Making your own outdoor patio furniture covers is easier than you think. You need a a sewing machine, fabric and a little ingenuity. By making your own patio furniture covers you know exactly what you want and what you are getting. The Covers will be the color, style and quality you desire. If done wisely, making your own covers can save you a lot of money. I have seen patio set covers made out of a variety of different fabrics. Some people had recycled fabric they had around the house to save money There is no right fabric. The choice of fabric is up to the individual taste and only limited by individual imagination.
As you know from other posts in the blog, it is important that your patio furniture be protected from the elements. The amount of protection your furniture will need is dependent upon where you live and the type of furniture you own. Those people, like myself, that live in tropical areas will want to protection their furniture from the intense sun or salt spray every chance they get. The tropical sun will remove an entire layer of varnish in less than 6 months. Unless you don't mind spending your time sanding and re-varnishing you best acquire some covers for your patio furniture. On the other hand those people with plastic or resin patio furniture don't need to use as much protection. Good quality plastic patio furniture can last for years unprotected. Cheap patio furniture won't last as long even if it is meticulously protected.
The most important thing to keep in mind is proper measurement of your furniture. Nothing is more frustrating than have to tug and pull to get the patio furniture covers on. Or even worse to discover that the covers don't fir at all. You know the old saying: "measure twice and cut once". Well, that saying also applies to making these covers. The patio table cover will need to be made from a piece of material that is 8 inches longer and wider than the table top. I stitch over 3/4s of an inch and run a drawstring through the tunnel. It really couldn't be easier. In the alternative, you could run elastic through the tunnel. This design doesn't specifically protect the patio table legs but it is the simplest patio furniture cover design.
The covers can be made out of any material you have on hand. More expensive materials can include some UV protection and water proofing but this is not always necessary. Remember that when not in use these covers need to be stored in the shed or basement or in a closet. Try to use a material that folds down easily into a convenient size to store. I have seen covers made out of old sailboat sails. I've also seen covers made from burlap potato bags and plasticized sand bags. The covers can literally be made of anything. That said try to choose a material that doesn't absorb water like a sponge.
Designing covers for patio chairs can be slightly more challenging. These covers can either be fitted or bag style. Clearly the bag style covers are the easiest to sew. Simply measure the height, the width and the circumference of the chair. I stitch two ends of the material together to make a circle that is the same diameter as the circumference. Ensure that the height of the tube is lightly less than the height of the chair. This way the patio chair cover will not hang on the ground. I then cut a round top that can then easily be stitched to the top of the circle. Voila you now have a chair cover. The are more complicated designs using zippers.
Making a cover for a chaise lounge chair is slightly more complicated again. Making a chaise lounge cover will be the topic of another post.
I generally free hand my patterns and I've had great luck. However, if you want some more guidance then there are plenty of patterns to choose from at your local fabric store. Making your own patio furniture covers is fun and easy and inexpensive.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Patio Set Covers
Those who have been following this blog know I'm in the market for patio set covers. Although, my search is relatively new (as in less than 8 weeks) I have likely devoted at least an hour of thinking time per day to the endeavor. I'm beginning to think that patio set covers are a thing of a bygone era.
I have also come to the realization that I want these covers to save myself some work. As I recommended a few posts ago, it is important to really analyze why you want something in order that you end up with the thing that really suits your needs. I have put a great deal of thought into why I want patio set covers and I realized it is to save me from unnecessary labor.
Once the birds start chirping and the first crocuses poke their heads from the ground, my kids want to have every meal in the backyard (actually in a tent if they could have their way). And why not? We have been stuck inside for the past 5 or 6 months and the warmer air and sunshine is nothing short of lovely. Our whole family is eager to spend every available minute outside. Even the most mundane meal feels like and adventure or a picnic if eaten outside, particularly in the beginning months of the summer. Admittedly, some foods are just better eaten outside, like watermelon with seeds and corn on the cob dripping with butter. I generally agree to serve a few suppers per week outside on weekdays and most lunches and suppers outside on weekends. When the kids are out of school they can eat their breakfasts outside as well.
We live in an area that, although downtown, has lots of wildlife. Many birds, squirrels, chipmunks, cats and raccoons pass through our backyard and generally take some time to walk on our patio table. Aside from the muddy footprints, who knows what they might track in. Accordingly, I am in the backyard washing the top of our patio table six to eight times per week and sadly sometimes twice per day.
Covers for my patio set would save me almost 60 minutes per week. What wouldn't I do for an extra hour of personal time per week? That time savings amounts to almost 12 hours over the course of the summer. That is a minimum in time savings, as I recently realized that there is another area of work that would be eliminated (will save this insight for another post) by the purchase of patio set covers.
