The easiest way to transform a piece of furniture is slipcovering. It's something that I love to do. And much the way I slipcovered a Parson's chair, I used the same draping method to slipcover a large ottoman.

For this project I had an ottoman with a detatched cushion that happened to be tufted. I left the tufted cushion in storage and opted to cut a piece of 5" thick foam for this project. I simply set the foam on top of the existing base and created a slipcover around it.

I used my most recent collection of fabrics for Art Gallery Fabrics, Fairview Avenue, once again, this time using Wild and Free - Jam. I interfaced the top cover with woven cotton fusible interfacing and left the skirt not interfaced.

I also wrapped the foam in upholstery batting. I used three layers on the top and two on the sides for maximum fluffiness!

You'll need enough fabric to cover your top, and about three times the perimeter for the skirt. 

These are my favorite Slipcover Making Supplies and pretty much everything you need. Note: This is an affliate link and I make a small amount of money when you purchase.

For a list of shops that carry Bari J. Fabrics click here.

Create the top of the ottoman

1. Drape your fabric wrong side up on top of your ottoman leaving at least two inches on each side.
2. Smooth your fabric so its nice and tight around the cushion and pin the corners vertically to create boxed corners. Mark with tailor's chalk. Trim leaving at least 1" for the seam allowance. You will later trim more off to avoid bulk.
3. Mark the bottom edges all the way around. 
4. Remove the cover and mark and trim so that you have a 1/2" seam allowance
5. Sew the corners like darts.
6. Trim out the excess fabric and clip the corners to but not through the seam.

Create the skirt

Calculate how much fabric you need

To calculate your fabric needs, measure all the way around the perimeter of the ottoman. To ruffle, you'll need two and a half to three times the perimeter. For the length measure from the bottom of your top piece and at least 8 1/2" for the hem and seam allowance. I add just a pinch more just in case.

Ruffle the skirt

Ruffle the top of the skirt edge using your favorite method. I use the ruffler foot on my Janome. 

Attach skirt to ottoman top

Note: I always glue baste things like skirts. Glue basting allows you to easily sew the skirt to the seat without fiddling with pins. It also assures you have the length exactly correct. I use a fine glue tip from Cristy Creates and Elmers washable school glue. Always use a dry iron to dry the glue in place.

1. Once you've finished pinning the pleats, sew a 1/4" seam at the top to keep them in place.
2. Right sides together, glue baste your skirt to the seat starting at a back corner and leaving 1/2" for a seam allowance. Mark 1/2" from end. This will be where you sew the two ends together.
3. Bring the basted piece to the machine. Starting at 1/2" away from the first corner, sew together using a 1/2" seam allowance. Stop when the end meets the starting point at 1/2". Then seam the two ends together. 

Hem your skirt

1. Put the cover on the ottoman and smooth. 
2. Smooth the skirt so it falls naturally around the ottoman, and place pins all the way around where the skirt touches the ground. 
3. Take the skirt off the chair and mark the line where the pins are using tailor's chalk or a frixion pen.
4. Mark 4" below that line and then another 4"
5. Trim at the second line down.
6. Fold four inches up twice toward the wrong side of the fabric. Glue basting each time helps keep it in place.
7. From the wrong side, top stitch your hem in place.
8. Press the ruffle towards the bottom.

You're now ready to put your slipcover on your ottoman!