First Project of the Day - Frugal Patio Cushions

I did not get much done yesterday, which means that I have several projects on the schedule today. I told the boys that if we get a lot of stuff done today, we might have time for a trip to the beach tomorrow, which will be a great incentive for me as well.

Two years ago I got a patio set with a table and two chairs from Freecycle. There were rust on both the table and the chairs, but I never got around to doing anything about it. When we used the table I just put a cloth on, and for the chairs I got cheap cushions from Walmart. Well, in my opinion they weren't really cheap as I paid about 35 dollars for a set of two.

This past summer, the cushions finally gave up as the fabric tore down the sides on both of them. When we moved we left the table behind, as we did not feel we had space enough at our new place, and there is already a ceramic table and benches that we share with the neighbors.

I researched how much it would cost to get new cushions, and just as two years ago, I would have to spend almost 40 dollars. Instead I went through the fabric piles at Walmart, but I did not find any material that seemed strong enough, and where the fabric was patio chair appropriate.

I had almost given up, when I made a stop at the JoAnn's we have down the street from our new place. The first couple of times that I had been in there, I did not find anything priced less than 3 dollars, which could be functional. This time I found the perfect fabric though, it was thick, strong and had a great look for the outdoors. There was no price on it though, and I feared the outcome, when I asked for the price. It was a very positive surprise though, as the price was $1.50 per yard, which was even cheaper than any Walmart fabric. The reason for the low price was that there were only about five yards left, and there were a spot in the fabric where it had been sewn together, so it was not five yards in one.

I opted to get it though, and when I came home and did the measurements again, it turned out to be a perfect match. I paid about eight dollars, and I had enough fabric for both chairs and for a nice size table cloth.

I used the old Kenmore sewing machine, which I got of Freecycle about 1 1/2 years ago. My husband's aunt checked it this summer, helped me oil it etc., and now it is working great. I have never taken any sewing classes, and the little I know is what my mother taught me as a child, and what I have learned from reading sewing books.

This is what the patio chairs looked like before I started the project. If you look at the bottom of the cushion, you can see how it has ripped all along the sides.

I had some spray paint in the laundry room, so I painted the chairs and then I removed the old material from the cushions and put the new cushion covers on. I made the new covers, so that I can easily take it off and wash it when needed.

Here is the final result:

Here you see the old and the new, I sure love the result, and I love the $8 price tag.

Do you sew, and do you own a sewing machine?