful) goodness, all these replies. Don't know why I wasn't getting them in my inbox. hm. Maybe my email program sees it as spam or something.... *off to check the manual* Thanks all for the kind words! I've had to stop awhile cuz the cord wore the skin off the *back* of my fingers. OWWWW! And bandaids seem to get stuck, so I'm just going to wait a week, then finish the next chair. My fingertips are just fine though (probably because I check my blood sugar about 10 times a day--super-thick calluses). Good thing I was using smooth nylon cord instead of that prickly hemp. shudder So I've decided to make cushions for the seat part too (as I get older, my butt gets sore faster! :-D). Out of the denim I'd tried using originally. Already has ties on it. Just needs backing and stuffing. I've been hanging out at the nearest Goodwill to get pillows I can use as stuffing. And Rhonda, yes, free is GREAT!!! penny saved and all that...
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The furniture looks fine to me. If it is in good condition, you can probably just buy new cushions to make the pieces match or blend better with each other. I would rearrange. Put the loveseats perpendicular to each other and arrange the chairs next to each other. The primary loveseat (facing the view) should have end tables on each side. I agree that a new rug would make a big difference. Nice porch!
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You have a lot of gray (railings, posts, patio) and black doors and windows. People are repeating the colors you already have. Black furniture would look good, but add some color with the cushions. You can also add color with glazed pots full of flowers. Be careful with sectionals. They tend to only fit one way, and can limit where people can walk. Always measure your space before you shop, and take the tape measure with you to the store to make sure the furniture will fit when you get it home. I would much rather mix a loveseat with two chairs and a coffee table. It's easier to move pieces and to rearrange them. I would keep cushioned furniture under the roof. Unless you live in a very dry climate mildew and algae will develop if cushions get rained on. For the area to the right I would choose furniture without cushions. Use woven or metal mesh or strap seating that drains and dries quickly. Add a shade sail between your house and posts set in your yard to keep the area cooler. Shade cloth still allows enough sun for plants to grow, so add some large containers for summer annuals for sun and shade.
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capcapia
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Annie! I don't have the faintest idea how to do piping so glad it's not needed. haha Hopefully I can manage this. :) Guess the first hard part is finding the right kind of foam, but I found lots of suggestions while searching here.

You're right on piecing. I am doing paper piecing right now because of a difficult pattern I'm working on. It's kinda fun!

Carol
kathi_mdgd
15 years ago
DO NOT Use that stuff that Hancocks and some of the other stores have called NU FOAM!! That stuff isn't worth the gas it took me to go to the store and buy it,and i'm not the only one that feels this way.We discussed this last year here either on the quilting side of this board or the sewing side.

Within 3 months mine was flat,and i had to resort to using a pillow to set on.

Your best bet is to take your existing cushions to an upholstery shop and have them cut you new foam,and tell them how you want it cut,not square.They can kind of round your corners and shave some off to make them not square.

We have an upholstery outlet store here where i live.Check your phone book,you may have one nearby also.HTH
Kathi
capcapia
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Kathi!

I had searched the forum and found the discussions on Nu Foam and have no intention of going that route now! It seems to be what is available in my area, too. I found an upholstery supply shop about 30 miles away and am going to call them today. It would be great if they could actually cut the forms from my old ones -- they're an odd shape. At least the seat forms are.

Am so anxious to get this project started. I hate the fabric on these and want to have them looking pretty before our housewarming party!

Thanks again!
Carol
kathyg_in_mi
15 years ago
Hi Carol,
You can do this! The first time I made cushions I was scared, but my DD (in college 12 years ago) bought 2 chairs and wanted cushions for them, and she was sure I could do it. I did!!!!
I bought the 4" green foam for the chair backs and the 5" green foam for the seats. I bought both from JoAnns and had no probelm with it. In fact I have a small mattress I made with the green foam (NOT Nu Foam) and it has held up very well. Grandson likes to sleep on it.
We have a place here in MIchigan called THE FOAM FACTORY, that is all they sell. If you bring in your slip covers they will cut the foam to fit and stuff it for you. YOu should do a search for something like that in your area. Probably would be cheaper than an upholstery shop. I believe they ship too.
Here is a trick for stuffing foam into slipcovers. Place the foam in a dry cleaners plastic bag (or cheap garbage bag), pull slipcover over the cushion, then tear out the bag from inside! Makes it so much easier.
Kathy G in MI

Here is a link that might be useful: The Foam Factory
janene1
15 years ago
Besides foam, you might want to put a layer of batting around the foam to help soften the cushion. Using the spray (not the glue) but the type they use when just holding two pieces of material together while embroidery, etc. may help in holding the batting and cushion together.

Making new patio furniture cushions - need advice! (with photo)

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Making new patio furniture cushions - need advice! (with photo)

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