The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Can you add ties to outdoor cushions so they don't blow away?
Also asked as:Need long ties x 4 so they don't blow awayTie-downs or Velcro straps? We live in a windy area
Wind does not read the care label. An untied seat cushion ends up in the hedge by teatime, so tell the workshop where the ties go and they get sewn exactly there.
SaveThe quick answer
Outdoor cushions can have ties added to the seat and the backrest, on the back, corners or sides, including extra-long ties for beach houses and windy decks. Write where you want them in the order notes and add a sketch if one side matters. Chair pad ties can sit at the frame, such as 4.5 in (11.5 cm) in from each back corner. Ties are a small add-on, sometimes free.
Get a quote for an outdoor bench cushion
Where the ties go, and what to write
| Cushion | Where the ties sit | What to put in the order notes |
|---|---|---|
| Patio chair pad | Back corners, set in to meet the chair braces | Ties inset 4.5 in (11.5 cm) from each back corner, plus a sketch |
| Outdoor bench cushion | Along the back edge | Two ties on the back side |
| Seat plus backrest | On both pieces | Ties on the seat cushion and on the back cushion |
| Beach house or windy deck | Sides or corners, extra-long | Long ties x 4, and which side they go on |
Key facts
- Ties can be added to outdoor seat cushions and to backrests.
- Extra-long ties are available for beach houses and windy spots.
- Ties can go on the back, the corners or the sides; bench cushions can take two on the back edge.
- Tie position can be set to the inch, e.g. inset 4.5 in (11.5 cm) from the back corners to line up with the chair braces.
- Tie requests go in the order notes, with a sketch when a specific side matters.
- Stripe direction can be set separately for each cushion.
- Ties usually carry a small extra charge and are sometimes added free.
Have it made
Have Maggie’s workshop cut this for you
I once cut a lovely cushion two inches short, and I have not forgotten it. That is why the workshop goes over your measurements with you on the phone. — Maggie
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Why a knot beats a calm forecast
Right, then. The breeze that feels lovely at noon is the same one that lifts an untied cushion off a teak loveseat by three o'clock. Ties fix that, and they go on seat cushions and backrests alike.
For windy spots and beach houses, ask for extra-long ties so they wrap a rail and still leave enough to knot. Put the request in the order notes. If the ties must sit on one particular side, add a sketch, because "the back" means different things to different people, dear. A pencil arrow settles it.
Patio chair pads can be tied to the inch. On one set of chairs the ties went 4.5 in (11.5 cm) in from each back corner so they met the chair braces. The tie placement Pattern shows the usual spots, and the outdoor cushion Atlas covers fabrics such as outdoor acrylic.
Buyers ask about Velcro tie-downs as well. Ties are what the workshop offers for wind. What does your chair frame give you to tie around?
Stripes one way, ties on the back
A buyer wrote to the workshop with a three-piece outdoor order: one 59 x 19.7 x 4 in (150 x 50 x 10 cm) bench cushion with piping and two ties on the back, and two 29.5 x 20 x 3 in (75 x 51 x 7.5 cm) cushions to go with it, all in outdoor fabric. The note was exact: stripes running along the 59 in length on the bench, and across the 20 in width on the two smaller cushions. That is how they were cut, and the ties went precisely where the note said.
Your tie checklist before ordering
- Which cushions get ties: the seat, the backrest or both.
- How many ties, and whether they should be extra-long for wind.
- Where they sit: back edge, corners or sides.
- For chair pads, the inset from each back corner to the chair brace.
- A sketch in the order notes whenever one side matters.
- The stripe direction for each cushion if the fabric is striped; the stripe direction Pattern explains the choice.
- If a cushion still creeps, the non-slip and ties Pattern covers the other fixes.
An outdoor cushion without ties is a kite waiting for a windy afternoon; two long ties on the back edge keep it on the bench.
Maggie
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can both the bench cushions and the backrests get ties?
The workshop's answerYes, ties can be added to seat cushions and backrests. They normally carry a small extra charge, though depending on the order the shop may add them free. On chair pads they go where you ask, for example inset 4.5 in (11.5 cm) from the back corners to line up with the chair braces.
- A common question
It gets windy here. Can you put ties on so the outdoor cushions stay put?
The workshop's answerYes. Ties can go on the sides, including long ties for beach houses and windy spots. Write the request in the order notes and include a sketch if they need to be on a particular side.
- A common question
I want ties on the back of an outdoor bench cushion and the stripes running a certain way. Can you do both?
The workshop's answerYes. One order was a 59 x 19.7 x 4 in (150 x 50 x 10 cm) piped bench cushion with two ties on the back, plus two 29.5 x 20 x 3 in cushions. The stripes ran along the 59 in length on the bench and along the 20 in width on the other two, as the buyer specified.
- A common question
My cushion sits on a lift-up lid. How do I stop it sliding off?
The workshop's answerAsk for ties on the hinge side only, and give the hinge positions, widths and a photo. If ties won't fit, the cushion can be sized inside the lid's bevel with a non-slip base, though it can still slide when the lid lifts.
- A common question
Can dining chair pads come with ties at the back?
The workshop's answerYes. Chair pads are made to your seat measurements with ties at the back, selectable on the chair cushion listing. Send a photo and all four edge measurements; round seats and fabric matched to a bench are possible.
Questions buyers ask next
Do ties work on a backrest as well as a seat cushion?
Yes. Seat cushions and backrests can both have ties, so a two-piece chair or loveseat set can be tied down at both levels. Say which pieces need them and where, and sketch the side if it matters.
Can I choose which way the stripes run on outdoor cushions?
Yes, cushion by cushion. On one bench order the stripes ran along the 59 in (150 cm) length of the seat and across the 20 in (51 cm) width of the two smaller cushions, exactly as the buyer wrote it.
Do ties cost extra on outdoor cushions?
Usually a small amount. Ties normally carry a small extra charge, but depending on the order the workshop sometimes adds them free. Mention them when you send your sizes so they are part of the quote.
What else keeps outdoor cushions from blowing away besides ties?
Ranking guides list a rubberized pad cut to the seat, outdoor-rated hook-and-loop with the hook side on the furniture, buckle or elastic straps under the seat, and edge clips. The workshop sews ties, including extra-long ones for windy spots, and offers a non-slip base; hook-and-loop strips are added only on request, so ask before counting on them.
