Sew a super cute laptop case that fits the exact dimensions of your laptop! This project takes about an hour to finish and requires only 1 yard of fabric!You’ll need the following materials:I recently moved into a small one bedroom apartment in the city. Small city spaces seem to always pose a problem when it comes to furniture. Luckily, I found the perfect sofa. It’s not quite as small as loveseat, but not as large as a traditional couch, basically a perfect fit.
Ottoman before recovering
Since the size of the apartment didn’t allow for a couch and a loveseat, I decided to use an ottoman as the other seating option for guests. My parents have had the ottoman in the picture on the left for years. It’s faded. It’s drab. It’s seen better days. It’s however without tears, stains, and is structurally sound, so instead of buying a new ottoman decided to recover this one with a fabric that matched my new sofa.
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Making a cover for an ottoman is a very quick and easy project. You’ll need scissors, thread, a sewing machine, fabric (preferably upholstery fabric), an iron, straight pins, and a measuring tape.
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Measure the Ottoman
.Start by measuring the length and width of the top of your ottoman. For example, mine was 38″ by 26,” write these down. Next measure the length and width the long and short sides of the ottoman, you’ll need two of each of these, to make four sides. Add an inch to the measurements to allow for a 1/2 inch seam allowance on each side.
Now lay your fabric out, measure and cut the dimensions noted above. You should have 5 total pieces- 2 short sides, 2 long sides, and the top piece.
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1/2" hem along the bottom
Next sew a 1/2″ hem along one long edge of each of the four side pieces. This will give the ottoman cover a finished edge along the floor
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Pin right sides together
Next, we’ll sew the side pieces on to the top piece, one at a time. Using the un-hemed edge, pin the side piece to the top piece with right sides facing together. Stitch together with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Repeat for the remaining three sides, making sure fabric is right sides together like shown in the picture.
Once all four sides are attached to the top piece lay it over your Ottoman inside-out (with right side of fabric facing down) to verify it fits.
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Pin sides together
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With the right sides facing towards the ottoman, begin to pin the sides to close the slits along the four corners. Once each of the corners are pinned, remove the cover from the ottoman and sew the edges closed.
Once all sides are sewn together, iron the seams open and flip cover right side out.
That’s it, you’re done! You’ve given an old drab ottoman a fancy new look!
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Here’s my finished ottoman, even Chauncey loves it!
While living in Michigan, I visited second-hand stores and estate sales with religious zeal. The good finds were endless, 20 pairs of knitting needles for $2, vintage furniture in great condition, bolts of amazing fabric for under $4, and so much more! However in Boston, with less second-hand shops and more people, you end up with limited selections and high prices- not a good combo in my book. Needless to say, in my case, the feeling that accompanies a good find has wained slightly since moving to the city.
Knowing about my love of scowering shops for good finds, two good friends Barb of Quintessential Maine and writer Lex Schroeder, showed me the second-hand shops, estate sales, AND antiques that are found all through Southern Maine along Route 1. Last summer, I came home with two wonderful pieces, a lovely print that now adorns my bathroom wall, and a vintage cookie jar I’ve converted into a great little planter.
Good finds!
On a more recent trip to Maine’s antique shops, one I was unable to go on, Barb and Lex found me this treasure, The Complete Book of Needlecraft. Originally published in 1972, this book has an equal mix of absolutely amazing patterns and some that are undeniably dated. Regardless, I’ve decided to start making and documenting a few of the patterns from this book. We’ll see how well they’ll translate nearly 30 years later. More to come!
