How to Cover Patio Cushions Using Jeans
Blue jeans make excellent seat covers for patio chairs, while bringing a bit of country style to your patio. They are durable and are easy to care for. So if you've got several pairs of blue jeans you no longer wear consider recycling them into patio chair covers.
Supplies
- Iron
- Sewing Machine
- Old jeans
- Sharp scissors
- Measuring tape
- Straight pins (optional)
- Begin with one of the chair cushions you want to cover. Measure the top and bottom of the cushion's width and length. Add two inches to the measurements for the seams. Measure the depth of the cushion around the entire cushion perimeter and add two inches.
- Rip the jean legs open at the seams.
- Cut piece squares approximately four inches each. Cut as many squares as you can. Use a sewing machine to make square quilting blocks out of the pieces you just cut. If your jeans are different shades of blue, mix up the colors to create an interesting pattern. Each block should be approximately equal when assembled.
- Sew the denim blocks together to create a piece of material which will fit the measurements of the patio cushion. You will need one section for the top and one section for the bottom.
- Use another pair of jeans to cut strips of material of the patio cushion's depth to be used to join the top and bottom pieces. Remember to add two inches to the measurements for your seam.
- With the sides together sew the strips around the edges of the top piece. Allow for a one inch seam. Repeat the same procedure for the bottom piece. However, leave one end open on the bottom so the cushion can be inserted.
- When the top and bottom pieces are joined together they will resemble a narrow material bag with an opening at one end.
- Turn the sewn piece inside out so the finished denim patchwork sides will be visible.
- Insert the patio cushion, folding down one inch of the last raw edge and use your sewing machine to stitch close with the cushion inside.
- Cut four strips of the jean material three inches wide and at least 18 inches long. Fold the raw edges into the center so no raw edges are exposed. Fold the piece once more, as you would close a book, and iron it together. Stitch the piece closed with a sewing machine.
- Position two of these strips on the top and bottom along the seams of your jean bag, and stitch to attach. These will serve as ties to hold your cushions in your patio chairs.