Patio Cushions with Coordinating Pillows

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Fabric, blue outdoor; 1 1/4 yd x 54" wide
• Fabric, coral outdoor; 1 1/4 yd x 54" wide
• Four pillow forms: (2) 20"x 20", (1) 14"x 14", (1) 12"x 12"
• 8 yds cotton cording (1/4")
• Sewing scissors and/or rotary blade
• Cutting mat & clear ruler (if using rotary blade)
• Tape measure
• Gauge
• Thread, coordinating color
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine with zipper foot
• Machine needles & hand sewing needles
• Fabric, outdoor; 1 1/4 yd x 54" wide
• Poly-fil® Patio Cushions (2 pack - 20"x 20"x 2")
• 1/4" cotton cording (180")

DIRECTIONS:

PILLOWS

1. Cut the tops of all pillow sizes 1" larger on all sides (20" pillow: cut 21" square top, 14" pillow: cut 15" square top, 12" pillow: cut 13" square top).
2. Cut fabric for the bottoms of all pillows (20" pillow, cut 1 fabric piece, 21"x 27"; 14" pillow, cut 1 fabric piece, 14"x 21"; 12" pillow, cut 1 fabric piece, 13"x 19").

Coral Pillows:

1. Cut enough 2" wide blue fabric to cover cording to equal 140". (This is longer than will be needed. It is safer to have extra.) Cut the cording 140" long.
2. Sew the 2" wide blue fabric together to form one 86" length for 20" coral pillow. Sew 2" wide blue fabric to form one 54" length for the 12" coral pillow. Press seams open.
3. Create covered binding:
4. Fold 2" fabric strip over the cotton cording. Use a basting stitch and zipper foot to sew a seam close to cotton cording. Repeat with second strip.
5. Match raw edges of 86" blue binding with raw edge of 21" square coral fabric, RST, pin at the center of one side of the fabric. vStart stitching 2" from beginning of binding and stitch binding around cushion (1/2" seam). Use a zipper foot. Clip the binding seam allowance at each corner to fit the turn.
6. When you reach the end, cut off excess binding and then push the fabric back from the cotton cording & cut only the cording so it butts up to the beginning cord. Fold the excess fabric over the beginning binding and finish stitching, catching the end and beginning of the binding.
7. Repeat steps 6 & 7 with the 54" length of blue binding and the 13" square coral top fabric.
8. Cut long pillow fabric back pieces in half: result is two 21"x 13 1/2" pieces and two 13"x 9 1/2". Finish the cut sides with a narrow hem.
9. Overlap the two 21"x 13 1/2" fabric pieces with finished hem and adjust until the two pieces together measure 21"x 21". Test measurement by laying the back pieces on top the 21" square top fabric piece. Adjust overlap if necessary. Pin.
10. Machine baste the two pieces together along seam line. Use the zipper foot to sew the bottom and top pillow pieces RST in 1/2" seam around the entire pillow with seam binding sandwiched. Clip corners. Turn right side out. Push corners out. Insert pillow form.
11. Repeat step 10 with the 13"x 9 1/2" fabric pieces to create the 12" pillow.

Blue Pillows:

1. Repeat Steps 3-10, adjusting the measurements for the 14" pillow and using the coral fabric for the binding.

Patio Cushions:

1. Cut the tops & bottoms of cushion fabric 1" wider on all sides than the foam pieces. Result is 4 cushion fabric pieces that are 21"x 21".
2. Cut 8 pieces of fabric for the gussets measuring 3"x 21".
3. Cut enough 2" wide fabric pieces for the cording to equal 180". Cut the cording.
4. Sew the 2" wide fabric together to form one 90" length for each cushion. Press seams open.
5. Create covered binding:
6. Fold 2" fabric strip over the cotton cording. Use a basting stitch and zipper foot to sew a seam close to cotton cording. Repeat with second strip.
7. Match raw edges of binding with raw edge of top cushion fabric, RST, pin at the center of one side of the top cushion fabric. Start stitching 2" from beginning of binding and stitch binding around cushion (1/2" seam). Use a zipper foot. Clip the binding seam allowance at each corner to fit the turn.
8. At the end, cut off excess binding and then push the fabric back from the cotton cording & cut only the cording so it butts up to the beginning cord. Fold the excess fabric over the beginning binding and finish stitching, catching the end and beginning of the binding. Repeat this process 3 more times for the bottom and the other cushion.
9. Sew 4 gusset pieces along the short sides to create a large circle. Stitch a seam, 1/2" in along one 20" side (similar to a stay stitch). Press under along this stitching line. Repeat with second cushion.
10. Fit the gusset around the cushion to insure a snug fit. Make adjustments as necessary.
11. Pin the unstitched side of the gusset to the top of cushion (RST) with the binding sandwiched inside. Stitch gusset to top with a 1/2" seam. Use a zipper foot. Stop at each corner. Secure the stitch. Remove the cushion cover from machine. Reposition the needle to stitch the next side. Stitch all four sides.
12. Repeat with the bottom cushion piece, leaving the gusset piece with the line of stitching open.
13. Turn cushion right side out. Insert Poly-Fil cushion. Hand sew the remaining gusset side to the bottom cushion with a slip stitch. Use the stitching line as the guide.
14. Repeat Steps 9-12 for the other cushion.