DIY: Garden Kneeler

A garden kneeler was one of the first things I bought myself when I started gardening in earnest at my first house and it is always in my "essentials" kit when I help out at a community planting project or visit my garden plot. They really save your knees and can be used as a seat cushion as well.

You can buy fancy kneelers priced from $10-$40+ or you can make your own from materials you may have on-hand or by re-making a worn one. 

Once you make one, you may want to make several to distribute among your gardening pals. In the example here, we used a recycled World Market placemat, slit the seam, and inserted an old outdoor pillow inside.

Materials:

• two cloth napkins (or buy water-proof fabric like oilcloth)
• a cushion pad, foam piece, or old kneeler
• matching thread
• scissors
• sewing machine
• a section of cotton rope or twill tape for a handle (optional)

Step 1. Lay the dishtowels out (or cut two rectangles of the fabric. With the right sides of the fabric pieces together, pin and machine stitch along both of the long sides and across one end, taking 1/2-inch seam allowances. Turn the cushion cover right side out. 

Step 2. Insert the cushion pad into the fabric cover. Fold under an inch of the fabric on both edges at the open end of the cushion cover. Take the length of rope and insert the ends of the handle and use clothespins to hold them in place. Machine-stitch the edges together, stitching in the handle as you go.

This is a monthly blog series on DIY projects for the beginning home gardener. Look for the other installments in this DIY blog series by putting "DIY" in the search box here at washingtongardener.blogspot.com.