Asian Ottoman Floor Cushion
We love this little footstool because it reminds us of those awesome dancing mushrooms from Walt Disney's Fantasia. Ours has yet to come to life, but we're watching it closely. You can make one to rest your dancing feet, using any sewing machine and our free template.
Don't skimp on the fiberfill when you're stuffing this cushion. You want it to be soft yet sturdy. Also, notice we used a cool fabric with a border type design. We cut our templates so this border lined up along the bottom and made it look like the flowers are wrapping around the base and climbing up the sides.
Sewing Tools You Need:
Any sewing machine (we recommend the Janome DC3018)
Fabric and Other Stuff:
- Template
- 1½ yds fabric
- Two 20 oz. bags of polyester fiberfill
- All-purpose sewing thread in color to match fabric
- Fabric marker or pencil
- Straight pins
- Scissors
- Hand sewing needle
- Iron and ironing board
Getting Started
Click on Template link above to download pattern template. Use it to cut seven pieces of fabric.
At Your Sewing Machine
- Set up your sewing machine for a straight stitch.
- Place all-purpose sewing thread in the needle and fill a bobbin with the same thread.
- Place two of the seven fabric pieces you cut, right sides together. Pin at the middle straight edge.
- Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch together the middle straight edges.
Note: Most sewing machines have seam guides on the throat plate. For a perfect ½" seam allowance, place the outside edge of the fabric on the ½" guide.
- Open the two pieces. Press the seam allowance to one side.
- Add another fabric piece to one edge, stitching on middle edge only.
- Open flat and press seam in the same direction as the seam from step #5.
- Continue adding pieces until all seven seven fabric pieces are sewn in a row.
- Press all seams in the same direction.
- Next, you'll be stitching the diagonal points. Starting at one end, fold the end piece over the piece next to it. The right sides of the two fabric pieces will be together.
- Measure ½" down from the diagonal point tip. Place a mark with a fabric marker or pencil. Using a ½" seam allowance, start sewing at the mark. Stitch along the diagonal edge. Remember to backstitch to secure at the beginning and end.
- Continue stitching the top diagonal edges together, remembering to start ½" in from the point. Do not sew the last two diagonal edges together.
- Next, stitch all the bottom diagonal edges together.
- To complete the circle, sew the last two top diagonal edges together, and then sew the last two bottom diagonal edges together. Do not stitch the straight edge. This must be left open so you can turn and stuff the ottoman.
- Turn the ottoman right side out through the opening. Roll the seams between your finger to achieve a nice edge.
- Stuff the ottoman with fiberfill through the opening.
- The opening will need to be stitched close by hand. The easiest method is a whipstitch or slipstitch.
This project can also be made with the Pfaff Hobby 1132 or the White Sew Easy 2335.
THis is my new sew4home favorite project. I found this site last year just before Christmas when I was looking for a neck pillow. I found the bowtie pillow and made one for myself and then gave several as gifts. I have made more of them as well as some other projects. I frequetly look over your project ideas. I thought I had seen all of them.
I found this just before thanksgiving. I have not been able to get it out of my mind. I made one this morning out of batik scraps from a quilt I am making. It is beautiful and very comfortable to use. I used a lot more stuffing than the insturctions called for. I will make some more of these for my home and will also make some for gifts. I am going to try and use a faux suede material next time.
Thank you sew4home. I love your magazine!!!!
The diagonal points are cut with bias edges, and they can sometimes stretch as you sew them. Use pins to match the start and stop points, placing the pins perpendicular to the edge of the fabric. Lower the needle of the machine into the starting point, and then lower the foot. Start your seam, sewing three or four stitches. stop, and sew three or four stitches in reverse, carefully stopping at the starting point. Sew the seam, stopping at the stop point. Backstitch. Sew all of the diagonal seams in the same direction, and they should meet at the center when all points are sewn.
I hope this helps .... it really is a cute ottoman project.
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