Thanks for the warm welcome last week! Today we would like to share a great project with you that combines two of our favorite things in life – junk and fabric! It doesn’t get much better than that in our book!
We started with this vinyl covered footstool. It’s a thrift store find that is sturdy and a great size but was lacking a little in the style department. Bring on the awesome fabric! 
We chose a red chevron stripe and used it to create a slipcover to bring this footstool from old and lifeless to being the statement piece of any room. Here’s how we did it.
First, select your fabric. We suggest using a home decorator weight fabric for this project. To figure out how much you will need, measure from the point where you want the slipcover to end on one side, over the stool and down the opposite side to make the slipcover even (follow the yellow arrows on the picture below.) On our stool we decided it looked great to have half of the legs showing so we measured from the half way point of the leg up and over the stool and down half way on the opposite set of legs. 
Now, measure the same thing from the front to back (follow the blue arrows on the picture above.) Add 2 1/2 inches to all four sides for a hem allowance. Cut your fabric according to these measurements. For example, our stool was 21 ¼ inches wide, 13 ½ inches deep and we wanted our slipcover to hang down 6 ¾ inches from the top of the stool. Here’s our math:
9 ¼ (6 ¾ side+2 ½ seam) + 21 ¼ (width) + 9 ¼ (6 ¾ side + 2 ½ seam) = 39 ¾ in. wide
9 ¼ (6 ¾ side+2 ½ seam) + 13 ½ (depth) + 9 ¼ (6 ¾ side+2 ½ seam) = 32 in. long
Decide which direction you want your fabric to run and cut accordingly. All the home decorator weight fabrics Modern Textiles carries are 52” wide, which means we used less than a yard for this project!
Next center the fabric upside down on your stool. Make sure the bottom edge of fabric is even all the way around the stool.
St
arting in one corner, pull the excess fabric out at each corner and pin straight down against the leg of the stool. Make sure your line of pins is straight and that the pattern of your fabric lines up well. Do this for all four corners.
Once you have pinned all four corners, the slipcover should fit snugly over your footstool. Gently remove the fabric, being careful not to lose any pins. Using a sewing machine, sew down the line of pins at each corner, removing the pins as you get to them. Be sure to backstitch and the beginning and the end of each seam. Before you trim the excess fabric away, turn the slipcover right side out and try it on your footstool. If something didn’t turn out well, its much easier to rip the stitches out and try it again now while there is a little extra fabric to work with. If it fits snugly and looks even, remove the slipcover and trim the excess fabric from each corner. Be sure not to cut too close to your seam. We like to leave about a ½ inch of raw edge.
With the slipcover off, turn the raw edge around the bottom up one inch and press with an iron all the way around the slipcover.
Fold over another 1 ½ inches and press again, pinning the fabric in place as you move around the slipcover.
Sew the hem by top-stitching 1 ¼ inches up from the bottom edge. Press the entire slipcover, paying special attention to the corner seams to make them crisp and smooth. Put the slipcover back on your footstool and put your feet up! It’s done! 
Keep your eye out on your next junking trip for simple footstools like this one. With just a little fabric and some time with your sewing machine you can give it a whole new look!
Stop by The Studio September 20-22 to see the rest of the beautiful fabric we carry. We know you will find just the right print for your next DIY project. Also be sure to check out our Facebook page to keep up with Modern Textiles!
P.S. We couldn’t decide which one of us got to keep the footstool. We decided to compromise and sell it at The Studio! Snag it quick when you get there on Thursday. There’s only one like it! 
We are Connie Biselx and Roxanne Beauvais from Modern Textiles – a new retail fabric company in Fargo, ND. Really we are just two chicks, some fabric and a dream!
Thanks for the inspiration! I think i can make this work for my ottoman/storage w/ a little elastic, it will add a great pop of color to my living room! Great save and great fabric pick!
That’s great Lexie! Add a picture of your project to our Flickr pool when you’re done. We would love to see it! http://www.flickr.com/groups/moderntextiles/
I ladies it was great visiting with you last week when you stopped by Eco Chic Boutique. I hope all went well this weekend! I look forward to visiting again soon.
Thanks for sharing. I was very impressed and feel that I have valuable experience after reading your article. I want to learn more and try to use it.