How to Make an Ottoman Cover

Cutting the Top Panel

Choose a heavy-duty fabric for your cover. You can use just about any type of fabric you want for this, but home décor or upholstery fabric will work the best. You can find it in the home décor or upholstery section of a fabric store. You can also use other tough, durable fabrics, such as canvas. Linen is a great choice too, but because of its loose weave, you will need to add an interface backing to it. Cotton and quilting fabric are other great alternatives, and they come in all sorts of colors, but you'll need to add interfacing too.

Iron lightweight interfacing to the back of the fabric if your fabric is thin. Set the fabric with the outside facing down on your ironing board, then place the interfacing on top, rough-side-down. Cover the interfacing with a damp cloth, then press it with an iron for 10 to 15 seconds, then remove the fabric. Repeat this process to fuse the interfacing to the rest of the fabric. Use a lightweight fabric to cover the interfacing, such as cotton, a bedsheet, or a tea towel. Always keep it between the interfacing and the iron. Lift and press the iron, don't drag it back-and-forth across the fabric. Overlap the sections when you press them. If you leave any gaps, the interfacing won't stick. Each brand of interfacing is a little different, so double-check the instructions on the back.

Set your ottoman on top of the fabric and trace around it. Spread the fabric right-side-down on a flat surface, then set the ottoman face-down on top of the fabric so that the bottom is sticking up. Trace around the ottoman using a dressmaker's chalk or pen.

Cut the fabric out adding a ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance. Use a sharp pair of fabric scissors to get a nice, clean cut. If your ottoman cover is square, you can use a rotary cutter instead. This will give you nice, straight lines. Don't worry if your chalk or pen marks show up on the back of the fabric. They won't be visible once you assemble the ottoman cover. If you need to, trace around your cover using a ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance first, then cut along this new line.

Creating the Side Panel

Measure the height and circumference of the ottoman, then add seam allowances. Measure the height of the ottoman and add 4 inches (10 cm) for the seam allowances. Measure around the ottoman, and add 1 inch (2.5 cm) for the side seam allowance as well. Draw a rectangle on the fabric based on your measurements. This will work for both round or square ottomans. You will wrap this piece around the perimeter of the top piece. How tall you make the side panel is up to you. You can make it tall enough to cover the entire ottoman, from top to floor, or you can extend it to just the bottom of the cushion. Alternatively, you can make 4 separate panels for a square-shaped ottoman cover. Measure each side of the ottoman separately, then add ⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) to the top and side edges, and 4 inches (10 cm) to the bottom.

Trace a rectangle onto the fabric based on those measurements. Use a long ruler or another straight-edge to draw the rectangle so that the lines are nice and straight. Again, use a tailor's chalk for dark fabrics or a tailor's pen for light fabrics.

Cut the rectangle out with a pair of fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. A pair of scissors will be the easiest, but a rotary cutter will make the job quicker; it will also give you nice, straight lines. You do not need to add any seam allowances because your measurements already included them.

Sew the ends of the side panel together with a straight stitch. Keep the side panel turned inside-out. Fold the rectangle in half widthwise so that the narrow ends match up. Make sure that the right side is facing in, then sew along the narrow edge. Use a straight stitch, a matching thread color, and a ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance. Backstitch when you start and finish sewing. If you are making a 4-panel cover, sew the panels together along the sides. Leave the bottom 2 inches (5.1 cm) unsewn if you want to wrap them under the ottoman. Press the seams open when you are done. This will give you a nicer finish in the end.

Adding Piping

Cut a length of bias tape and cording for the top edge of your side panel. Measure the length of the top edge of your ottoman's side panel, from side seam to side seam. Cut a piece of thin cording according to that length. Next, add 1 inch (2.5 cm) to your measurement, and cut a piece bias tape according to this new measurement. Skip this entire section if you don't want to add piping. The width of the bias tape will depend on the thickness of the cording. It needs to be wide enough to give you a ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance after you tuck the cording into the tape. You can use store-bought bias tape or make your own. The color can match the fabric or it can be a contrasting color.

Fold the bias tape around the cording and hem 1 of the edges. Open up your bias tape. Fold 1 of the narrow ends down and press it flat with an iron. Place your cording down the center and close the bias tape. Align the end of the cord with the other cut end of the bias tape. Use a thin cord to create the piping. The hemmed end should extend ⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) past the end of the cord. Most bias tape is made from cotton, so use the cotton setting on the iron. If your bias tape is made from a different material, adjust the iron's setting accordingly.

Pin the piping to the top edge of your ottoman's side panel. Pin the piping to the right side of your ottoman side panel. Tuck the cut end of the piping into the hemmed end and pin it down as well. Make sure that the seam on the piping is aligned with the seam on the side panel. Keep the side panel turned inside-out. It will be easier to see where you are sewing. Keep the pins close enough together so that the piping lays smooth. Every 1 to 2 inches (25 to 51 mm) would be ideal.

Sew the piping to the side panel with a straight stitch. Try to sew as close as possible to the cording; this should be about a ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance. Start and finish sewing at the overlapped seam. It will be easier to use a zipper foot instead of a standard foot for this. Match the color of your thread to the piping. This way, if it accidentally shows through in the end, it won't be as noticeable.

Finishing the Cover

Pin the side panel to the top panel. Place the top edge of your side panel against the edge of your top panel. Working around the panel, begin to pin the 2 pieces together. Make sure that the right sides are touching each other. For a square ottoman cover, place the seam along 1 of the straight edges. Don't put it in a corner. Keep the pins 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) apart.

Sew the ottoman top and side panel together using a straight stitch. Use a thread color that matches the fabric, a ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) seam allowance, and a straight stitch. Start and finish sewing at the seam, and remove the pins as you sew. Remember to backstitch when you start and finish sewing. If you are sewing a square ottoman cover, sew in a continuous line and turn at each corner. Don't sew straight across the piece, cut the thread, and start sewing again.

Clip the corners or cut notches into the seam. If you have a square ottoman cover, you should cut the corners off as close to the stitching as possible. If you have a circle ottoman cover, cut V-shaped notches into the seam. Space them about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. This step will help the fabric lay smoother and prevent wrinkling or puckering.

Fold the bottom edge twice by ⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) to create the hem. Fold the bottom edge up by ⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) and press it flat with an iron. Fold it up by another ⁄2 inch (1.3 cm), and press it flat with an iron again. Sew the hem down as close to the inside folded edge using a straight stitch and a matching thread color. Start and finish sewing at the side seam, and remember to backstitch. Folding the hem twice will give you a cleaner hem on the inside. You can also use iron-on hem tape instead. This way, you won't have any visible stitching along the bottom hem.

Add Velcro to the bottom hem if you wish to wrap it under the ottoman. Flip your ottoman over, and add a 1 in (2.5 cm) wide strip of hook-side Velcro to each of the 4 edges. Add the coordinating loop-side Velcro to the hems of your ottoman cover. You are using the soft, loop-side Velcro on the cover because it is easier to launder. Use an upholstery stapler to secure the Velcro to the ottoman. Sew the Velcro itself to the ottoman cover. Self-adhesive Velcro is not strong enough.