Take
one old footstool and one piece of vintage fabric, put them together and you
have a charming example of re-using and recycling for your green home.
With a little creativity, iron-on seam tape (hemming tape) and trim, a great
piece or two of serviceable vintage fabric can be transformed into a
slipcover for an ottoman or footstool. No sewing is required and basic
skills will demonstrate good results. Iron on hem/seam tape (narrow), rope,
string, ribbon or other trim and fabric are the materials and the tools are
scissors, measuring tape, pins, iron and ironing board and chalk (optional).
Let’s get started!
1. First find a old footstool or ottoman. This will determine the size of
the fabric needed to work with. A basic rule is you will need twice the size
of the furniture in fabric. Measure the top, both length and width, and then
measure the drop, which is the distance from the top to the floor. Draw this
out on a piece of paper so it is clear. For the demonstration project, the
footstool is twenty-four inches long by eighteen inches wide with a
twelve-inch drop and one-inch casters. The drop, then, is really thirteen
inches from the top to the floor.
2. Add the drop on one side, plus the width, plus the drop on the other
side, to get the width of the fabric that you’ll need. In this case, it is
two multiplied by thirteen plus eighteen equals forty-four inches. You could
get away with a minimum of forty-five inches, but a little more for the hem
is better, say forty-six to forty-seven inches.
3. Now for the length. Add the drop on one end plus the length, plus the
drop on the other end...or twice the drop plus the length of the ottoman.
For this project, it is two multiplied by thirteen plus twenty-four equals
fifty inches. Again, to allow for a hem, you will want at least fifty-one or
fifty-two inches.
4. The piece of fabric you need is forty-seven inches wide by fifty-two
inches long. A yard- (thirty-six inches) and-a-half of forty-five-inch wide
material will work just great with a little length adjustment so the
slipcover does not grace the floor, but just clears the casters. If the
vintage find is more generous in measurements, especially the width of the
fabric, so much the better. If all else fails, just drape the fabric over
the stool and see if it works!
5. The trim length required is enough to wrap the circumference of the
ottoman. For this project, the stool is eighteen by twenty-four, so two
sides of eighteen and two sides of twenty-four, plus ten to twelve inches
for tying will be used, or around eight feet. Ribbon, rope, string, fancy
trim or something that can be tied and that matches the fabric would add to
the custom look.
6. The amount of hem/seam tape needed will be the length times two and the
width times two of the entire fabric piece, plus four to six inches for
error correction. The project fabric is forty- seven by fifty-two,
multiplied by two, plus four equals two hundred and two inches or 5.6 yards.
(If hem tape is not going to work for you and no one you know sews, then the
fabric can simply be cut to size and left as is with the understanding that
it may ravel or fray in time. With some decors, this natural, unfinished
edging can add to the overall effect of the interior design scheme.)
7. If you plan to wash the fabric in the future, do so before measuring, as
most fabrics that have not been previously washed will shrink. This
pre-washing will also check for color-fastness. Wash in cold water with
natural laundry soap and a little borax or baking soda to brighten the
fabric. If the material is white, an ounce of hydrogen peroxide may be added
to the water, but bear in mind that it will also bleach out colors. Air dry
the fabric by hanging it in the sunshine and wind, which will also freshen
it and help remove and dust mites.
8. Turn the iron on to the setting suggested by the iron-on hem tape
(usually hot), but bear in mind the type of fabric you are bonding as well.
Vintage cotton, linen, silk and hemp can take high temperature, however the
newer synthetics cannot or they will melt.
9. Use narrow seam binding tape or hem tape that is designed to iron on. In
order to avoid the small amount of possible toxins when the adhesive tape is
heated, those who sew or know someone who does can skip this step and
machine or hand sew the hem instead.
10. First measure the hem. If there is adequate fabric, measure an inch to
two inches of fabric all around the outside for the hem (you would have
allowed for this in the first cutting stages). If you have forty-five-inch
fabric, then a half-inch is all that will be available to turn up as a
finished edge. Pin the hem in place, so it is even all around and press with
the pins in place, then remove them and press carefully again, ensuring the
hem remains consistent.
11. For the corners, the simplest procedure is to press the opposing sides
first then press the corners over the already turned side. Advanced sewers
will know how to cut a V-notch out. Once the hem is pressed and the pins
removed, insert the seam tape under the hem so it cannot be seen. If the
tape is not completely covered by fabric, it will melt onto your iron or
ironing board cover. (It can be cut to fit).
12. Press according to manufacturer’s guidelines with extra care at the
corners. At this point, if you are a sewer, a needle and thread whip stitch
over the double corners will keep the hem in place.
13. Center the fabric over the ottoman. For type-A personalities, an exact
center measurement marked by chalk might be necessary. For everyone else,
just wing it because the project is repositionable.
14. Tie the trim around the middle of the fabric and fashion a nice knot or
bow, securing it in place. Adjust the gathers evenly so the fabric appears
balanced all around. Another option is to tuck the corners in squarely,
similarly to making a hospital-style bed.
15. If you only have enough fabric to cover the top and first few inches of
drop, it can still be used. Simply cover the top handkerchief style, then
fold another piece of fabric over a string or cord for a skirt and overlap
the top piece, securing the string on the inside and concealing the joins,
forming the skirt. Voilą, an instant variation. This optional method can be
used for seasonal changes or to add color for holidays, such as red or green
at Christmas.
16. If all else fails, you can duct tape or use masking tape to secure the
edge under the footstool! It might not be the most eco-friendly option, but
it will work.
17. You might want to pad the top and/or sides with an old quilt remnant if
the footstool is very firm. Just cut it a bit smaller than the fabric and,
if it is fairly thick, you may need to cut out the folded sections at the
corner and whip stitch them in place.
So, out of a bit of used fabric and with the aid of some simple tools and
materials, a wonderful slipcover has magically transformed a dowdy, worn
stool into an appealing decorating accessory...and you did it yourself on a
shoestring. But shhhhh, no one has to know that part. Live green and
prosper, ahem, on a budget!
Eileen Wosnack is the principal designer of Spirit Interior
Design in White Rock, British Columbia and founder of Eclectrix™ Organic
Home, a sustainable organic interiors store. She is a member of the Canada
Green Building Council and the Organic Trade Association.
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