Slipcovering an ottoman

[Deleted]

We bought nice Lazyboy furniture (about $2200 worth) for the sunroom, but I'm short. I need some place to put my feet since they don't touch the floor.   DH passed on the matching coffee table when we found the end tables on CL, which is fine.  I understand that he felt it would be clutter. 

But meanwhile no one is sitting on the furniture.  There were a couple of ottomans in the basement, which we barely use.  So I pulled one into the sunroom and went online for directions. 

It doesn't look hard.  My sewing skills are fairly basic, but I make pillows, elaborate window treatments, flower girl dresses back in the day, and that sort of thing.  The Dummies pattern I found online made it look like you are basically sewing a sack.  I got solid cover upholstery material so I wouldn't have to match the pattern.  No trim . . . I'm trying to keep this down to the $20 I spent on material and thread.

Anyone done this type of thing using internet directions?  I thought about doing piping, but I keep telling my self to Keep It Simple, Stupid.

Thoughts?

[Blonde Granny]

I was looking for instructions to make arm chair covers for our lazy boy chairs. Never did get around to it  but thought the directions and videos made it seem somewhat easy. Goog luck!

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2016 15:56:42 GMT -5 @sroo4 said:

I had an ugly ottoman that I bought super cheap.  I found some fabric that I like,  got a good heavy stapler, and went to town.   Basically you lay the fabric wrong side up on the floor or a table, put the ottoman top side down,  gather the fabric and put whatever folds you want on the side, get some help to hold the fabric while you staple. 

I don't think it took us more than 1/2 hour and it looked pretty good.  It was even an irregular shaped ottoman.   

You might try youtube for videos or check out to see if craftsy has anything online. 

Mine is definitely a slipcover, not upholstery, but I think it turned out just fine.  It doesn't look like anything more than it is (not fitted or fringe or anything), but it definitely fits better than the cotton duck slipcovers that I bought from Overstock.

I made it out of cotton duck, too.  I have really enjoyed using it since I got it finished.  I am only sorry that I wasn't a little more adventuresome on fabric (not a solid), but that made it so much easier.

[Jaguar]

Here I put slipcovering an ottoman into YouTube and got this .......

[Deleted]

Yeah, theirs looks a little more professional than mine does although they started with a basic box.

If I was doing mine over, it has a cushioned top with a skirt with boxed pleats.  That is upholstery.  I would make a two-part version with a top and at least a ruffled bottom.  I would probably skip the boxed pleats but at least do the skirt with an overlap.  It wouldn't be that hard.  I would also use more interesting fabric.

But I'm cool with what I did, which is a slipcover.  It is clean and neat and the right color.  I like fancy stuff so I keep wondering how I could enhance the solid fabric.  That is my only complaint.  But DH said to leave it alone.  It looks fine even if it does look "slipcovered."  

The best part was actually using it.  You can laugh, but no one was sitting in the sunroom with the $2200+ furniture.  We mostly bought it for me to have a bed when my sister came (sofa bed).  But while it is comfy, my feet don't touch the floor.  So the ottoman really does make it more comfy.

DH actually agreed because he sat out there and stuck his feet there, too.  

[CCL]

You could always make another, fancier one for the colder months.

[Deleted]

So after I slipcover the ottoman, what do I find on the FB trading sites? Two almost new cream-colored ottomans with brown piping that matches my sofa perfectly. How much? $15 each.

I bought them, of course.  The other ottoman will go back to the basement.  I won't call it a waste of effort, though.  If I hadn't made the slipcover, I wouldn't have found these online.  My universe works like that. 

[countrygirl]

I just finished covering valances for the motorhome and a headboard. Next I'm doing the 2 kitchen

chairs. I think that the fabric is to light colored but it coordinates well. Also made curtains for the

windshield used the old ones for a pattern, 32 pleats in each panel, argghh.

You can take off the old fabric and use for patterns. I plan to take the fabric off the chairs tomorrow,

seems like it has covered piping also, can't remember right now. It's not really that hard but I would

recommend a power stapler and not a mechanical one. I had one and can't find the electric one.

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2016 23:26:00 GMT -5 countrygirl said:

I just finished covering valances for the motorhome and a headboard. Next I'm doing the 2 kitchen

chairs. I think that the fabric is to light colored but it coordinates well. Also made curtains for the

windshield used the old ones for a pattern, 32 pleats in each panel, argghh.

You can take off the old fabric and use for patterns. I plan to take the fabric off the chairs tomorrow,

seems like it has covered piping also, can't remember right now. It's not really that hard but I would

recommend a power stapler and not a mechanical one. I had one and can't find the electric one.

Yes on the recommendation for a staple gun.  I used it when I reupholstered the dining room chairs.

You are going through padding as well as material.  I don't think a mechanical one uses heavy-duty staples.

[countrygirl]

I thought we had a stapler that runs off the air compressor and we do. I need to get staples for it.

My husband said they are to long and may go through the wood.  So I will just get me another

electric one.

I took one chair apart and wow, if they made furniture like that still, well it would last 25 years like

this did. The back section has a welded steel frame in it. I'm going to spray paint it as it has some

rust, light but there and don't want it rubbing on the fabric, its down inside with the back wrapped

around it.  The fabric is still good, just dirty, I probably could have taken it off washed it and put it

back, but I'm not.

American Eagles were some motorhomes no wonder they were so expensive.  All the cabinets in it

are wood, wood paneling, not the cheapo stuff and the closet is cedar lined. 

Now if  I can figure out to clean the ceiling in it.  Everything else will be clean and fresh except the

ceiling.