Introduction: Simple / Removable Outdoor Cushion Slip Covers

By EJB Github site
About: Github site for DIY projects.

Why

Most sewing projects tend to cost me more money and look less professional than a store bought item. This project is one of the few exceptions. With $35.00 of outdoor fabric from a big box mart store, you can make simple slip covers to protect your outdoor cushions from: sun, pets, and family smore's night.


  • Slip covers are easily remove-able so they can be washed or just taken off to show off the original cushions.
  • Boring original wheat color cushion can be used when in-laws come over and fun LOUD covers for my day to day enjoyment.
  • Cheap
  • I replaced my slip covers with ~$35 of fabric. It cost more than $500 to replace these cushions 3 years ago.
  • Reduce waste.
  • Replacing cushions every 2-4 years is wasteful. These cushions take up a lot of landfill space. Slip covers extends the life of the cushions.
  • More chill lifestyle.
  • Yes, I could forbid my dog from hopping on the furniture and I could take my cushions in when not in use, but I just want the put them out and then not worry about them.



Supplies

  • Sewing machine
  • Thread
  • ~ 4.5 yards of main color and 2 yards secondary color.
  • Pencil

Yardage will depend on number of cushions and size and shape!

Step 1: Base Cushion: Prep

  • Lay the base cushion on the fabric.
  • Move the cushion so that there is enough fabric to fold over side.
  • Want ~0.5 inch should hang over after it is folded up.
  • Repeat on the back side.
  • Mark the four corners with a pencil.

Side panel:

  • Cut a side panel so that it is longer (1 inch) and taller (2 inches) than the base cushion.
  • Mark where ends of the cushion on the side panels.
  • One long line on each end of the panel

Step 2: Base Cushion : Sewing

Main Fabric

  • Finish the front edge of the cover for folding over, then again (1/4inch each fold) and sew along that edge

Side Panel.

  • Finish the edge of one of the long sides of the fabric.

Sew the panel to the main fabric.

I started by aligning a finished edge of the main fabric and the panels.

Sewed up the two edges till I got to the main fabrics cushion corner markings. Made a hard right on the panel and continued sewing the panel and the main fabric together.


Step 3: Back Pillow: Side Chairs

For the Back pillow side chairs I made a pillow case / pocket cover.


Step 4: Back Pillow: Love Seat

My dog loves to throw pillows off couches. But if the two pillows are sewn together she can not throw them off.

For this I placed both pillows on the fabric with a ~4in gap.

Then I marked of enough material so the it could fold over the pillow on the top and bottom by ~ 6 inches.

I used about 9 inches of a side panel material for the two sides.


  • Mark where the corners of the fabric fall on both the side panel and made fabric.
  • Mark the middle of the main fabric
  • Finish the edges by folding 1/4" of fabric onto itself.
  • Sew on the side panels.

To make the back.

  • Sew the sides inward at a 45 degree angle.
  • Along the middle like. Sew the front and back of the together.
  • This holds the pillow in place and makes them look like two pillows.


Step 5: Allow Dog Back on Couch

Yes, I could spend more money and buy longer lasting fabric, but this project took me a couple of hours and I like the fact that I can change the style of my furniture without breaking the bank and filling the landfill.


The fabric I used lasts about 2-3 years. It is polypropylene and it was $4.95 a yard. I would have kept the red cover one for another season if my dog did not rip a hole in the red slip cover. I had enough fabric to make matching throw pillows. These throw pillows are about 15 years old. I just keep making covers for them.


Again, I changed my outdoor furniture look for ~$35 and a couple hours of my time. This was faster and cheaper than shopping for new cushions.