I met Dan when we both started volunteering as founding board members of The Parks and Trails Foundation of Cedar Park. He found out about Cozy Giraffe and realized he'd finally found someone who could make his one-of-a-kind porch swing more comfortable.

Step #1: Creating a Design Concept

Pick a few fabric samples

Initially Dan gave me some measurements and I estimated the price and the amount of yards the project would take. Once that was approved, it was time to find fabric. Before picking fabric, Dan bought an outdoor umbrella for shade. Then he visited my workroom to look at some fabric ideas. Outdoor projects need an outdoor fabric in order to resist mildew, mold, and fading. The best fabric to use outdoors is a solution dyed acrylic. They will last the longest, especially in the hot Texas sun. Of course polyester can be used as well, but it is easily out-performed by acrylics.

Look at them in person to choose just the right one

He rounded his choices down to a couple of great Sunbrella fabrics. I sent these to his home so he could look at them next to the wood of the bench and next to the umbrella. It is important to look at fabric choices in the environment they will be in, as lighting can change how colors look. The plan for the space was coming together for a nice spot to sit outside and enjoy the weather.

Design elements to consider in an outdoor bench cushion

The swing was beautiful and his description had not given it justice! I’m so glad I got to see it in person before deciding the final details. We decided that the craftsmanship of the swing needed to come through. We chose to use three pillows to make the back more comfortable rather than an entire back cushion that would completely cover up the beautiful wood work.

At the initial site visit, we also decided that the seat cushion needed to be only 2 inches to keep the seat a comfortable distance from the ground.

Measuring and how to keep the bench cushion in place

When using shorter foam than the opening at the back of the seat, there were two things that needed to be taken into consideration: the firmness of the foam and how it would stay in place and not fall through the gap at the back of the bench.

We needed to change the design a bit. Instead of a a basic T-shape, we decided to make it fully custom, with cutouts to go around the center and side supports at the back and to wrap around the arm supports at the front. It is probably the most inside corners I've put into a single cushion, which is why I am so excited to show you what can be done with a fully custom-shape cushion. By changing this design element, it also allowed us to skip using straps or snaps to hold it in place. Measuring for all those cut-outs was an adventure.

Step #2: Fabricating Start to Finish

Pattern making

Since the pattern was going to go around every corner of the construction, drawing out the pattern on the fabric and centering it on the stripes in a way that made sense was time consuming but worth it.

Sewing all those inside corners

When constructing an outdoor piece, it is important not only to use a fabric specifically designed for outdoor use, but it is also important to use outdoor thread. Sunguard thread is my favorite brand. It is what is used in boat making. It swells when it gets wet for the first time and then fills the holes created by the sewing needle. The cover was full of carefully made inside corners. With so many in this project it gave me the perfect opportunity to also create a little tutorial on how to sew inside corners which I shared in my workroom groups. It can be found here.

Step #3: Revealing the End Result

It was so fun to deliver the finished project and see Dan’s face when his lovingly crafted swing received it’s custom-made cushion. Dan loves his new outside spot. It is a great place to enjoy the nice weather in the months ahead of us and watch the neighbors go by on their neighborhood strolls. My absolute favorite part of this project was how we worked together to create not just a cushion, but a cushion that provides comfort without compromising the beauty of the swing itself.

I love challenges, and this seat cushion certainly was that. The pattern was complex, and it was so satisfying to see the finished project fit perfectly. Who knew that with just a soft seat and some pillows, we could create another whole space for Dan to sit back and relax with his pup, Mateo.

Do you have a custom project in mind for your home? We would love to help! Contact me and let's get to know each other.

Until next time,

Inside Our Workroom: A Look at How We Created the Perfect Soft Furnishings