As National Sewing Month unfolds, creativity in the crafting community blossoms, and I’m thrilled to be part of an inspiring initiative by JoAnn Fabrics. This year, they challenged 30 talented bloggers to venture beyond traditional quilting and create a unique project using quilting fabric. My chosen project? A vibrant, custom-made slipcover for an ottoman – a perfect blend of practicality and personalized style for any home. While my heart usually leans towards no-sew home decor, I confidently wield my trusty 1957 Singer sewing machine for those essential straight lines, especially when a project promises such a delightful transformation.
Quilting fabric often gets typecast for its namesake, but its versatility makes it a true gem for home decorators. It boasts an incredible array of colors, patterns, and textures, and, crucially, it’s wonderfully affordable compared to high-end decorator fabrics. This affordability allows for more frequent decor updates and bigger, bolder statements without breaking the bank. I’ve personally harnessed its charm in numerous past projects, from giving my office chair a fresh, new seat to crafting a reversible headboard cover, and even a clever no-sew window treatment. Each time, quilting fabric delivers both style and substance, proving its worth far beyond the quilt frame.
For this exciting challenge, I decided to push my creative boundaries a little further. I crafted this colorful, custom-fit slipcover, complete with elegant piping, for a charming round wicker ottoman I discovered at a local thrift store. This lovely find was destined to replace an older ottoman I kept by my desk, offering an instant upgrade to my workspace.
The thrifted ottoman’s shape and size were absolutely perfect for my needs, but its original color left much to be desired. Rather than rushing into a permanent paint job, I opted for a fabric slipcover as a temporary, yet stylish, solution. By incorporating a beautiful pink fabric that harmonizes with the existing green tones in the room, I can confidently assess how this fresh splash of color integrates with my decor before making any irreversible changes with paint. This approach offers both aesthetic flexibility and a clever way to “try before you buy” a new look for your furniture.
I deliberately designed the slipcover to be longer, giving the ottoman a chic, pouf-style appearance that adds a cozy, relaxed vibe to the room. However, the beauty of a custom slipcover is its adaptability. I’m still contemplating whether to shorten the hem later to reveal the ottoman’s legs, should I desire a more elevated or traditional look. These are the delightful dilemmas of DIY decor – endless possibilities for personalization!
How to Make a Custom Slipcover for a Round Ottoman: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
Creating a custom slipcover might seem daunting, but this no-pattern method simplifies the process, making it accessible even for novice sewers. This project is a fantastic way to refresh old furniture, introduce new colors and textures into your space, and truly make a piece your own. The key is precise measurement and patience, allowing you to achieve a professional-looking finish with basic sewing skills.
Supplies Needed:
- Quilting fabric (choose a pattern and color that inspires you!)
- Lightweight Fusible Interfacing (essential for giving quilting fabric body)
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Matching Thread
- Cording for piping (adds a tailored, professional finish)
- Straight pins
- Tailor’s Chalk or Fabric Marker
- Fabric Scissors
- Sewing Machine (with a zipper foot)
- Measuring Tape or Ruler
- Fusible Web (for a no-stitch hem)
1. Prepare the Top Fabric Piece: Begin by laying your chosen quilting fabric face down on a clean, flat work surface. Carefully center the top of your round ottoman onto the fabric. Using tailor’s chalk or a fabric marker, trace precisely around the base of the ottoman top. This initial outline will serve as your guide for the main circular piece of the slipcover.
2. Add Seam Allowance and Cut the Top Piece: Remove the ottoman. Now, draw a second, larger circle exactly 2 inches away from your initial traced outline. This crucial 2-inch allowance accounts for the seam you will sew and ensures enough fabric for a neat, finished edge. Once you have both circles drawn, carefully cut along the outer, larger circle to create the top fabric piece for your slipcover.
3. Measure and Cut Fabric for the Skirt and Piping: To determine the dimensions for the slipcover’s skirt, use your measuring tape to find the exact height of your ottoman. Then, measure its circumference (the distance around the entire ottoman). Add a 2-inch allowance to both these measurements for your seam and hem. Cut a rectangular piece of fabric according to these adjusted dimensions. For the piping, you’ll need a continuous bias strip. This strip, cut at a 45-degree angle to the fabric’s grain, allows the piping to curve smoothly around the ottoman without puckering.
4. Crafting Continuous Bias Strips for Piping: Creating a continuous bias strip for your piping is a fundamental technique for adding a professional, tailored look to your slipcover. While it might seem intricate, it’s quite achievable. Bias strips are essential because their diagonal grain allows them to stretch and mold perfectly around curves, preventing any unsightly puckering. If you’re new to making and covering cording with a continuous bias strip, Kristi’s excellent tutorial over at Addicted 2 Decorating provides a comprehensive guide on how to make a continuous bias strip. Mastering this will elevate the finish of your project significantly.
