How to Shop for Indoor/Outdoor Fabric
Cushions and pillows made of outdoor fabric withstand the elements on a Chicago rooftop patio. Nancy Klingsland / Alta Textiles / Etsy
Whether you’re looking for outdoor fabric to reupholster patio furniture or simply want to make an easy, no-sew patio pillow, the project will require material made specifically for outdoor use. Before you naively order something online or pick up a bolt of material that’s love at first sight, you need to get smart, do some research, and figure out what you really need. Imagine shopping for and making a set of finely upholstered cushions, pads, and pillows for your garden set, only to watch it fade and fall apart in a matter of months. Yes—that can happen if you select the wrong type of fabric. Follow these tips for choosing the right outdoor fabric for a do-it-yourself project.
Assess Your Skills
Lib Amanda / Flickr / CC by 2.0
Be realistic about your sewing or upholstery-making skills before starting this project. If you have some sewing skills and select a pattern marked “simple” or “easy”, can follow instructions, have patience and determination, then it’s feasible to make new cushions, pads or pillows for your patio furniture.
If you’re bursting with confidence or become inspired and determined after watching several episodes of Project Runway—go for it. Hint: use a pattern or instruction and don’t get too crazy with accessories and embellishments. Check out our tutorials for no-sew chair pads and pillows:
Outdoor Fabric 101
Lisa Hallett Taylor
A general rule for choosing any kind of upholstery is to find fabric that will hold up to the stress of being sat upon. If searching in-store or online, look for the terms:
- Indoor/outdoor fabric
- Outdoor fabric
- All-weather fabric
- Home decorator fabric
- Waterproof fabric
- Weatherproof or weather-resistant fabric
Other options: consider vinyl or oilcloth, which is often used for retro-style tablecloths and tote bags. If you want to get creative, you can try recycled materials, but there is no guarantee it will be easy to work with or how long it will hold up. However, if you can come up with something that is repurposed or recycled, you should be commended for creativity and eco-mindedness.
Consider Weave and Dye
Bella-Dura indoor/outdoor fabric. Bella-Dura
Woven acrylic fabrics are more fade resistant than printed acrylic or polyester print fabrics. To give a fabric its colour, fibres are woven into yarns that are then dyed and woven into the fabric.
Solution-Dyed Acrylic
With this type of fabric, the dying occurs before the yarn is made. Liquid
Printed Acrylic or Polyester
Polyester or acrylic fabric is screen printed with fade- and weather- resistant dyes. In addition, a water repellent guard is factory-applied in the final stage to add protection to the fabric. Both synthetics are strong, durable, and resistant to wrinkling, fading, shrinking, mould, and mildew.
Water and Mildew Resistance
Nancy Klingsland / Alta Textiles / Etsy
Is the fabric water repellent or waterproof? Outdoor fabrics are made with a protective coating, which should make the cushion or pillow repel or resist water, moisture, mould, and mildew. Most outdoor fabrics are water repellent, which means a finish has been applied to the fabric. The more you use or clean the fabric, the more its fibres will break down—that’s just normal and natural wear or use. Eventually, it will need to be replaced.
Cording and Strapping
Lisa Hallett Taylor
Metal-framed vintage and reproduction outdoor chairs with thin, tubular cording or wider strapping in a variety of colours are popular and unique; they fit in quite well with Midcentury modern homes and furnishings. Sure, you can pay to have them re-strapped or woven, but you can also do it yourself. Patterns for wrapping are pretty straightforward or you can follow online or video instructions. The good thing about ordering replacement cording is that there’s a broad selection of colours.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Lisa Hallett Taylor
Since 1969, fabrics have displayed a cleanability code. Some outdoor fabrics are made with Microban, which protects the fibers and helps prevent the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria, along with mold and mildew. Warning: mildew can grow on soils or spills that are not quickly treated or removed.
Synthetic fabrics like acrylic and
Fading
Pillows and cushions exposed to the sun are faded. Lisa Hallett Taylor
Keep in mind that, over time, most fabrics will fade with constant exposure to sunlight. Think about colors and patterns when choosing an outdoor fabric: black, navy blue or other dark colors fade fast, as do bright and vibrant colors. While outdoor fabric is made to withstand fading, cover or store it away from the intense rays of the sun. Just like a person can get a sunburn on a cloudy day, cushions and pillows are
What is Marine-Grade Fabric?
Rosmarie Wirz / Getty Images
Picture a seat cushion on a boat—sailboat or yacht—the image is your own. But that cushion and fabric must withstand sun, wind, saltwater, and whatever else comes at it—maybe a Titanic-sinking iceberg, a sloshed glass of red wine, or George Clooney and The Perfect Storm. Lots of wear and tear.
Hence, the invention of marine-grade
By Lisa Hallett Taylor