Nautical Patio Pillow

Decorate your beach getaway or backyard patio with this stylish nautical pillow. The ocean-inspired cushion is made out of outdoor canvas and is perfect for relaxing near the salt and sand.

Draw an 11" x 11" square on the outdoor canvas for the embroidered section. Leave a few inches of excess fabric around the shape. A template is a printout of a design, and it's an excellent tool to plan where to stitch. Print a template of the design from your embroidery software. Center the template in the shape. Mark the center point and vertical and horizontal axis lines.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

Cut out the shape.

Cut two pieces of outdoor canvas to 11" x 5" to use as borders. Lay the embroidered center piece flat. Align the border pieces on top, right sides together, as shown. Pin in place. Sew 1/2" seams along the pinned edges only; press. Cut two pieces of fabric to 5" x 19". Align on top of the assembled piece, right sides together, with the side border pieces aligned with the right and left sides of the fabric. Pin in place and sew 1/2" seams along the pinned sides only; press the seams. Then, top-stitch a 1/8" seam around the entire center shape of the front piece.

Cut four pieces of outdoor fabric to 5" x 5 1/2" and four pieces to 2" x 5 1/2" for the rope loops. Fold the long edges of each piece in 1/2" to the wrong side and press.

Sew a 1/4" seam along each of the folded edges.

Lay the front piece flat with the right side facing up. Form each of the small fabric pieces into loops by folding them in half (wrong sides together) with the short raw ends aligned. Center the large loop pieces at each outer edge. The folded edge should face in and the raw edges should extend out 1" past the outer edges of the fabric. Pin in place. Place the small loop pieces in each corner, angling the folded edge to the inside at a 45 degree angle to each corner. Allow 1" of the raw ends to extend out past the outer edges of the fabric and pin in place.

Cut two pieces of fabric to 13" x 19" high. On each piece, fold one of the side edges in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Fold that side in again 1/2" and press. Sew a 1/4" seam along the folded edges. Lay the front piece flat with the embroidered side facing up. Align the back pieces on top, right sides together, with folded edges facing inwards and the back pieces overlapping. Align the outer edges of the back and front pieces. Sew a 1/2" seam along the entire outer edge of the shape.

Turn the fabric right side out in between the opening at the back. Cut a 46" length of 3/8" rope. Thread the rope through the loops starting at one of the bottom corners. Tuck the raw ends of the rope into the bottom center loop.

Insert the pillow form through the opening at the back.

Even out the rope between the loops. Using needle and thread, sew a few stitches on both ends of the large loops to tack in place.

Seaworthy sayings adorn this outdoor patio pillow, while jute rope adds an extra nautical touch. Use to decorate your outdoor space!