Give a dated ottoman a fresh look with a DIY ottoman cover.
Make an old ottoman look new with a DIY ottoman cover. Ottoman covers are among the easiest slipcovers to sew; you don't have to worry about making arms, backs and seats fit together. By making the cover yourself -- instead of buying a one-size-fits-all version from a store -- you can choose from a wider range of fabrics and ensure a perfect fit. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the length and width of your ottoman's top with a cloth measuring tape. Don't pull the tape tight across the top; let it follow the natural loft of the ottoman's top. Measure from the top edge of the ottoman to the floor for the finished skirt length.
2. Cut your cover fabric 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer than the ottoman's top. Clip the points from the corners and then shape the corners into curves, if your ottoman has curved corners.
3. Double the length of your ottoman, and then double the width. Add the results together for the ottoman skirt's finished running length. Multiply the finished running length by 1.5 for the working running length.
4. Divide the skirt's working running length from Step 3 by the width of the cover fabric. The result is the total number of fabric widths you'll need to make the skirt. Cut that number of fabric widths 3 inches longer than the finished skirt length from Step 1.
5. Pin the cut skirt widths end to end, with right sides together. Straight stitch the pinned pieces together on your sewing machine to make one long skirt piece.
6. Fold one of the long edges of the seamed-together skirt fabric over by 1 inch, with wrong sides together. Fold it again by 1 inch and pin. Place the skirt fabric right side up on your sewing machine. Straight stitch the pinned fold to make the hem, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
7. Set your sewing machine to its longest stitch length. Place the skirt fabric right side up on the machine. Stitch along the length of the unhemmed side of the skirt fabric, 1/4 inch from the edge. Sew a second row of stitches, parallel to the first, 3/4 inch from the edge. Leave a few inches of loose thread at both ends of both rows of stitching. The two rows of stitching are called gathering threads. Return the stitch length to its normal setting.
8. Gather the skirt by pushing the fabric toward the center while pulling the loose threads on the wrong side of the fabric, which are the bobbin threads. Pull gently to avoid snapping the threads. Gather the skirt until it's 1 inch longer than the finished running length from Step 3.
9. Pin the short ends of the gathered skirt fabric together, with right sides together. Sew the pinned ends together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, which results in a gathered loop of skirt fabric.
10. Lay the ottoman top fabric right side up. Arrange the skirt right side down on the top fabric, Distribute the gathers evenly along the sides, with slightly more fullness at the four corners. Pin the corners first, and then pin the rest of the skirt to the top. Adjust the gathers as needed while you pin.
11. Straight stitch the skirt to the top fabric, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn the ottoman cover right side out. Remove the visible row of gathering thread, which is the one you sewed 3/4 inch from from the skirt's top edge. If necessary, use a seam ripper to remove the thread.
Tags: skirt fabric, right side, running length, 2-inch seam, 2-inch seam allowance, fabric right, fabric right side