What to sew to embellish your garden or balcony?
With the arrival of warmer weather, we’re spending more time in the garden or on the balcony. A good reason to take on sewing projects to create accessories that can withstand the elements.
Here are a few easy project ideas to give your outdoors a splash of color!
Sewing cushions for garden chairs
Garden chairs aren’t always very comfortable. Whether they’re made of wood, iron or plastic, it’s a good idea to embellish them with a nice padded cushion to make sitting more comfortable. And just as well, since it’s a very easy project to sew. The advantage of sewing it yourself is that you can adapt it to the size of your chair and give it any shape you like: square, round… You can also sew it into a rectangular shape if you have a garden bench.
For most projects that are designed to be used outdoors, whether in the garden or on a balcony, the first thing to think about is choosing a weather-resistant fabric. This is often referred to in stores as ” outdoor ” fabric. You can, of course, use a fabric you already have, whether cotton or synthetic, but you’ll need to remember to systematically bring it indoors to avoid damaging it.
Then all you need is padding and ties to hang the chairs (you can use the same fabric, or strong matching bias if you have it). Then watch our tutorial and you’re done!
An oilcloth tablecloth to protect the garden table
If you have a table on your balcony or in your garden, you know how often it gets soiled by the elements, insects or birds. So it’s a good idea to cover it with a tablecloth before lunch or dinner.
When sewing an outdoor tablecloth, try to choose a thick fabric that matches your chair cushions! Here again, you can opt for an outdoor fabric, or for waxed canvas or coated cotton, which are easy to find in sewing and haberdashery stores and are very easy to clean.
Measure your table and add about 20 cm for each side. Cut into the fabric and hem one centimeter on each side, using a sturdy needle and thread. For a quicker but less elaborate finish, you can simply overcast the edges of your tablecloth.
If you want your tablecloth to be windproof, make the hem large enough and slide an elastic band over it. This way, the tablecloth will remain firmly attached to the table, even in a gust of wind.
Decorations for a pretty terrace
If you’re in the habit of hosting birthday parties, inviting guests or simply like to have pretty decorations, you can sew a garland of colorful pennants to hang along a French window if you have a terrace, or between two trees if you’re looking to decorate your garden.
Ideally, if you’re doing other projects for your garden, you should use scraps of fabric, oilcloth or outdoor fabric. You then cut triangles and sew them along a bias or a long rectangle of fabric. If you don’t want to overcast the elements of your pennants, you can cut them out with serrated scissors.
Decorative planters
If you have potted plants on your balcony or windowsill, you can sew them into planters for the summer months. The idea is, once again, to choose a fabric that can withstand the elements: rain, sun…
Here again, you can use fabric scraps from previous projects. The planter is very easy to adapt to your needs and the size of your plants. Nathalie couture’s tutorial explains how to make one, with a step-by-step video. You can also use the same model to make an ashtray cover, if you have smokers around. Or to store garden tools, or to have a bread basket for dining out…
Do you usually sew accessories for your garden, balcony or terrace? Would you like to get started to prepare for summer days?
