Slipcovered Ottoman

When you get kinda stuck with that bold "zebra" pattern on your ottoman, the best solution is to cover it with a slipcover.

I did't want anything bold, so for my slipcover I went with the drop cloth trend. I think it's the perfect material for summer. Besides, the price cannot be topped. Only $7 for all of this:

My plan was to keep it simple. The top and a pleated skirt like this:

I made a couple of slipcovers before, like this one that I took out of storage to see how it looked but, it's most appropriate for fall. The new one I wanted to make had to have an easier, casual feel.

I cut the top part but then I remember that I had to pre-wash it.  Because yes, it shrank. and now the width of the material was not enough to cover the top part the way I wanted. :(

I moved to plan B! Creating a top top and attaching a long band around it, like the one before but without the cord piping.
After ironing the whole thing I cut a piece to cover the top (fig. 1).
To round those corners I folded the piece twice in the middle, to get the 4 corners together (fig. 2).
Traced the rounded corners (fig. 3), and cut them(fig. 4).

I cut the remaining of the drop cloth to create the long band and the skirt which was already hemmed (fig. 5).
For the long band I attached the pieces in a diagonal way, it looks better than when you do it straight (fig. 6).
For the pleated skirt I began pinning the pleads, trying to stretch them the most I could, because I didn't have that much fabric left! (fig. 7).
After using all the fabric I had to work with, I placed it around the ottoman but it was not enough. (fig. 8).

Now I had to move to Plan C.   Making pleads all around would've been easier but I needed more fabric.  My new design (fig. 9), involved more cuts and more sewing but less fabric. That's why I went for it.

I began connecting the pieces of fabric for the "long band" (the piece between the top and the skirt)(fig. 10).
Then I began hemming (fig. 11) both sides of each of the 16 panels I needed for the skirt! (fig. 12).

Here you can see how I ended up with 16!!  You can make it only with two long side pleads, less work. That would reduce the total of panels to only 12.  I guess I like to give myself extra work.

For the front of the skirt, each panel needs to be folded and ironed to size.

Then, all the 8 front skirt panels were attached to the "long band" (fig. 13), side by side (fig. 14), making sure they were in the right order.
After that, I attached the pieces that go on the back of the front pleads and corners (fig.15).
Before attaching the last piece, measure the "long band" to make it fit perfectly around the pleads and close it in a diagonal way again (fig.16).

Finally, the top is attached to the bottom part.  This is how it looked, for my liking it was too simple.  So I decided to give it more detail with a line of Jute webbing around the top part.

And... I liked how it turned out!

I really like how the webbing makes it pop!

It now tides better with the other elements in the room.

I also changed the tray. Remember the Linotype drawer I found at the flea market?  Well, this is not the place I first thought of using this drawer, but for now is keeping my son's collection of Bay Blades organized.

My first  hydrangea bouquet of the year makes me smile every time I get in this room!

I cannot leave you without my before and after, I guess this time it should read Winter / Summer instead.

For a total of around $10 in materials the effort is worthwhile. :)

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