An outdoor mat is essential for the summer months when you want to eat alfresco. We’ve created our patchwork version with oilcloth, so it is wipe clean. We’ve added coordinating floor cushions to ensure maximum comfort when you’re tucking in too.
Stitch floor cushions
Cut sixteen 12cm squares of patterned oilcloth. Sew into pairs, blocks and then one large 4 x 4 block, right sides together with a 5mm seam allowance. Finger press the seams flat before top stitching in a contrast thread, 2mm to the left of each seam. The panel should measure 45cm square.
Cut four 8cm x 45cm strips of oilcloth and one 5cm x 45cm piece. Cut three 8cm x 45cm pieces of wadding and pin them to the back of the same size strips. Pin and stitch these to three sides of the patchwork panel, right sides together with a 5mm seam allowance.
Take the two leftover strips, place one against a zip edge so the right side of it is face down on the right side of the zip mechanism and there are equal amounts of fabric at either end. Stitch in place, using a zipper foot. Open out the fabric and finger press. Repeat with the other strip of fabric on the opposite edge of the zip.
Concertina fold the wider strip over the top of the zip so that the width of the whole piece is 8cm. Pin the concertina and topstitch to hold it in place, concealing but not enclosing the zip. Pin and stitch one side of this strip to the remaining side of the patchwork panel. Line up each corner and sew the strips together on the short edges.
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