I have also come to the realization that I want these covers to save myself some work. As I recommended a few posts ago, it is important to really analyze why you want something in order that you end up with the thing that really suits your needs. I have put a great deal of thought into why I want patio set covers and I realized it is to save me from unnecessary labor.
Once the birds start chirping and the first crocuses poke their heads from the ground, my kids want to have every meal in the backyard (actually in a tent if they could have their way). And why not? We have been stuck inside for the past 5 or 6 months and the warmer air and sunshine is nothing short of lovely. Our whole family is eager to spend every available minute outside. Even the most mundane meal feels like and adventure or a picnic if eaten outside, particularly in the beginning months of the summer. Admittedly, some foods are just better eaten outside, like watermelon with seeds and corn on the cob dripping with butter. I generally agree to serve a few suppers per week outside on weekdays and most lunches and suppers outside on weekends. When the kids are out of school they can eat their breakfasts outside as well.
We live in an area that, although downtown, has lots of wildlife. Many birds, squirrels, chipmunks, cats and raccoons pass through our backyard and generally take some time to walk on our patio table. Aside from the muddy footprints, who knows what they might track in. Accordingly, I am in the backyard washing the top of our patio table six to eight times per week and sadly sometimes twice per day.
Covers for my patio set would save me almost 60 minutes per week. What wouldn't I do for an extra hour of personal time per week? That time savings amounts to almost 12 hours over the course of the summer. That is a minimum in time savings, as I recently realized that there is another area of work that would be eliminated (will save this insight for another post) by the purchase of patio set covers.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Outdoor Furniture Covers
As you may have already read in this blog, I have become interested in outdoor furniture covers for my patio furniture. I have spent a fair amount of time searching online and in stores such as Home Depot, Homesense and Home Outfitters and have had marginal luck at best. There seems to be a very limited target market of consumers ofr such things and as a result good quality outdoor furniture covers are hard to find. At least they are hard to find in my community. The very few I have found don't suit my needs as they are either the wrong size, wildly expensive, unattractive, or are cheaply constructed.
I have put a great deal of thought into what qualities I am looking for and I have a mental image of what I would consider to be the perfect outdoor furniture covers for me. Firstly, the colour would be fairly neutral perhaps a sage green or taupe. I don't want a dark colour as I fear the sun and snow would fade it and it would look worn too quickly. That said, I don't want too light of a colour either as I don't want it to show stains.
I want the covers to be made out of a very thin material that can be stored in a very small un-obtrusive spot. Ideally, all of the covers (4 chairs and a table) could be stuffed into a small bag roughly the size of a small sleeping bag bag or a yoga mat bag. I am thinking of some sort of durable spandex material.
I would want my outdoor furniture covers to be extremely easy to put on and take off. At the end of a late night, I don't want to feel overwhelmed by the task of putting on my patio furniture covers. To me this means things such as stretchy light weight material with elasticized fasteners or perhaps velcro tabs. I would consider zippers but only zippers that are of the highest quality and easy to pull. Given that the zippers would be exposed to the elements I would only consider an excellent quality plastic zipper.
Lastly, I would want my covers to be UV and water resistant but not wind proof. The last thing I would want is for my patio furniture to be blown around like little sail boats or kites.
Actually, I suppose the last consideration would be price. Having something custom made in North America can be cost prohibitive so I will be looking for store bought outdoor furniture covers. In a perfect world I would like to be able to get a decent set for under $100.00. This means that I might need to wait for the end of summer sales.
I have put a great deal of thought into what qualities I am looking for and I have a mental image of what I would consider to be the perfect outdoor furniture covers for me. Firstly, the colour would be fairly neutral perhaps a sage green or taupe. I don't want a dark colour as I fear the sun and snow would fade it and it would look worn too quickly. That said, I don't want too light of a colour either as I don't want it to show stains.
I want the covers to be made out of a very thin material that can be stored in a very small un-obtrusive spot. Ideally, all of the covers (4 chairs and a table) could be stuffed into a small bag roughly the size of a small sleeping bag bag or a yoga mat bag. I am thinking of some sort of durable spandex material.
I would want my outdoor furniture covers to be extremely easy to put on and take off. At the end of a late night, I don't want to feel overwhelmed by the task of putting on my patio furniture covers. To me this means things such as stretchy light weight material with elasticized fasteners or perhaps velcro tabs. I would consider zippers but only zippers that are of the highest quality and easy to pull. Given that the zippers would be exposed to the elements I would only consider an excellent quality plastic zipper.
