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Over the years many clients have asked for advice about what type of fabric to use for outdoor furniture.

The question is always how to choose outdoor fabric and what to look for.

Though the sewing skills needed for outdoor furniture coverings are the same as those needed for indoor furniture, the fabric is not the same.

Never use indoor fabric for outdoor use if you want the project to stand the test of time!

Outdoor fabric is exposed to the elements day and night. Even if you store the furniture indoors over the winter, the intensity of the summer sun and the rain are enough to cause the chemicals in the fabric to break down .

One outdoor fabric name that most people are familiar with is Sunbrella. Sunbrella does come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. It is known for its durability and water resistence. One reason sunbrella has such a high rating is because the threads are 100% expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene. This is 3x stronger than regular conventional  Polytetrafluoroethylene according to PatioProductions.

A word of Caution when purchasing Fabric.

If you are searching for fabric in a chain store like JoAnn Fabrics, a fabric that is labeled as outdoor fabric may not be a guarentee that it will last. A number of years ago I made new chair seats for our patio chairs. These were weight bearing seats. I replaced the seats with outdoor fabric from JoAnn’s but the seats only lasted one season. I was disappointed after the amount of work I put in.

Considerations for Your Outdoor Fabric

• Rain/moisture: I have some friends that are concientious about putting their cushions under cover during a rain storm, but we all forget at times. If cushions get wet, it can take a long time to get the moisture out, especially if the cushions are not made with the proper outdoor material. 
• Sun and heat – the sun with eventually cause the fibers to become brittle
• Mold and mildew
• Fading 
• Cleaning
• Cost – outdoor fabric is more expensive that similar indoor fabric. 
•  

For more information on these factos go to DecorOutdoor

Outdoor Fabric Recommendations

Rently I did an outdoor cushion project with Ortex Canvas from Amazon that was very reasonably priced. I was impressed with the weight, water resistence and durability of this fabric.

The Spruce.com also has a great guide to what types of fabric to purchase for outdoor projects.

For some basic cushion making tips check out my recent post. 

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