Crafting My Way Out of Hoarding - Vol 1

I don't know how it happened. Well, I guess I do. Between my own stash of craft supplies and inheriting my grandmother's craft supplies, I needed up with 20 bins of fabric + other crafting goods. My goal is to get out of this hoarding situation by using the supplies up. So here is where I start this journey.

Vol 1. Turning hand-me down curtains into an ottoman cover that semi-matches the chair in my nursery.

Total cost of this project $0 - as everything was already in my house.

Supplies:

• Ottoman (I've had this since college 10+ years ago)

• Curtain panel or fabric of your choice

• Sewing Machine

• Thread

• Scissors

• Pins + Needle

• Ruler

• Butch Paper or Pattern Drafting Fabric

• Iron/Ironing board

Steps:

1. Measure the ottoman

2. My ottoman was 19"X19"X17" (LxWxH)
   

3. Draft the pattern:

   1. I started with the 21" x 21" square (added 2" for seam allowance just incase) - I'm calling this the top piece.

   2. I added 3 inches to each side of the square so there was a 3"x3" square missing from each corner.

   3. For the ruffled skirt, I cut out a rectangle of 19" x 17" knowing I would place the 19" side on the fold.

4. Iron the fabric

5. Cut out the pattern pieces.

   1. Cut one of the top piece

   2. I placed the 19" x 17" rectangle on the fabric folded 4 times. This would equal 2 sides of the ottoman to avoid having to side 2 side seams. I was aiming for quick, not technically correct.

6. Sew the two side seams together (if you cut 4 of the 19 x 17 on 1 fold) You would have to have sew 4 side seams). Right sides of the fabric together. Iron the side seams opened.

7. Sew the 3 inch seams of the top piece together right sides of the fabric together at 1 inch seam allowance. Repeat this with all 4 sides so your top piece is now like a box. Iron the side seams open.

8. Sew a gathering stitch (your sewing machine's longest stitch length) around the top of your skirt pattern. I used a 5/8 seam allowance for this. Leave the thread tails long!

9. Pin one of your skirt side seams to the top piece's corner seam.

   1. If you only have 2 side seams, pin the other side seam at the corner seam across from the first side seam.

   2. If you have 4 side seams, pin each side seam at each corner seam.

10. Gently pull on one of the tread tails of the gathering stitch. You will start to see the fabric bunch as the thread tail gets longer. Gently move the gathers to create a longer thread tail. Repeat this process until your skirt piece is as long as the ottoman top piece.

11. Pin the skirt and the top piece together right sides together.

12. Sew the skirt and the top together at 1 inch seam allowance.

13. I put the slipcover on the ottoman to measure the hem and pin it. I did 1inch and folded it over again another inch to incase the raw edge. This was a total of 2 inches for the hem.

14. I choose to hand sew the hem because I think it looks better and don't mind the hand sewing while watching TV.

15. Give the slip cover a final press with the iron.

16. Slip the slipcover on your ottoman and you are done!