Sewing for Others

So a guy at work brought me this fabric that fits the seat and back of an outdoor patio swing. I strained my brain and gathered some measurements so I could get the correct amount of fabric.Here's what the original fabric mess looked like.

I sat out on the deck and ripped all the stitching out. The fabric was crap but it was some darn good thread!

I wonder if I can sharpen a seam ripper-I only have a couple....!

SO once I got done de-threading (like that word?) I used duct tape to stick the torn parts together so I'd have a solid pattern.

Then I cleared off the kitchen island and laid out my fabric-right sides together-I decided to go with two layers of fabric because I didn't want to do the trim like the original and becaue I felt tlike the outdoor UV rated fabric I got wasn't sturdy enough. SO I also purchased a cotton polyester blend to use for the back side.
I thought about canvas but the canvas is 100% cotton and I thought it wouldn't hold up well outdoors. The outdoor canvas I could locate was too plastic-icky.

Then I traced around my duct taped original pattern.

And cut it out leaving a pretty big seam allowance. I went to my trusty serger and serged so the needle stitching was almost exactly on my drawn line.

Turned the who shebang right side out-Love the chop stick for those pesky corners. It's just pointy enough to get in there but not so sharp it makes a hole and best of all they're free when you get some chinese food sometime!

Topstitched all the way around including closing the space left for turing it inside out. Oh it looks nice!!!

Back to the island to check for size....TADA-it's GOOD!!!!

Then marked the folds that make the pockets to hold the seat frame I imagine anyways I really have no idea what the swing looks like-I just got the old fabric.. 

Bob helped...he's so funny!

Lots of folds to mark-that long one down the center was kind of finicky.

NOW-time to see if it's like the original. I used making tape to re assemble the original where I'd ripped out all the stitching so I could compare. YAY!!! IT's so close to perfect! Just slightly-like 1/4" off at the top-hopefully it won't matter.

I double stitched all the way around to reinforce the frame pockets. Now I need to ask if I can get a photo of it when my co-worker gets it re installed!