Stump Seats
Finally, it’s porch time! I love pulling out the patio furniture, planting flowers and getting my backyard decorated for the summer season. My husband and I retrieved three tree stumps from a friend’s removal effort last summer. They provide the extra seating we need for nights around the bonfire or happy-hour on the deck. To spruce them up (no pun intended), I made small cushions to provide extra comfort for our guests and ― of course ― cuteness. You may also consider making coordinating throw pillows.
Materials
- Found tree stumps
- Outdoor canvas material
- Matching colored thread
- Pillow stuffing
- Ribbon
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Pencil, chalk or other fabric marker
- Ruler
- Rotary cutter and/or scissors
- Fabric pins
- Iron
- Needle and thread
- Measure and cut two circles* of fabric with rotary cutter or scissors.
- With fabric pieces facing inward, use machine to sew a ½ inch seam along the curve of the circle. Leave a 2-inch opening.
- Turn fabric right-side out through your 2-inch opening. Iron seam flat.
- Use stuffing to fill pillow to desired thickness.
- Hand stitch the opening closed.
- If you wish to add a cinch in the middle of the cushion, pull a few stitches through the center to tightly pull the front and back of the cushion together. Add button for decoration.
- Hand stitch ribbon to the underside of the cushion, close to the edge allowing for enough slack to tie a knot or bow.
I love to sew, but I am by no means a master seamstress. This is the fun in improving techniques yourself; just have a good time and see it through. There is no better place to exercise your creativity and do-it-yourself spirit than in your outdoor decorating. It provides a flexible, commitment-free space that you can have fun with from year-to-year!
I’d love to see and hear about your projects, please send pictures anytime to dottie.zimmerman@gmail.com.
