Even though we sort of live in the 'hood, our backyard is a sanctuary. Our fence prevents us from taking note of the sketchy people who swagger right on by our house, and the bird feeder attracts enough songbirds to drown out the gunshots. Just kidding. Kinda.
Every year the backyard cries out for some new accessories. Things fade and weather, and this spring our umbrella got tossed off the porch and busted up by a mean-spirited storm. To update the space this year I got an outdoor rug and a new umbrella in white, and last night I made a flag from Echino oilcloth (also known as laminated fabric). I want to say it was easy but it wasn't as easy as I thought. Almost nothing is. My machine kept jamming, the needle broke, and I totally winged the grommet installation. Still, I think it's super cheerful and way better than the faded Key West flag we had hanging there before.
My sewing machine doesn't, but I love oilcloth. I've used it several times to recover moldy outdoor cushions, but now I'm seeing endless other options for it: placemats, splat mats, bibs, toiletry bags, tablecloths, picnic blankets, outdoor pillow covers, outdoor bunting, purses, and how about making one of these diaper-and-wipes cases with oilcloth?
![]() |
Source: random places online |
![]() |
Source: Ohdeedoh |
