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I had been wanting to make a slipcover for our ottoman for a while. It’s still a nice ottoman, but it’s leather and we want to keep it protected. It didn’t take long for that one piece of the leather set to start showing more wear and tear than the others. One time, I made a little “shower cap” type of cover for it, and it’s ugly as sin. So when I came across this ottoman slipcover tutorial from Sew4Home, I fell in love.
The nice thing about the tutorial is that it shows you how to make it to your own measurements, since chances are, we all have different sized ottomans. Mine is more rounded, which I didn’t consider ideal for this project, but I still think it worked out well. A great thing about slipcovers is that you can pick up a mismatched piece of furniture just about anywhere (yard sale, thrift store, new) and make it work with your decor. In the entries to our recent gift certificate giveaway, some of you said you’d like to learn how to make slipcovers. This is not a couch or a chair, but it’s one piece of your living room furniture to get you started! |
Supplies
(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)
 City Scene Bronze - CIEBRE |
 Patriot Ebony - PATEBY |
 Cording |
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| I used 2 yards of the Citi Scene fabric and 2.5 yards of the black. I also used 6.5 yards of the cotton cording for the piping (we have a tutorial for making your own piping here). | |||
The pattern
| Please see the tutorial at Sew4Home for descriptions on how to measure your ottoman and figure out your pattern pieces. Take note of your contrast band fabric and consider whether it needs special cutting to match up nicely.
For my particular ottoman, I used the following measurements: Top panel: 27-3/4″x19-3/4″ (cut 1) (black) Side panels: 27-3/4″x5″ (cut 2) (contrast) End panels: 19-3/4″x5″ (cut 2) (contrast) Side skirts: 15-1/2″x27-3/4″ (cut 2) (black) End skirts: 15-1/2″x19-3/4″ (cut 2) (black) Pleat panels: 13″x15″ (cut 4) (contrast) |
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The project
| The two main problems I ran into were:
1. I have a more “rounded” ottoman than the type this pattern was designed for, but I still felt that it does the job. It keeps the ottoman clean and protected, and it looks pretty spiffy, too. That explains, though, why the ottoman slipcover has a looser fit in some places. 2. Due to the heavy nature of the fabric, the pleats really popped open. I had to stitch the insides of the pleats closed to help control that. 3. I took care to cut the printed fabric so that the patterns lined up all the way around the ottoman, which makes it more aesthetically pleasing. Overall, I was pleased with the project. It created something attractive and functional. The fabric feels substantive, like it will hold up well to regular use. It’s certainly a million times better than my earlier “shower cap” solution! |
Other views
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 Before |
 After |
 Side view |
 Front view |
Tags: For the Home, ottoman slipcover
I have a similiar type of ottoman (i.e. rounded on the upper portion). Just curious to know how you calculated your measurements. Did you measure along the bottom or top edeg to figure your length & width measurements? Or did you measure along the widest bulge (the middle)?
Carolyn,
I measured a little roughly — I measured along the top of the ottoman, but I tried to stand above and eyeball where the widest part was. If I did it again, I’d make it a touch snugger, I think.
Robyn
Great Idea. I have a similar ottoman (not leather) that my cats lay on. I would like to make a slipcover for it to protect it and one I can wash if need be. Cats leave TONS of hair. I for one and shocked they aren’t bald LOL. Great idea and you make it look easy. Which I think it will be. The hardest part will be choosing the material LOL
Whenever I do an upholstery or slipcover I always take a 3/4 yard of the fabric, sew a piece of batting behind it and then it’s a nice cover for my kitty. I still have the fabric for me to look at and her to sit on but when the company comes it gets removed and presto no pet hairs….it’s great when my sister comes over (she has allergy’s).
I started this many years ago and it’s been a great saver!
Great idea, Roberta! Both of my cats passed away recently, but I had 17 years of trying to deal with cat hair on everything!
How ironic can things be!! I have been trying to come up with a slipcover design/ pattern for my oversized ottoman and this surely looks like it will be the one! Because I have such a hard time with patterned fabrics conflicting with other room decor, I will try to find a dark sage fabric that will closely match the remaining furniture pieces, but will be washable as well. I see comments about cat hair…lets hear it for Yellow Labradors and their shedding!!! And she’s not even allowed on the furniture
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Looks a lot better than the brown leather you had on the ottoman. good work!