Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Reinventing the Patio Set

 
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Flash back to May 2008.  I had just recovered my patio set with this snazzy red and cream fabric.  Doesn't it look fresh and new?  Well, after leaving it out in the elements for the better part of two years, the cushions now look like this: 

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Soiled, faded, and tired.

This wrought iron set has been on my patio with an assortment of different cushion coverings for 22 years.  We paid a lot for it at the time we purchased it, thinking that buying something good quality would pay off in the long run.  We were sure right about that!  It is still comfortable and will go on being so for years to come.

With the move to the new house in mind, we plan to purchase new patio furniture, and give the old set to Sara and Ryan.  But I couldn't turn it over to them in its present condition!  Oh dear no.  As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I have been searching for some new fabric to recover the set.  I did find something at Hancocks–not exactly what I had in mind, but something that will do for a year or so.  I'll show you in a sec.

So many of you commented on my post yesterday with wonderful ideas of where to go for good quality, very reasonably priced outdoor home decorating fabric.  The fabric I ended up buying at Hancocks is not outdoor fabric, and so it will fade in a year or so and need to be replaced.  You can be sure that next time I make cushions for this set I will be ordering outdoor fabric (which will not fade so quickly) and be ordering it online from one of the places suggested in the comments.  Thank you all so much for your great ideas. 

I worked on and off on the new covers Thursday, but didn't quite finish.  I did complete five out of six cushions.  The primary fabric is a ubiquitous toile that I have seen absolutely everywhere, but this dark blue version will be quite nice with the blue wrought iron.

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And the stripe?  Small throw pillows of course!  I think it is a fun modern addition to the toile.  And it has a nice dark blue stripe that ties in with the toile.  I have a plan to jazz up the throw pillows, so stay tuned on that!  But don't tell Sara, it's a surprise….lol

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20 responses to “Reinventing the Patio Set”

  1. Well they are going to love the new cushions and the pillows. Wonderful choice of fabrics.

  2. Well they are going to love the new cushions and the pillows. Wonderful choice of fabrics.

  3. Very handsome. Yes, it’s “the ubiquitous toile”, but the psp od the bold red strip for the pillows makes all the difference & takes to it another level. Can’t wait to see the finished set!
    BTW, can you spray them with Scotch Guard to make them a little more stain/wear resistant?

  4. Very handsome. Yes, it’s “the ubiquitous toile”, but the psp od the bold red strip for the pillows makes all the difference & takes to it another level. Can’t wait to see the finished set!
    BTW, can you spray them with Scotch Guard to make them a little more stain/wear resistant?

  7. I have two patio sets that seat six, a large swing with an awning and two smaller gliders as well as a chaise lounge. The cushions all need replaced. It would cost far too much to purchase new ones. Wish I could sew cushions. I can quilt but can’t make cushions. I did come up with an idea, but like you, couldn’t find fabric reasonably priced to make it affordable.

  8. I have two patio sets that seat six, a large swing with an awning and two smaller gliders as well as a chaise lounge. The cushions all need replaced. It would cost far too much to purchase new ones. Wish I could sew cushions. I can quilt but can’t make cushions. I did come up with an idea, but like you, couldn’t find fabric reasonably priced to make it affordable.