SEW simple

Add a comfy seat pad to your outdoor furniture ready for garden guests this summer

Summer is well and truly here, so why not bring the cheerful vibe of the season to your garden with a set of easy-sew seat pads? Whether you’re a newbie stitcher or a professional sewer, this project is suitable for all abilities and the end result will have your guests sitting pretty – and comfortably – in the garden this month.

SHOPPING LIST

Contrasting fabric, 0.5m, or ready-made piping, 3.6m 5mm piping cord, 3.6m Sewing machine with a zipper foot

Main fabric, 2m Co-ordinating thread 400g fibre filling Twine Large darning needle Erasable fabric marker

1 To create your own piping, take the contrasting fabric and cut several 5cm strips on the bias (at a 45-degree angle). Sew them together to make one continuous strip. Fold the fabric in half around the piping cord and sew in place using a zipper foot to ensure the stitches stay close to the cord.

2 Take the main fabric and cut it into four squares that measure 45 x 45cm. Take one of the pieces, with the right side (RS) facing up, and lay the piping along the edges of the square, then pin – it’s best to start in the middle along one side of the square. The raw edges of the piping should be aligned with the raw edge of the fabric. When the ends of the piping meet, they should overlap and point towards the raw edge of the material.

3 Stitch the piping to the main fabric using a 1.5cm seam allowance – continue to use the zipper foot to stay close to the piping. When sewing over the ends of the piping, ensure the ends are towards the raw edge of the fabric.

4 Using the contrasting fabric, cut 8 strips that measure 5 x 50cm; these will create ties for the cushion. Fold with RS together and sew down the length of the fabric strip. Turn the strips to the RS and press flat to form the ties.

5 If you are using a directional pattern, determine which side is the top edge and measure 5cm in from each corner. Place two of the ties on top of each other at the 5cm mark and pin in place, then sew it securely. Repeat these steps for the other ties.

6 Take the other square of main fabric and lay it on top of the piece with the piping attached. Line up the raw edges, making sure that the ties are tucked in between the front and back of the cushion. Pin all around leaving a gap of 10cm along the same side as the ties. Sew all around the cushion using the previous stitch lines as a guide and remember to leave a gap. Once stitched, snip the corners and turn the cushion to the RS. Fill the cushion, pushing the filling into the corners then stitch the gap.

7 To create the points for the mock tufting, divide the cushion into three sections and find four equally spaced points and mark with a fabric pen; these points should be equally spaced apart and be an equal distance from the sides of the cushion. For example, if the finished measurement of the cushion is 42cm, the points for the tufting should be 14cm apart. When you mark the points, ensure they are the same on the front and back as these marks will be the entry and exit points for the needle.

8 Thread the darning needle with fine twine and push it through the cushion at the entry mark and out through the exit mark on the back. Leave the thread in the cushion and remove the needle. Re-thread the needle using the end of the thread at the front of the cushion, taking care not to pull the thread out. Insert the needle again approximately 1cm from the first entry point. Pull the needle all the way through to the back of the cushion close to the first exit point. You should now have a loop at the front of the cushion and two tail ends at the back.

9 Take the tail ends and pull them to create a ‘dimple’ in the fabric at the front. Tighten by tying the tail ends together and check the depth of the dimple at the front before making a tight knot to secure. Snip the ends of the twine then repeat for the remaining marked points.