A Soft (fast & easy) Place in the Shade

What happened to June?  Where did it go?  Now we've got two months of brutally HOT weather ahead which makes hanging out on the patio not nearly so much fun - unless you are in the pool or just got out of the pool to lie under an umbrella.


When I'm hanging out by the pool what I need is a comfy place to sit and read until I get too hot and need to jump back into the water.  My chaise lounge chairs under an umbrella make a nice spot to sit, but the covers have gotten scratchy from being outside in the weather.  They are fading too but I'm not quite ready to shell out $100 for two new ones so it's time to get creative.


I decided a good way to make them soft to lie on would be to slip cover them with a 100% cotton towel, which could then be removed for easy washing.  I know these will fade too but as they are used and washed repeatedly they will only get softer (at least that is my plan).  I'm taking credit for this idea as all my own.  I'm sure it's been done, but I didn't see it anywhere else, just pulled it out of my brain.


I halfheartedly checked the fabric store but didn't find anything thrilling - plus starting from an unhemmed piece of cloth would have meant much more work for me.  And I was looking for Fast & Easy.


I stopped into World Market a few days ago and they had 60" x 70" beach towels marked 30% off, plus they let me use a coupon (which I pulled up on my phone - I LOVE this), I paid about $31 for two giant towels that were originally priced at $50 for the pair.

I folded them with the right sides together and sewed up the long side and one short end.  After sewing the first one I decided to leave an opening at the corners to pull the ties through so I can still tie the cushion to the chair at the top.  I used a long stitch in case I want to take the seam out later for some reason.  I did not make them fitted to the size of the cushion - I made them as big as the towel would allow.  It was hard enough to get them on the cushions.  SuperDave's tip is put it on the cushion like you put on a sock. You know, scrunch it up all together and fit it over the end then pull it up.

Sewing each one took about 5 minutes.  Putting them ON the cushion took me at least another 5 minutes.  The sewing was easier than wrestling the cushion into the slipcover.

Soft and absorbent!  And colorful until the sun does a number on them :(

One note - my towels were not quite long enough to completely cover the cushion I have about 4 or 5 inches showing - but it is a slipcover for comfort not a custom reupholstery of the cushion, so I'm okay with it.  My chairs are sadly in need of repainting or replacing.  I've got so many other painting projects on my list I'm thinking replacement -  the feet are beginning to rust - maybe next year!

Much Love & Laughter,




Laura

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