Lastly, I would want my covers to be UV and water resistant but not wind proof. The last thing I would want is for my patio furniture to be blown around like little sail boats or kites.
Actually, I suppose the last consideration would be price. Having something custom made in North America can be cost prohibitive so I will be looking for store bought outdoor furniture covers. In a perfect world I would like to be able to get a decent set for under $100.00. This means that I might need to wait for the end of summer sales.
Cheap Patio Furniture Covers
I have been looking for cheap patio furniture covers for the past few months. I live for the part of each year in Nicaragua. Nicaragua is a stunningly beautiful country with a punishing sun and a punishing wind. Even the most carefully varnished patio furniture built with the most durable tropical hardwoods can only last 8 - 12 months before it shows visible signs of age and wear. Given that I don't like to strip and re-finish my patio furniture under this same blistering sun, I have decided that I need to find some cheap patio furniture covers.
This task has proven to be more daunting than I would have thought. Although in hindsight thinking I could simply buy patio furniture covers in Nicaragua was a bit of a fools errand in the first place. (I recall spending a half day looking for a can opener during my first days in San Juan del Sur.) Most patio furniture here is hand made and is often the result of hiring a local carpenter and handing him a roughly sketched out design. As a result there is very little uniformity in patio furniture and most pieces are unique. After a few futile searches in the major department stores of Managua, it occurred to me that if my patio furniture was hand-made and custom designed then my patio furniture covers would also have to be hand made and custom designed. Thankfully, arranging to have things made here is a fairly simple and in expensive procedure. I reckon with a little planning and sketching I can have some cheap patio furniture covers within a month.
The first thing I need to do is measure my furniture to determine the appropriate size of my new patio furniture covers. I think I will design the chair covers with two side panels adjoined by a long strip covering the back, seat and front. The cover for the patio table will simply be a flat piece the size of the table plus 6 inches on each side. The edges will have an elastic insert allowing the patio table cover to simply slip onto the top of the table like a shower cap.
Once I have the furniture measured and the covers designed, I will attempt to make a pattern out of newspaper that I can pass along to our local seamstress. I will have to also shop of an appropriate material. I want the material to be as cheap as possible without being hideous. Much like my patio furniture was, my new patio furniture covers will be exposed to a punishing sun and can't be expected to last more than a year or two. Given the short shelf life it is important that I can create some cheap patio furniture covers. I expect that I can get a set of covers for approximately 25 dollars including material and labor.
This task has proven to be more daunting than I would have thought. Although in hindsight thinking I could simply buy patio furniture covers in Nicaragua was a bit of a fools errand in the first place. (I recall spending a half day looking for a can opener during my first days in San Juan del Sur.) Most patio furniture here is hand made and is often the result of hiring a local carpenter and handing him a roughly sketched out design. As a result there is very little uniformity in patio furniture and most pieces are unique. After a few futile searches in the major department stores of Managua, it occurred to me that if my patio furniture was hand-made and custom designed then my patio furniture covers would also have to be hand made and custom designed. Thankfully, arranging to have things made here is a fairly simple and in expensive procedure. I reckon with a little planning and sketching I can have some cheap patio furniture covers within a month.
The first thing I need to do is measure my furniture to determine the appropriate size of my new patio furniture covers. I think I will design the chair covers with two side panels adjoined by a long strip covering the back, seat and front. The cover for the patio table will simply be a flat piece the size of the table plus 6 inches on each side. The edges will have an elastic insert allowing the patio table cover to simply slip onto the top of the table like a shower cap.
Once I have the furniture measured and the covers designed, I will attempt to make a pattern out of newspaper that I can pass along to our local seamstress. I will have to also shop of an appropriate material. I want the material to be as cheap as possible without being hideous. Much like my patio furniture was, my new patio furniture covers will be exposed to a punishing sun and can't be expected to last more than a year or two. Given the short shelf life it is important that I can create some cheap patio furniture covers. I expect that I can get a set of covers for approximately 25 dollars including material and labor.
Wicker Patio Furniture Covers
If protected by wicker patio furniture covers, Wicker furniture can last for decades. I remember fondly my grandmother's wicker furniture. As a child I did not like it as well as my own family's boxy picnic table ans brightly coloured stacking plastic chairs. As I said I was a child. Now I would love to have my grandmother's old furniture. The same stuff in sells for an arm and a leg in anitque stores.
Old is new again is a theme we hear all the time. I think Martha Stewart likely single handedly made us crave the methods used and the lifestyles/skills of used by our grandmothers. Whether these methods or lifestyles/skills related to flower arranging, preserving jams, arranging a table, growing our own herbs or drinking ice tea in wicker furniture, it's new to want what is old.
