Hi everyone! I hope you guys have been able to enjoy at least a little bit of the sunshine like we have here in Tennessee. As some of you know we have gone from a 1200 sq ft condo to a 2800 sq ft home in the past year. This doesn’t include the fact that we have upgraded from a small balcony to a front porch and a back patio. Where do you start, when there is so much to do and so much to buy? Well, we are pacing ourselves.
This spring we started with making over the front yard and the front porch. After all, it is the first impression you give all of your neighbors and visitors. Later this week I will reveal the entire front porch as well as the full landscaping project, but for now, here’s a little Outdoor Pillow DIY. Mom also has a tutorial herself for her DIY outdoor pillows. After scouring the local stores and checking online resources for large outdoor pillows that were budget friendly, I gave in and decided to make my own.
Here’s what you need to make a DIY Outdoor Pillow:
- Indoor/Outdoor Tablecloth ($16.50 from TJMax)
- Bed pillows ($2.50 from Target)
- Shower curtain Lining ($1.oo from Dollar Tree)
I choose this particular table cloth knowing that I wanted the square with the flower to be in the center on the front of the pillow. I made sure to center the flower and cut the front piece to 24″ x22″. However you can make your pillow any size you wish. If you have a picture you want to center just make sure you are measuring accordingly. 
I cut the two back pieces to make an envelope style pillow. One small 24″x13″ and One larger 24″ X15. I used the table cloth finished edge to my advantage so that I would not have to hem. One side that is 24″ is already finished, if you use the finished edge of the table cloth as well you will not need to hem your top raw edge of your envelop closure. 
I used a regular bed pillow for $2.oo for the insert. By cutting it open then pushing the stuffing down and re-sewing, I saved quite a bit on an easy insert. 
Place your pieces right sides together. I sewed the bottoms first and then the sides. Remember if you used the hemmed part of the table cloth then the opening at the top will already be hemmed. Flip you case inside out. 
Using the shower curtain liner, place it around the pillow and sew around it. Yes, I used the sewing machine and no it does not look pretty but I don’t think any one will be seeing it. The purpose of this step is to prevent the pillow from mildew and mold. 
Here is the back and if you look closely you can see the finished edge I was talking about. I did not sew the finished edge where the opening is. That is the actual hem of the original table cloth. I am not the best seamstress, nor do I even know much about my machine. However, if I can do this you can too! Trust me! My machine and I are arch enemies! After only a few jams I was able to finish two of these bad boys in about an 1 hour and a half. What do you think! Oh by the way it poured yesterday and they repelled the water and dried very quickly! 
As always, Thanks so much for stopping by. Please use the comment section to leave us a note. You guys are the fuel to our DIY< DECORATING<DESIGNING fire! We read and respond to each and every one!
I already told you this was an awesome idea! LOVE it! You look at fabric stores for pilloforms and you look at spending $7-$11 for a small pillowform. I was trying to figure out an easy way to do throw pillows for the kids rooms but now I don’t have to. I already have the fabric I just need to go get the cheap pillows! A pillow cut in half would be great! But I love the shower curtain idea too for outside pillows! We’ll have a full sized front porch and a back porch on our new house. I’m going to need to make pillows for outside too when the time comes. I am going to have to pace my self as well as far as decorating goes! =)
Thanks Jessie,
The idea just came to me, I remember buying $2 pillows at Target and went back and there they were. Why not, I am not one to spend 12$ for a pillow insert. You just gave me another idea, besides using a table cloth for the fabric, actual shower curtains would work well too. I would look for anything water resistant. Congrats on the new home.
Did you get all that mileage out of 1 tablecloth?Wow-You got your money’s worth?And thanks for the great ideas!
I actually even had some left over. You can also use a waterproof decorative shower curtain as well.
Jessica-If you cut a bed pillow in half to get 2 smaller, square pillows, did you sew the cut edge of the pillow before putting it into an envelope/cover, so the stuffing would stay put?Thx for the great idea!I’ll be on the look out for cute outdoor tablecloths AND for shower curtains:)Lesley, Did you use 1 outdoor table cloth? or 2?
Polly,
I’ll answer for Jessica. Yes if you cut the pillow in half you will either have to hot glue or sew that opening. You’ll want to try to separate the stuffing before you cut it in half so that you will actually have a little fabric from the casing. And I used only one table cloth and had left overs these pillows are the size of Euro pillows as opposed to standard throws.
This pillow is inviting to sit in the porch, I like the pattern, and although I don’t know how to sew at all, I would like to try it one of these days, I like the colors as well. Thank you for sharing.
Erika, Thanks so much. I am being completely honest when I say the only thing I know how to do is sew a straight line. As long as you can find a machine and ask someone to show you how to thread it and sew straight, then you can do this too. I have to admit I have been lazy in the sewing department and have not taken the time to learn. Good luck! Let us know if you try it out.
Lesley,
Is the table cloth the vinyl kind or is it cloth? I love your tutorial. This is a fun project (and I love porches).
Thanks,
Mary
Mary, it was a water resistant cloth table cloth. It’s slick but not shiny like vinyl. Not as soft as cotton either. I bought it at TJ Max. Mom made one too but hers was Vinyl.
Thanks a lot, Lesley! That is helpful to know.
Brilliant! I have been looking all over the web for waterproof pillows and it will cost me a fortune to redo my patio set. You have just solved me problem, thanks for sharing:)
No problem and they are so easy. They faded just a little but still look brilliant this year.
Love this idea! Do you think this idea would work to make a bath pillow as well?
It’s worth a try. I’m not really sure but it’s worth a try. 🙂
What a clever idea, the print on this fabric is lovely too! I’m so sorry your sewing machine fought you on this project – they do that sometimes don;t they! I just found you from the feature on Tiny Side Kick Blog on her round up of Outdoor ideas just FYI.
OK your ideas are so down to earth and simple – the sheer DIY-edness of them cracks me up and makes me wonder which portion of my crafty brain is on vaca that I did not think of this myself? The curtain liner idea is TERRIFIC. I thought about using the plastic table covering you can buy by the yard at Walmart, but the dollar store most certainly has a better price. KUDOS to you on both the ideas and the simple “how-to’s.”
Thanks so much that is just the nicest compliment Jana! Have fun making them they are so easy and I’ve had those for two years and now they are just a little faded but still look great!
Needed to make some pillows for some adirondack chairs which I found out would cost a small fortune in pillow forms alone, never mind the material needed. Thanks to your ingenious ideas, I was able to make 6 pillows out of old bed pillows and shower curtain liners I has stashed away. The 6 pillow ended ute costing me $18- the price od 2 yds of outdoor fabric( not much more than the price of 1 pillow form)! Thanks so much, and keep up the great work!
Woo Hoo! Thank is Awesome!