Materials:
barrel-shaped flower planter 12"x18
5/8 yard of 54-inch-wide solid colored fabric
5/8 yard of 54-inch-wide printed fabric
1-1/4-yard muslin or similar fabric
2 feet of string or twine
Stitch Witchery - 1/2-inch-wide fusible web
1/2-inch-wide drapery hem tape
braid
fringe
cording
polyester fiberfill
2-inch cardboard circle
black marker
hot glue gun
glue sticks
Steps:
Ottoman Cushion
- Position bottom of planter on muslin fabric.
- Trace around planter. Add a 1-1/2-inch-wide margin around first circle and draw a second circle. Cut out muslin on second circle.
- Fold the muslin circle in half. Fold in half again. Mark the center point of the folded circle with a dot.
- Unfold the circle. Center the 2-inch cardboard circle over the middle dot and trace.
- Using the muslin circle created in the first three steps as a guide, trace a second circle on the muslin fabric. Set first circle aside. Draw a 1-inch margin around the new circle perimeter and cut.
- Repeat step 2.
- The larger circle needs gathering stitches all the way around the perimeter positioned 1/2" in from the edge of the fabric. In preparation for gathering, use a zigzag stitch to attach a length of string around the circle perimeter.
- Once the string has been attached to the circle, gently tug on each end of the string to gather the fabric. Tug the string until the larger circle has been gathered to match the size of the smaller circle.
- Pin the center dots of the circles together and stitch around the 2-inch middle circle using a straight stitch. Pin the outer edges of the circles together. Stitch the circles together 1/2 inches in from the perimeter. Leave approximately 2 inches of the edge unstitched to allow for turning and stuffing.
- Turn the circles right side out and stuff the cushion using polyester fiberfill. Turn the open, raw edges of the circle under, matching the existing seams and stitch the cushion closed. Note: Remember, this cushion will be covered so the work does not have to be perfect. Ottoman Cushion Cover
- Cut two pieces of solid fabric measuring 11"x54." Place the two pieces of fabric, right sides together and stitch them on each of the 11-inch-wide selvage ends. Press the seams open at each end. This creates a tube-shape that can be shirred to cover the cushion created above.
- Zigzag-stitch a 108-inch length of string all the way around the perimeter of each long edge of the tube using the same gathering technique described in steps 6 and 7 above.
- Gently tug each string to shirr the fabric on each end of the tube. Gather the fabric in a tight circle on one side and in a loose circle on the other side. Accomplish this by pulling on the inner, tighter circle string much more than the outer circle. Tie the inner circle string ends together into a bow. This is the cushion cover and it resembles a shower cap at this stage.
- Position the cushion cover over cushion. Tug around the perimeter of the cover to evenly distribute the pleats around the cushion. Tie the outer circle string ends together into a bow. Move cushion and cover to a large, flat work surface.
- Place planter upside down on work surface and cover the outside bottom of it with hot glue. Center the uncovered bottom of the cushion onto the hot glue covered bottom surface of the planter. Leave the cover on top of the cushion, taking care not to glue the bottom of the cover under the cushion.
- Anchor the center pouf area of the pillow cover to the pillow by applying hot glue through the center of cover onto the pillow. Hold in place until glue dries.
- Pull and hot glue the bottom of the cushion cover over the lip of the planter, onto the planter sides. Glue at four quadrant points first, then work between those points to distribute and secure the cover evenly.
- Glue a length of braid onto the cushion cover around the lip of the planter. Tape each braid end to keep them from unraveling as you work. Overlap the braid ends and glue them in place in a downward position. Ottoman Skirt
- Cut four 15"x20" panels of printed fabric and seam them together along the 15-inch edges to create the skirt.
- Press down a 1/2-inch hem at the top of the skirt.
- Press down a 3/4-inch hem at the bottom of the skirt and secure this hem with 3/4-inch fusible web tape.
- Position approximately a 15-inch length of double-string shirring tape centered along the 1/2-inch top hem. Be sure to center the tape, leaving 1/2 inch of each end of the skirt void of shirring tape.
- Position the skirt right side up. Hot glue decorative trim along the bottom circumference as desired. Glue the trim near the bottom of the fabric instead of on the bottom to keep it from dragging the floor.
- Fold the skirt in half, right sides together and match up the two 15-inch ends. Seam the ends together.
- Begin to pull strings of skirt together, gathering slightly.
- Position skirt over the covered cushion on the barrel and work with it until it is positioned under the braid. Tighten skirt to fit by pulling shirring tape strings. Secure skirt top to cushion cover using hot glue.
- Create a button to cover the center of the cushion by hot gluing a length of braid in a coiled, circular manner onto a cardboard circle. Glue the braid at the center of the circle. Wrap the braid around itself, working toward the outside of the circle. Hot glue the braid covered circle to the center of the ottoman cushion.
