Sunlounge sewing

By Spotlight

Why pay the earth for outdoor accessories this year when you could make your own?

Final Result

Materials

• 1.2m x 150cm wide striped canvas fabric
• 1.2m x 120-150cm wide co-ordinating plain canvas fabric
• 4 x No. 22 cushion inserts (56cm)
• 4 x 30cm dress zippers
• sewing machine
• matching Gutermann thread
• scissors
• tape measure/ruler
• pins
• iron

Step 1

Cutting
From both the striped and the plain canvas cut the following - 3 x 58cm squares (matching stripes) and one 58cm x 31cm high rectangle. Cut a strip 10cm wide x 60cm long from the plain canvas.

Step 2

Tabs
Press strip in half lengthways, wrong side to the inside. Press each long side 1.5cm to the inside. With strip folded in half lengthways pin and topstitch down both sides of 3mm in from each edge. Cut sewn strip into 6 x 10cm tabs.

Step 3

Zipper
Pin 2 of these tabs to the right side of the 58cm x 31cm piece of stripe fabric matching raw edges along the longer edge, tabs running inwards and 9.5cm in from each side. Place the right side of the plain 58cm x 31cm fabric piece over the top of the pinned tabs. Sew together along top with a 1.5cm seam allowance, leaving a 30cm opening in the middle of the seam. Press seam allowance open. Turn over to right side and pin 30cm zipper in opening. Sew zip in place using the zipper foot on sewing machine. Undo the zipper. With fabric right sides together and tabs on inside, pin and sew all remaining side edges with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Clip corners and turn cushion right side out. Press seams.

Step 4

Joining cushions
Place a 56cm square of stripe fabric right side up. Place first cushion on top of fabric, pin the raw edges of tabs to the raw edge of 58cm fabric square 9.5cm from side edges. Place a plain 58cm square on top and using a 1.5cm seam allowance sew together securing tabs and leaving a 30cm opening in the middle of the seam. Press seam allowance open. Turn right side out, pulling out the first cushion and pin 30cm zipper into the opening. Sew zip in place as before. Undo the zipper. Turn fabric back so the right sides are together and the first cushion is on the inside of 58cm fabric squares. Pin and sew all remaining side edges using a 1.5cm seam allowance. Clip corners and turn cushion right side out, along with first cushion. Press seams. Repeat step 3 for the remaining 2 cushions.

Handy Hint

Make just two cushions (for the seat and back) to go on your favourite outdoor chair.