SaveA Reading by MaggieDining Chair Cushions & Pads
Two round bistro chair pads with ties, one stripe and one leaf, made for lingering
Two iron chairs, two round pads and two designs in one green. It is the kind of courtyard where coffee quietly turns into lunch, so the pads have to stay put through the second pot.
A striped pad and a leaf-print pad in the same green make these two bistro chairs a happy, unmatched pair.
The quick answer
Round bistro chair pads stay comfortable through a long sit when each pad is cut to the round iron seat, boxed with self piping and tied down the legs so it cannot slide. For a pair, use two designs in one color family, such as a stripe and a leaf print in the same greens.
A stripe and a leaf print, and why they aren't twins
Buy two identical chair pads and you have a set. Buy two different ones in the same green and you have a pair with a history.
One pad here is a green and white stripe that runs straight across the round seat, giving a circle a direction. The other is a leaf print in the same greens. Side by side they look collected over time, not bought in one afternoon.
The setting does the rest. Red and pink geraniums sit opposite green on the color wheel, so the pads look brighter with no help from the fabric; gray cobbles and an old stone wall keep the scene neutral. The outdoor fabric family has stripes and prints to pair this way.
The brown chair that should have been pink
A buyer in the US unpacked a floor chair and found the brown far from what they had expected; they wanted pink. The workshop offered pink replacement covers at a reduced price, well below a new piece. The buyer chose a whole new filled chair in pink instead, at a special price, and kept the brown one to give away.
Either answer was fair. The point is knowing the cheaper one exists.
- Sizes
- Floor chair
- Fabric
- Brown, remade in pink
The lesson: If a color disappoints, replacement covers are often much cheaper than a new piece.
Pinned by Maggie
Five pins across the courtyard, from the striped pad to the cobblestones.
- Striped round pad
The stripe runs across the round seat, giving direction to a circular shape.
- Leaf-print pad
A different design in the same greens makes the pair look collected, not matched.
- Hanging ties
Ties drop down the legs to stop the round pad slipping on the iron seat.
- Geraniums in pots
Red geraniums are the opposite of green, so they make the pads stand out.
- Cobblestones
Gray cobbles keep the scene old-world and neutral.
- Striped round padThe stripe runs across the round seat, giving direction to a circular shape.
- Leaf-print padA different design in the same greens makes the pair look collected, not matched.
- Hanging tiesTies drop down the legs to stop the round pad slipping on the iron seat.
- Geraniums in potsRed geraniums are the opposite of green, so they make the pads stand out.
- CobblestonesGray cobbles keep the scene old-world and neutral.
The second pot of coffee: pads that stay put
A bistro seat is small, round and made of iron, which means every inch of comfort comes from the pad.
- Cut to the seat. Each pad here follows the round iron seat, so nothing overhangs the rim to catch the backs of your knees.
- Tied low. The ties drop down the legs instead of wrapping the back. On smooth iron that is what stops a round pad sliding when you lean in to talk.
- Boxed and piped. A box edge with self piping keeps the front edge full after an hour of sitting.
For four chairs, alternate stripe and print around the table. The bistro chair cushion sketches show more small seats, and the chair cushion builder lets you try the pairing first. Do your bistro chairs have a flat seat or a raised rim, dear? Measure accordingly.
Small-chair questions, straight
- A common question
Is there a discount if I order several chair cushions at once?
The workshop's answerYes. Eight 17 x 18 in (43 x 46 cm) velvet seat cushions were offered at a lower price as a set than as eight singles, and four corduroy lounge chairs with ottomans were reduced as a set too.
- A common question
Can you send me a return label, or take the return postage off my refund?
The workshop's answerNo return labels are possible, because the workshop's carrier contracts cover outgoing shipments only. Return shipping can be very expensive, so when a cushion was made correctly the workshop may offer a partial refund if you keep it instead.
- A common question
The order form only takes one photo, but I have three measurement photos. How do I send them all?
The workshop's answerUpload the one photo the form allows and write 'drawings sent via message' in the personalization note, then send the rest in the conversation. Merging all three into one image works too.
On the cutting table: the courtyard pair
| Cushions | Two round box pads, one per chair |
|---|---|
| Chairs | Bronze wrought-iron bistro chairs |
| Pad one | Green and white stripe, running straight across the seat |
| Pad two | Leaf print in the same greens |
| Piping | Self piping on each pad |
| Ties | Dropped down the chair legs |
| Best for | Courtyards, balconies and café tables for two |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Maggie’s workshop
Numbers first, fabric second, piping last. Jot down what you have, and the workshop will go down the list with you, item by item. — 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.
Two round chair pads in different designs from one color family look collected; two identical pads look like they came in the same box.
Maggie
Questions buyers ask next
Should bistro chair pads match or mix?
Mixing works when the colors agree. A stripe and a leaf print in the same greens read as a pair chosen over time; with two or four café chairs, alternate stripe and print around the table.
How do ties hold a round pad on an iron café chair?
The ties drop down the chair legs and knot there, which keeps a round pad from slipping on a smooth iron seat when you shift or lean forward. Tying low also leaves the chair back clear.
Is a new cover cheaper than a new cushion if I dislike the color?
Often, yes. When a buyer disliked a chair's brown, replacement covers in pink were offered for much less than a new piece. Ask about covers before you order a whole new cushion.
Stitch straight — Maggie
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