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Drop Cloth Patio Pillow Tutorial

Last week I showed you not-really-how-to-make my Bootlegged Ballard Designs No Sew Drop Cloth Iron On Pillows.  The very shoddy tutorial which accompanied the post was deemed the world’s worst tutorial ever (thanks Chris :).  Therefore, today I will try to redeem myself in the eyes of decorating Do-It-Yourselfers everywhere by giving you a step by step rundown.  
Step 1:  Take an ugly pillow that you want to recover.  Below is the pattern that came on my Target clearance patio chairs.  Not that bad.  I could’ve lived with them; however, I also bought a bright red clearance umbrella (affectionately known as Big Red) to go with the clearance patio set.  When I joined them together, the umbrella and cushions just weren’t happy together.   They decided a quiet divorce was best for all involved.  Hating to see them separated, I suggested that with the right makeover the cushions could be the perfect complement to Big Red.  Fortunately for me, they were eager to try.  Okay, this is getting weird…and a bit polygamist. Let’s move on.   
 

Step 2:  Place pillow on drop cloth fabric and trace around.  Then measure out an even number of inches around the pillow to leave room for your hem tape and the pillow form.  I chose 2 inches.  Why 2?  I have no idea.  It just seemed like it might work.  Lucky for me, it did.

 

Step 3:  Once you’ve created your pattern, go ahead and cut it out and use this piece as your template for your other pillows.

 
Step 4:  Tip:  Because my cushions are not uniform in shape, I chose to mark which was the front of the cushion and which was the back (where the cushion would tie to the patio chair).  This was helpful, but those not as blond may not need this step.  Make sure you place the two pieces of your pillow with writing side facing outward.  (Remember, you’ll be turning this right side out.)
Step 5:  Use Stitch Witchery or Heat & Bond tape and follow the package directions.  (I actually like Heat & Bond better, but it’s more expensive and I couldn’t resist the Value Pack of Stitch Witchery.)
 
Step 6:  Stitch Witchery all three sides leaving the back of your pillow open.  Turn your pillow right side out.  

Step 7:  Take your iron on and follow directions on package for ironing.  (I highly recommend using Scrapblog.com for creating graphics.  These graphics were not created on scrapblog and probably violate all sorts of copyright laws.  I love the way they turned out, but obviously don’t recommend that you follow my poor, stealing example.) I used Avery iron-ons because someone (320 Sycamore?) said that I should.  So I did.

Step 8:  Have your husband take a picture of you ironing with all your might on top of your kitchen counter.  This step is not optional.

Step 9: Cram your pillow into your cover.
Step 10:  Use Fabric Tac or some other type of fabric glue to glue the last seam of your pillow together.  Just fold-and-tuck like a present and glue.
Step 11:  Add some bling using the same fabric glue. 
Step 12:  Attach them to your chairs, add some cute accessories, and call your girlfriends over to admire them. You are done in 12ish steps or so!

Notice my cute Ikea lanterns a-la-Pottery-Barn style?  Love them.

If anyone was wondering, this cute basket was on clearance at Christmas Tree Shop for $2.99.  That store is fantastic.  I avoided it because of the name, but I shall avoid it no more!  So many great things for cheap, cheap, cheap.

Please let me know if you create your own drop cloth pillows.  I’d love it if you linked back to me and showed me your creations!
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Comments

  1. Love your pillows!

    I too love drop cloth pillows. I prefer to use drop cloth than burlap, but sometimes combine it. At my old house I had drop cloth pillows that I left there with the chairs I left for the new home owner.

    I have a covered porch now and will be making myself some more. Thanks for telling me what you use for the iron ons. When I get mine made I will link up.

  2. Cute so cute… A really nice tutorial. Come and visit and see one gone wrong and a giveaway.

  3. I love them! They turned out sooo adorable! Of course, the tutorial was pretty great, too! 🙂

  4. Love your use of dropcloths! The pillows look wonderful, as does you patio. Love the iron ons.

    What a sweet basket too.

  7. these look great! i hate to sew, but you have inspired me to look for some products out there that could satisfy my crafty side sans sewing!

  8. What a great tutorial! Your cushions turned out great! I just blogged about a DIY hammock pillow that you can make from a placemat, so we're both thinking on the same decorate-the-outdoors wavelength!

    :)Amy

    PS- You have a beautiful family!

  9. Hey B,

    Have you ever visited http://www.etsy.com/? I think you would like the site, it is where people can go to sell and buy handmade items.

    Maybe you could do some selling. 😀

  10. I will add the tip: "Do not iron on your iron-on on your expensive pottery barn dining room table. You will regret it."

  11. Thank you for explaining stitch witchery – looks like something that I could work with! Love how everything turned out. I think that "Big Red" is probably very happy with his new and improved partners (okay – now I am sounding polygamist too!!).

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