So if you have purchased expensive wicker patio furniture or were lucky enough to inherit some, you would be well served to protect your treasured belongings with good quality wicker patio furniture covers. A few years ago this would have been very difficult as that type of cover was hard to find. Thankfully, as wicker patio furniture has made a resurgence, the covers for the same became easier to come by.
There are a number of online sources that sell patio furniture covers and specifically covers for wicker furniture. You could also check the yellow pages under patio furniture or wicker furniture.
Another way to get these covers is to hire a seamstress to sew a series of sack like bags that have a drawstring around the bottom or have an elasticized bottom. These can be slipped over the wicker furniture and tightened at the bottom. Make sure the fabric you choose is UV resistant and water resistant for the best protection.
Wicker furniture is a beautiful addition to your outdoor decorating scheme. Protect
your beautiful furniture with good quality wicker patio furniture covers.
Old is new again is a theme we hear all the time. I think Martha Stewart likely single handedly made us crave the methods used and the lifestyles/skills of used by our grandmothers. Whether these methods or lifestyles/skills related to flower arranging, preserving jams, arranging a table, growing our own herbs or drinking ice tea in wicker furniture, it's new to want what is old.
So if you have purchased expensive wicker patio furniture or were lucky enough to inherit some, you would be well served to protect your treasured belongings with good quality wicker patio furniture covers. A few years ago this would have been very difficult as that type of cover was hard to find. Thankfully, as wicker patio furniture has made a resurgence, the covers for the same became easier to come by.
There are a number of online sources that sell patio furniture covers and specifically covers for wicker furniture. You could also check the yellow pages under patio furniture or wicker furniture.
Another way to get these covers is to hire a seamstress to sew a series of sack like bags that have a drawstring around the bottom or have an elasticized bottom. These can be slipped over the wicker furniture and tightened at the bottom. Make sure the fabric you choose is UV resistant and water resistant for the best protection.
Wicker furniture is a beautiful addition to your outdoor decorating scheme. Protect
your beautiful furniture with good quality wicker patio furniture covers.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Covers For Patio Furniture
I have just posted an ad on our local community e-bulletin board looking for someone who might be able to sew covers for patio furniture. I hope to get some information about the costs and time lines for such a product. Given that decent and reasonably priced patio furniture covers are so difficult to find I might even try to market some covers to some of the outdoor furniture shops in my city.
I have 4 chairs and a rectangular table. However, if I was to market these covers I would need more options. Initially, I would try to get quotes for three specific sets of covers of patio furniture, namely 4 chairs and round table, 4 chairs and square table, and 4 chairs and rectangular table. It might also be nice to offer some sort of matching BBQ cover.
Since beginning my search for patio furniture covers and starting this blog, I have asked most of my friends for their opinions and assistance. About 50% said they had no interest in such covers and thought they would simply add to backyard or shed clutter. The other half really liked the idea of customized covers and have provided a lot of helpful suggestions for my search. I have also asked them what they thought were important features to look for and they have been very helpful in that regard. The most common comments were the need for the covers to be washable, ease of storage, and ease of taking the covers off and putting the covers on.
It is now the middle of May. I am determined to have the perfect covers for patio furniture by the end of this summer. Either I'm going to find a store that sells such covers or I am going to have some made. Wish me luck.
I have 4 chairs and a rectangular table. However, if I was to market these covers I would need more options. Initially, I would try to get quotes for three specific sets of covers of patio furniture, namely 4 chairs and round table, 4 chairs and square table, and 4 chairs and rectangular table. It might also be nice to offer some sort of matching BBQ cover.
Since beginning my search for patio furniture covers and starting this blog, I have asked most of my friends for their opinions and assistance. About 50% said they had no interest in such covers and thought they would simply add to backyard or shed clutter. The other half really liked the idea of customized covers and have provided a lot of helpful suggestions for my search. I have also asked them what they thought were important features to look for and they have been very helpful in that regard. The most common comments were the need for the covers to be washable, ease of storage, and ease of taking the covers off and putting the covers on.
It is now the middle of May. I am determined to have the perfect covers for patio furniture by the end of this summer. Either I'm going to find a store that sells such covers or I am going to have some made. Wish me luck.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Patio Furniture Covers
Nothing preserves the quality of your patio furniture as much as good quality patio furniture covers. Patio furniture is exposed the rain, the sun, and in some areas the snow. These elements can be very tough on your patio furniture. With some slight annual maintenance and the diligent use of patio furniture covers you can keep your furniture looking like new. As an additional bonus you will be increasing the life span of your patio furniture and therefore saving yourself some money.
