Wipeable Waterproof Kneeler / cushion

This month Ali from Very Berry Handmade has come up with a real life saver for any keen gardener – a garden kneeler in our Ochre and Ocre wipeable eco friendly PU fabric.

The finished garden kneeler in wipeable PU from Ochre and Ocre

Our PU is easy to sew – not too thick, so you can stitch it with a domestic machine and Ali has given some great tips below on how to do this as easily as possible. It’s also simple to look after just give it a wipe clean.
Some tips for working with laminated cotton

● Use 100% polyester thread and a 90/14 needle in your sewing machine.
● Use a long stitch length if possible – I used 3mm setting for the kneeler.
● A standard sewing machine foot will be just about ok for this project (because of the small amount of sewing involved), but when you are stitching on the right side of the laminate, it will not travel well through the machine and you will get uneven stitches. Use a walking foot, roller foot or Teflon foot if you have one. Another option is to use a piece of baking parchment between the fabric and your presser foot whilst stitching, and tear it away when you are finished.
● Take care when pressing laminate. Work on the wrong side (or use a pressing cloth or baking parchment on the right side of the fabric) and use the coolest setting on your iron.
● Any holes you make in the laminate will be there forever (no pressure!). It is best to use quilting clips, bulldog clips or even paper clips to hold pieces in place. If you do decide to use pins, take care to pin within the seam allowance.

Pattern notes
The seam allowance is 1cm throughout.
The finished size of the cushion is 30cm by 54cm.
All lines of stitching should be completed with a little reverse stitching to secure ends.

You will need

● 2 pieces of laminated cotton measuring 36cm by 60 cm from the Ochre & Ocre range. I used Madelaine in sage and Ledbury in blue & grey.
● 1 piece of pre-cut foam measuring 4cm by 30cm by 50cm.
● 6 coordinating Kam snaps (or other snap fastener suitable for heavyweight fabrics) plus fastening tool, or 28cm of 16mm hook and loop tape (e.g. Velcro)
● 50cm of 38mm webbing (I used candy striped cotton webbing)

Step 1
Take one of the pieces of laminate and fold in one short edge a scant 2cm, then fold 2cm again.

Use clips to hold the fold, then stitch closed. Make another line of stitching close to the folded edge.

Repeat with the other piece of laminate.**

Step 2
Measure and mark 5cm from either side of the folded edge of one of the pieces of laminate, then make 4 more marks, equally spaced, between those 2 points (about every 5cm). Install a Kam snap stud and cap at each of the marks. Repeat with the other piece of laminate, installing a Kam snap socket and cap at each mark.

**If you are using hook and loop tape instead of the Kam snaps, omit the second line of stitching and the whole of Step 2. After stitching the folds closed, stitch one section of the hook and loop tape on one fold, and the other piece of the corresponding fold on the other piece of laminate.

Step 3
Mark 9cm from either side on the remaining short side of one of the pieces of laminate. Place the outer edges of either end of the webbing on these marks, aligning the raw edge of the webbing with the raw edge of the laminate, making sure that the webbing isn’t twisted, and secure temporarily with clips.

Place the other piece of laminate right sides together with the first, sandwiching the webbing between the 2 pieces, and secure with more clips.

Step 4
Stitch the short edge of the cushion closed, securing the webbing as you do so.

Then stitch the 2 long side seams of the cushion closed.

Step 5
Turn the cushion right side out. Press on the right side with a very cool iron, protecting your iron and ironing board (and the laminate!) with a pressing cloth or piece of baking parchment. Top stitch the edge with the webbing attached, close to the seam, and then make another line of top-stitching parallel to it, about 1.5cm away.

 

Ochre and Ocre PU wipeable fabric garden kneeler

Step 6
Finally, insert the foam pad and fasten the snaps/hook and loop, to finish.