Easy Outdoor Pillow Covers to Make
A New Look in Less than an Hour
These outdoor pillow slipcovers come together so easily, you may find yourself making them for every holiday or season. Here's the supply list:
Lay Out Fabric on Clean, Clutter-Free Surface
Make sure the outdoor pillow you want to cover isn't bigger than your two pieces of material. The cloth must be able to cover the stuffed pillow and also have an extra 3-5 inches to easily slide the pillow in and out of its new slipcover.
Next: Glue the Edge
Glue the Edge
Unlike sewing, in which you would put the right sides of each fabric piece together in preparation for sewing a seam, in this case you put the wrong sides together, so that the right side of the fabric is facing you. Grab your bottle of fabric glue, and squirt a thin line of it alongside one of the edges, on the inside of your fabric. Try not to use too much glue, or it might bleed through thinner materials.
After one fabric edge is glued, gently and slowly match up the other piece of fabric and press gently to make sure it adheres to the bottom piece. Let dry about 5 minutes before going on to the next edge and repeating the same step. Glue together three edges of the pillow cover and let dry for a few minutes.
Next: Let the Velcro Work Its Magic
Let Velcro Work Its Magic
You don't have to use the Velcro brand of fastener, although the brand name has pretty much become the word for that sticky-toothed-backed fastening product. Cut into small pieces (an inch or so), start with about 10 Velcro pieces -- you can always cut more as needed.
Next: Attach the Velcro
Attach the Velcro
Smooth out the two pieces of cloth or bandanas, making sure the wrong sides are inside, touching each other. Starting with any side, determine where you'll need to apply the Velcro -- probably three or four pieces to three of the pillow cover sides, or edges.
Peel the paper off one side of the Velcro strip and apply to end edge of fabric, pressing to make sure it adheres. Leaving the Velcro stuck together, match it up with the other piece of cloth, so that corners and ends line up.
Repeat every few inches on three sides of the pillow, leaving an opening to slip-in an outdoor pillow.
Next: Put Pillow Into Slipcover
You're almost there. Insert the pillow into the slipcover. Use a few more pieces of Velcro to secure the open edge and -- voila -- a festive-looking pillow!
Next: A New Outdoor Patio Cushion or Pillow
Remember: these are not just instructions for a patriotic pillow -- any print can be used. Think of the endless possibilities: spring, fall, Halloween -- however long you use your porch or patio and need outdoor pillows or cushions.
Got an hour? Get busy! Back to the Beginning
These outdoor pillow slipcovers come together so easily, you may find yourself making them for every holiday or season. Here's the supply list:
- Two already-hemmed bandanas or other matching pieces of cloth, identical in size and shape. I often buy a couple of those nice cloth napkins or decorative fabric placemats on sale at places like Crate and Barrel, Pier 1 Imports or Target, and turned them into quick pillows or pillow slip covers.
- Outdoor cushion or pillow (try to use one you already have, as long as it isn't moldy).
- Fabric glue, strong-hold.
- One package of Velcro strips.
- Trim, if desired.
Lay Out Fabric on Clean, Clutter-Free Surface
Make sure the outdoor pillow you want to cover isn't bigger than your two pieces of material. The cloth must be able to cover the stuffed pillow and also have an extra 3-5 inches to easily slide the pillow in and out of its new slipcover.
Next: Glue the Edge
Glue the Edge
Unlike sewing, in which you would put the right sides of each fabric piece together in preparation for sewing a seam, in this case you put the wrong sides together, so that the right side of the fabric is facing you. Grab your bottle of fabric glue, and squirt a thin line of it alongside one of the edges, on the inside of your fabric. Try not to use too much glue, or it might bleed through thinner materials.
After one fabric edge is glued, gently and slowly match up the other piece of fabric and press gently to make sure it adheres to the bottom piece. Let dry about 5 minutes before going on to the next edge and repeating the same step. Glue together three edges of the pillow cover and let dry for a few minutes.
Next: Let the Velcro Work Its Magic
Let Velcro Work Its Magic
You don't have to use the Velcro brand of fastener, although the brand name has pretty much become the word for that sticky-toothed-backed fastening product. Cut into small pieces (an inch or so), start with about 10 Velcro pieces -- you can always cut more as needed.
Next: Attach the Velcro
Attach the Velcro
Smooth out the two pieces of cloth or bandanas, making sure the wrong sides are inside, touching each other. Starting with any side, determine where you'll need to apply the Velcro -- probably three or four pieces to three of the pillow cover sides, or edges.
Peel the paper off one side of the Velcro strip and apply to end edge of fabric, pressing to make sure it adheres. Leaving the Velcro stuck together, match it up with the other piece of cloth, so that corners and ends line up.
Repeat every few inches on three sides of the pillow, leaving an opening to slip-in an outdoor pillow.
Next: Put Pillow Into Slipcover
You're almost there. Insert the pillow into the slipcover. Use a few more pieces of Velcro to secure the open edge and -- voila -- a festive-looking pillow!
Next: A New Outdoor Patio Cushion or Pillow
Remember: these are not just instructions for a patriotic pillow -- any print can be used. Think of the endless possibilities: spring, fall, Halloween -- however long you use your porch or patio and need outdoor pillows or cushions.
Got an hour? Get busy! Back to the Beginning