5. Apply Fusible Interfacing for Structure: Quilting fabric, while beautiful, can sometimes be a bit too lightweight to drape perfectly for a slipcover. To give both the top and skirt pieces more body and a crisper, more professional fall, I highly recommend ironing on a lightweight fusible interfacing to the wrong side of your fabric. This inexpensive addition, often found for under a dollar a yard, makes a remarkable difference. It provides stability, reduces wrinkles, and ensures the slipcover holds its shape beautifully. The piping, however, does not require interfacing.
You’ll immediately notice how the fusible interfacing transforms the fabric, giving it a soft yet structured drape rather than a limp, lifeless fold. This step is crucial for achieving a high-quality finish.
6. Attach Piping to the Skirt Fabric: With your piping prepared, it’s time to attach it to the skirt piece. Place the piping along the top edge of the skirt fabric, aligning the raw edges. Ensure the right side of the skirt fabric is facing up. Using a zipper foot on your sewing machine is essential here, as it allows you to sew very close to the cord, creating a snug, clean line. Stitch the piping securely to the skirt fabric.
7. Notch the Skirt’s Seam Allowance: Once the piping is sewn to the skirt, you’ll need to prepare the seam allowance for curving. Using your fabric scissors, carefully make small V-shaped notches or clips into the seam allowance of the skirt, about every half-inch or so. Be very careful not to cut through the stitching line or into the piping itself. These notches will allow the fabric to curve smoothly when you attach the skirt to the round top piece, preventing any pulling or bunching.
8. Notch the Top Piece’s Edge: Similarly, notch the outer edge of the round top fabric piece. Just like with the skirt, these small clips will enable the fabric to flex and conform to the curve of the piping and skirt as you pin and sew the entire slipcover together. This step is vital for a seamless, well-fitted result.
9. Pinning the Skirt to the Top Piece: This step requires a bit of precision. Place the fabric top, with its right side facing down, onto the top of the ottoman. Then, carefully align the skirt/piping piece, ensuring its right side is also facing down, and start pinning it to the top piece. As you pin, continuously fit the skirt around the ottoman. This allows you to adjust for any slight discrepancies and ensures a perfectly snug fit. Once pinned all the way around, double-check that the fabric is lying flat, smooth, and free of any bunched areas. This trial fitting is critical for a flawless finish.
10. Final Sewing of the Slipcover: Gently remove the pinned slipcover from the ottoman. It will now resemble a partially assembled, inside-out fabric dome. Take it to your sewing machine and, again using your zipper foot, carefully sew the skirt and top pieces together. Sew slowly, following the line you previously created when attaching the piping to the skirt, ensuring your stitches are consistent and secure.
11. Press Seams Open: Once you’ve sewn the main pieces together, take your slipcover to the ironing board. Press the seams open with a warm iron. This step is often overlooked but is crucial for creating a smooth, flat, and professional-looking finish on the outside of your slipcover.
12. Create a No-Show Hem: For the hem, I opted for a clean, stitch-free look using fusible web. This is an excellent solution for beginners or anyone wanting a polished finish without visible stitches. Simply follow the instructions for your specific fusible web product, typically involving folding the hem, inserting the web, and pressing with a hot iron to bond the fabric together. This creates a neat, invisible hem that gives your slipcover a high-end feel.
I absolutely adore the outcome! The soft pink of the slipcover beautifully complements the existing green and white elements in the room, creating a harmonious and refreshing palette. This new cover adds a much-needed pop of color and personality to the once-empty space in front of my desk, transforming it into a cozy and inviting nook.
Are you feeling inspired to pick up your needle and thread, or perhaps to challenge yourself with a fabric-based project? This National Sewing Month is the perfect opportunity to dive into the world of DIY decor. Imagine the possibilities of transforming a piece of furniture or creating a custom accent for your home!
You can even join in the excitement of the sewing challenge! Submit your own creative project for a chance to win fantastic prizes, including $1000 and/or a prize pack from Pellon and/or a brand new Singer sewing machine! It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase your talent and perhaps win some amazing tools to fuel future projects.
Be sure to click to enter the Jo-Ann Sew Your Style Contest, proudly sponsored by Pellon, between September 1st and 30th. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this vibrant celebration of sewing and creativity!
Please note: I received a gift card from JoAnn Fabrics to purchase the materials for this project. However, all opinions, the detailed tutorial, and the creative ideas presented are entirely my own.