How to Slipcover Ottomans

Making slipcovers can be a satisfying project. For minimal expense, it is possible to refresh and renew furniture by making attractive slipcovers to fit over faded and worn furniture. One of the easiest pieces of furniture to recover is an ottoman. An ottoman is easy to re-cover because of its simple shape and lines.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Paper and pencil
• Decorator fabric
• Sewing machine
• Sewing motions (thread, scissors, pins)
• Iron

Instructions

1. Measure the dimensions of the ottoman. Measure the length and width of the top of the ottoman. If the ottoman has a round top, measure the diameter and circumference. Measure the height of the ottoman. Add 1 inch to all dimensions. Write down all dimensions.

2. Create pattern pieces of the top and sides of the ottoman out of paper and cut out the pattern pieces. If the ottoman is round, create the side pattern piece by making a pattern piece that is as long as the circumference and as wide as the height of the ottoman. Label the pattern pieces "top" and "side."

3. Lay the fabric flat onto a work surface with the wrong side facing up. Place the pattern pieces on top of the fabric.

4. Cut out one top piece from the fabric. If the ottoman is round, cut out one side piece. If the ottoman is square, cut out four side pieces.

5. 

   Sew the fabric pieces together. For a square ottoman, match up an edge of a side piece with an edge of a side of the top, having right sides facing each other. Pin to secure. Repeat with the other three edges. Sew each edge separately with a 1/2-inch seam allowance so that you have the center square and the four sides sewn and extending out from the center to the top, right, bottom, and left.
   For a round ottoman, stitch the two short edges together with right sides facing each other using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press the seam open. Match the top piece and the side piece together with right sides facing and pin along the edges to secure. Sew around the circumference using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

6. 

   Sew each side seam for the square shaped ottoman with a 1/2-inch seam allowance by sewing straight down from the corner of the center fabric piece.

7. Fold up 1/2-inch along the bottom edge of the fabric and press this fold. Hem the bottom of the slipcover by sewing along the bottom edge 3/8-inch away from the folded edge.

8. Turn the slipcover right side out and fit it over the ottoman. Adjust the fabric to make it match up with edges and corners of the ottoman.

References

• Making Slipcovers