Outdoor Chair Cushions- RE DO in 1 hour!

Our patio furniture has lasted us about 9 years so far and still looks great....except for the chair cushions of course.  I usually buy them on sale at the end of the season every other year, but this year we can't wait.  They looked that bad!  This time I wanted to save the landfill from my ripped cushions and try to recover them.  I LOVE THEM!!!  Here is what I did:

BEFORE

I bought 8 yds. of Outdoor Fabric from the clearance section at Hancock Fabrics.  (it was 56" wide)

It was $6 yd. and I had a 10% off coupon making my purchase around $44.00

My cushions were standard sized at 42" x 22"

I cut the fabric at 47" leaving me a rectangle 56" x 47".  (You may need to trim off the sides or take it in depending on your cushion size.)  Next, I folded it over and sewed the top and side seams, right sides together with my surger, but you could use a conventional machine.  Basically this left me with an inside out pillowcase.  Flip it right side out and put in the cushion. 

Then, I used my surger and closed off the bottom of the cushion.  If you have a regular sewing machine you may want to slip stitch it closed.  That is it! 

AFTER

You could sew it more fitted if you want or add the seperation lines in the middle of the top cushion, but I was pleased with them and was happy to be done in just a few minutes per pillow. I made 6 in less than 1 hour!

The babies were happy too!!!

Homemade Fabric Softener

I thought I would share my economical (and fun) recipe for fabric softener since my last post was on laundry detergent.  But first for the science of it!

Why do we use fabric softener at all?  Well there are several reasons, like the perfume smell is nice, the reduction of static cling, less wrinkles and of course the softness.  Fabric softener's history began with the need to condition the rough newly dyed fabric rolls.  The first formulas were made from water, soap, and oils like tallow.  Tallow is animal fat. It is harvested mostly from cows around their organs.  The industry has grown into the billions and yes, they still use a form of chemically enhanced tallow as well as a bunch of other chemicals that probably aren't so great for you to put right on your skin, but that is a different kind of blog!  This blog is meant to share easy, economical, and cleaner ways of taking care of you and your family.  So, here it is....the recipe for Homemade fabric Softener:

HOMEMADE Fabric Softener:

4 cups White Vinegar
1 cup Baking Soda
6 cups warm water
essential oil

First, add the baking soda to the warm water.  Then slowly add the vinegar to the water mixing slowly.  It will foam up each time your pour in the vinegar!(making it a favorite chore for any little ones in the house :)   Add in any essential oils you like or you can leave it plain.  I have used mandarin orange or lavender in mine.  For the container, I use a plastic canister like from animal crackers or jelly beans.


Fabric Softener OPTION #2:

On the ZOTE website it lists fabric softening to it's uses.  You can take a corner and tie it into a sock and throw it into your dryer.  I have tried it and didn't notice a huge difference and eventually we lost the sock, but it is another option :)

NOTE: I have included links on some of the items (words in blue) so you can see what I am talking about or find some difficult items, but everything you need can be purchased at the local Discount/Grocery store or local Health Food Store.

Next up will be.....how to make Homemade Baby Wipes!