I’m so excited to share my latest DIY project with you: crafting these adorable and super fun fish-themed chair coverings and cushions! I absolutely loved making these, and I think you will too. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to give your chairs a charming, aquatic makeover. I’ve got two distinct designs for you: a playful all-over fish scale pattern and a nautical lighthouse and sailboat print with cute little fish accents. Let’s dive in!

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What You’ll Need (Materials & Tools):

Before we get started, let’s gather our supplies. Don’t worry, a lot of these can be repurposed or found around the house!

For the Fish-Scale Design:

• Fabric scraps in various shades of blue and green (think denim, old t-shirts, upholstery fabric, corduroy – the more variety, the better!)
• Canvas fabric (for backing)
• Stabilizer fabric
• An old pair of blue jeans
• An old pillow or cushion pad (for stuffing)

For the Lighthouse and Sailboat Design:

• Lighthouse and sailboat patterned fabric (this is where you can really make it your own!)
• Fabric scraps for those cute small fish motifs
• Canvas fabric (for backing)
• Stabilizer fabric
• An old pair of blue jeans
• An old pillow or cushion pad (for stuffing)

Tools for Both:

• Paper (for patterns)
• A trusty ruler
• Sharp scissors
• My best friend, the sewing machine!
• An iron (for those crisp finishes)

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Let’s Get Crafting! Fish-Scale Chair Covering and Cushion

This design is all about that beautiful, overlapping fish scale texture. It’s so satisfying to watch it come together!

1. Pattern Perfecting:

First things first, I measured my chair. You’ll want to get the perfect size for both your chair’s back pad and the seat cushion. Then, I drew a cute fish pattern on paper. For the back pad, I made my pattern about 5 inches larger all around to ensure a good fit. For the seat cushion, I went a little smaller. Once happy, I cut out my paper patterns.

2. Scale Prep:

Now for the fun part – creating those scales! I cut my blue and green fabric scraps into rounded scale shapes. You’ll need quite a few, roughly 40 per cushion, so get snipping! Then, I took small pieces of canvas (about 4×4 inches), sewed a quarter of an inch around them, leaving the top open. After cutting them out, I turned them right side out and gave them a good iron. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

3. Back Pad Assembly (Fish-Scale):

I started with a large piece of canvas or stabilizer as my base. Then, I painstakingly (but joyfully!) sewed rows of my prepared fabric scales onto the canvas. I began with a row of four, then overlapped with a row of three, carefully spacing them to get that authentic fish-scale look. Once the scales were down, I took a strip of blue t-shirt fabric and sewed it across the top raw edge for a neat finish. I did the same for the bottom edge where the tail would go.

Speaking of tails, I cut a tail shape from some old blue jean fabric and attached it to the scaled section. For the back of the cushion, I used another piece from those blue jeans, cut to match my fish shape. A little tip I learned: tear off the binding from the inside of the blue jean fabric to avoid bulkiness! Finally, I placed my scale-covered front and blue jean back together, right sides facing, sewed around the edges (leaving a small opening!), turned it right side out, popped in my cushion pad, and hand-stitched it closed. Voila!

4. Seat Cushion Assembly (Fish-Scale):

For the seat cushion, I used blue jean fabric as my base. I placed my smaller fish pattern in the center and then created and sewed my scales onto it, just like for the back pad. I attached a tail, too! To bring the blue jean and fish motif together, I added a machine stitch in a scale pattern along the outer edge. The back of this cushion was also blue jean fabric. I sewed the front and back together, leaving an opening for stuffing, turned it, inserted the pad, and stitched it up. So cozy!

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Nautical Charm: Lighthouse and Sailboat Chair Covering and Cushion

If you’re looking for a slightly different vibe, this lighthouse and sailboat design is just as charming!

1. Back Pad Creation (Lighthouse & Sailboat):

I cut a long piece of my lighthouse and sailboat patterned fabric to fit the chair’s back. Then, I got to work on those adorable small fish motifs, cutting fish shapes from extra fabric. I sewed these little fish onto the patterned fabric, leaving their tail ends loose for a playful touch! For the back of the cushion, you guessed it – more blue jean fabric. I sewed the front and back together, right sides facing, left an opening, turned it, inserted the cushion pad, and hand-stitched it closed. Simple and sweet!

2. Seat Cushion Creation (Lighthouse & Sailboat):

For the seat cushion, I cut two pieces of my lighthouse and sailboat patterned fabric for the top and bottom. If your fabric isn’t wide enough, no problem – just piece it together and add a seam down the center. I then added those cute small fish motifs to the top fabric. I inserted a cushion pad between the two fabric pieces, sewed around the edges (leaving an opening), turned it right side out, and hand-stitched the opening closed. To tie it all together, I added a machine stitch resembling scales along the outer edge.

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Finishing Touches & Tips!

To attach my new cushions to the chair, I used a wooden ring covered in blue thread. I sewed this ring to the top of the back pad and then secured it to the chair. It’s such a neat little detail!

And here’s a crucial tip I always follow: make sure all your raw edges are covered by stitching or binding. This prevents fraying and makes your beautiful creations easy to wash when they need a refresh.

I hope you have as much fun making these as I did! Your garden chairs are going to look absolutely fantastic with their new fishy friends. Happy crafting!