As a child I remember patio furniture covers being ugly and cumbersome. They were made of of material similar to the material used in old outside table clothes. The material was a sort of thin plastic fused to felt. If the covers were stored folded the material would be hard to lay flat and if they were stored folded for long enough the fabric would crack. In addition, these covers would weaken in the sun and eventually tear. You could sponge wash the plastic surface but it was nearly impossible to clean the felt side. Also, these covers took a lot of space to store. Our back shed was stuffed full of dirty cracking furniture covers we were trying to hide.
Times have changed and so have patio furniture covers. Much of the change can be attributed to the development of different types of materials or fabrics. Now days you can find patio furniture covers in a variety of different colours, styles, and fabrics. There are covers to suit every taste and every shape of furniture.
You no longer have to worry about the ordeal of putting on and taking off the covers. The elasticized straps make this a breeze. Furthermore, you no longer need to devote 9 cubic feet to storing the covers when not in use. These days the covers are made in a very thin material and they fold down into nothing. The are convenient to use and convenient to store.
When choosing patio furniture covers I look for the following:
1. Is the cover colourfast? This is very important as you do not want to stain your furniture. These days it would be very uncommon to come across such furniture covers that were not colourfast but it's best to be sure.
2. Are they washable? These covers ought to be washed a few times per year to keep them looking their best. If they are not washable, they will quickly look old and unattractive. Furthermore, if they are not machine washable you are unlikely to wash the covers as often as they need it.
3. Look for durability in patio furniture covers. Look at all of the seams. Any loose threads are a bad sign. Are all of the seams double stitched? Try all of the zippers. All of the zippers should be heavy duty and pull smoothly. Don't consider buying any covers that have hard to pull zippers.
4. How do the covers attach to the furniture. Make sure the covers can securely fasten to the furniture. You don't want to have to leave your house in a storm to chase your furniture covers.
5. Make sure the covers are UV resistant and water resistant. This will protect your furniture from the harmful effects of the sun and shelter your furniture in the event of a light rain or dew.
6. Size. Measure your patio furniture including tables, chairs, stool, and end tables and bring the measurements with you when shopping. It goes with saying that you want the covers to fit your furniture. You would be surprised by the number of people who can't accurately say whether their pation table is 5 feet or 7 feet long.
With the above factors in mind you should be able to choose the perfect patio furniture covers for your family.
As a child I remember patio furniture covers being ugly and cumbersome. They were made of of material similar to the material used in old outside table clothes. The material was a sort of thin plastic fused to felt. If the covers were stored folded the material would be hard to lay flat and if they were stored folded for long enough the fabric would crack. In addition, these covers would weaken in the sun and eventually tear. You could sponge wash the plastic surface but it was nearly impossible to clean the felt side. Also, these covers took a lot of space to store. Our back shed was stuffed full of dirty cracking furniture covers we were trying to hide.
Times have changed and so have patio furniture covers. Much of the change can be attributed to the development of different types of materials or fabrics. Now days you can find patio furniture covers in a variety of different colours, styles, and fabrics. There are covers to suit every taste and every shape of furniture.
You no longer have to worry about the ordeal of putting on and taking off the covers. The elasticized straps make this a breeze. Furthermore, you no longer need to devote 9 cubic feet to storing the covers when not in use. These days the covers are made in a very thin material and they fold down into nothing. The are convenient to use and convenient to store.
When choosing patio furniture covers I look for the following:
1. Is the cover colourfast? This is very important as you do not want to stain your furniture. These days it would be very uncommon to come across such furniture covers that were not colourfast but it's best to be sure.
2. Are they washable? These covers ought to be washed a few times per year to keep them looking their best. If they are not washable, they will quickly look old and unattractive. Furthermore, if they are not machine washable you are unlikely to wash the covers as often as they need it.
3. Look for durability in patio furniture covers. Look at all of the seams. Any loose threads are a bad sign. Are all of the seams double stitched? Try all of the zippers. All of the zippers should be heavy duty and pull smoothly. Don't consider buying any covers that have hard to pull zippers.
4. How do the covers attach to the furniture. Make sure the covers can securely fasten to the furniture. You don't want to have to leave your house in a storm to chase your furniture covers.
5. Make sure the covers are UV resistant and water resistant. This will protect your furniture from the harmful effects of the sun and shelter your furniture in the event of a light rain or dew.
6. Size. Measure your patio furniture including tables, chairs, stool, and end tables and bring the measurements with you when shopping. It goes with saying that you want the covers to fit your furniture. You would be surprised by the number of people who can't accurately say whether their pation table is 5 feet or 7 feet long.
With the above factors in mind you should be able to choose the perfect patio furniture covers for your family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
