Outstanding Outdoor Pillow

Follow these pillow instructions on how to make the Outstanding Outdoor Pillow from Emma Jeffrey for Fiskars and your next DIY picnic will infinitely improve.

Even if you're not a frequent picnicker, you can still make a DIY pillow like this one and put it to use. If you read outside or take the kids to the park often, these pillow instructions will yield a better outdoor experience for you and your bum.

Get professional advice on piping, adding a zipper, and including a handle into your pieces by checking out this sewing tutorial.

Materials:

• ½ yard print heavy weight cotton canvas or outdoor fabric
• ½ yard solid heavy weight cotton canvas
• 5 yards of ½ inch piping
• Foam insert (mine measured 15 x 17 x 4 inches)
• Thread
• Needle
• Pins
• Sewing machine

Instructions:

1. Cut the fabric to fit foam insert; in this case it measures 15 x 17 x 4 inches. This tutorial allows 1 inch for seam allowances. Please adjust measurements to fit your foam insert; remembering to add 1 inch. You will need to cut:
   1 piece of print fabric (for top of cushion) – 16 x 18”
   1 piece of solid fabric (for bottom of cushion) – 16 x 18”
   2 strips of print (for longer sides of cushion) – 5 x 18”
   2 strips of print (for shorter sides of cushion) 5 x 16”
   2 strips of solid (for handles) 4 x 8”
   
   
    
2. Pin piping onto the edge of the right side of both your large fabric pieces, matching raw edges and easing around the corners. Where the two ends of the piping meet, open up stitching at one end and snip away a piece of the cord to meet the cord at the other end. Fold over the outside fabric edge of the piping to neaten. Sew piping onto the fabric pieces using a zipper foot to get close to the cord.
   
   
   
   
    
3. Sew the short ends of your side fabric pieces together to form a loop. Allow ½ seam allowance. Press seams open.
    
4. Make the handles by folding all raw edges of the 8 x 4 inch pieces ½ inch towards the center then fold in half lengthwise. Check that all raw edges are concealed and stitch. Pin handle pieces at the center of two opposite side pieces and sew securely.
   
   
    
5. Pin the side piece onto the top of one of your large fabric pieces all the way around with right sides together. Raw edges must match. Sew with the main fabric piece on top so you can follow the stitching from where you attached the piping. Get as close to this line of stitching as possible.
    
6. Repeat with the second main fabric piece but leave one side open so that you can insert your foam.
   
   
    
7. Turn your cushion cover to the right way and insert your piece of foam.
    
8. Fold in your unfinished edge, pin, hand stitch the opening closed and you are done!