8/12/2019 DIY Utility Bucket Ottoman

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DIY Utility Bucket Ottoman

I love a cleverDIY project, especially when it uses an unexpected or overlooked material. This project usesa humble orange utility bucket as the base of an amazing upholstered ottoman. The product ofa collaboration between Liz and Rachel of Commonwealth Vintage Rentals and Leland ofRevive Upholstery & Design , this utility bucket ottoman was inspired by a trip to HomeDepot. Looking for materials to build their own furniture, Liz and Rachel stumbled upon this

bucket and explained that they were ―hesitant and a little embarrassed to even think of using a plasti c bucket,‖ but they were swayed by the (low) price and decided to pick up a few andteam up with Leland to create something custom. Using Pendleton fabric, Leland upholsteredthe bucket (I never thought I’d write that sentence) and created a project that proves, withouta doubt, that even the simplest and least expensive materials can be turned into something

beautiful with a little hard work. Thanks so much to Liz, Rachel and Leland for sharing thishow-to with us! xo, grace

Photos by John Fitzgerald and Braden Spotts

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The full how-tocontinues after the jump . . .

Materials

yardage for fabric chalk scissors spray Glue stapler 5-gallon utility bucket ruler

turkey carver sewing machine tape measurer piping foot (The cord we used is 5/32 and is sold by the yard.) foam (20′ square of 3‖ high -density foam and 60‖ x 1‖ of foam) Dacron square ruler

Instructions

1. Take off the bucket handle and measure the top of the bucket (38″) — the bucket tapers atthe bottom, so you need to measure the top and bottom — me asure the bottom (33‖) and

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measure the height (17 1/2‖). You can also wrap the foam around the bucket and cutaccordingly.

2. Mark out thefoam with your ruler. Draw out 38‖, mark the middle of it and split from the center 33‖. Measure 171/2‖ for the ver tical foam with the height of the top layer of foam. Cut foam.

3. Spray glue onthe bucket and foam, and wait a few seconds for the glue to set and get tacky.

4. Take the lidand trace the top of it onto 3‖ high -density foam. Spray glue the lid to the foam. Take your turkeycarver and cut around the edges of the lid. Snap the lid back onto the bucket. Bring the 1‖ foam aroundthe lip of the 3‖ foam.

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5. Trim any extra pieces.

6. Take Dacron and

spray it with glue to the top of the bucket. Cut off the remaining pieces. Continue to wrap and sprayglue the bucket with Dacron. Trim the top but leave extra Dacron on the bottom for finishing.

7. Measure anddraw out the longest side of your pattern and mark the center. Take your square and line it up with theedge of your fabric and the center mark. Draw out the height of your pattern on your square. (Note: Itis always smart to add 1 –2‖ of extra fabric to your height for fitting; it can always be trimmed downlater.) Once the height has been drawn, use your square again to mark the length of the opposite side(remember your height line is at the center, so measure half the length on each side of your centermark). When the two lengths have been drawn out, use your ruler to connect the ends, giving you anice straight taper.

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8. Cut the pipingfabric 1 1/2‖ wide and the same length as the top 46‖. Cut the top piece in a 16‖ circle (allows seamallowance) either by tracing the top or using a string and pencil.

9. Fold the fabricin half and clip the middle top corner. Do the same with the circle piece.

10. Sew in the piping with welt foot. Extend the fabric a small amount past the piping. Sew a 1/2‖ from the needle.When you start to sew piping on the circular piece, start just in from the cut edge. Cut relief cutsaround the perimeter so that the fabric doesn’t pucker when sewn into the side panel. Note: Sew fabricon the piping first, then line up the edge of the piping and the edge of the circle fabric and beginsewing. Make small relief cuts in your piping so it is easier to sew.

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11. With side panel folded, sew from the top down with at least 2‖ at the bottom open, so that it fits over the top ofthe ottoman.

12. With theseam of the side panel laid flat and the seam of the top panel, start to sew the two pieces together.

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13. Test-fit thefabric to make sure it fits smoothly over the ottoman. This requires a little finessing of the fabric to geta snug fit.

14. If fit is smooth,remove the fabric and cut the extra fabric around the edges so the end product has a flush, smoothsurface.

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15. Pull thefabric over the ottoman again. Rotate it, pulling downward on each side. After the fabric is smooth andin place, staple the fabric to the bottom of the bucket. Start stapling in sections around the circle andthen go back and staple in between. If you just went fully around the first time, you would end up withextra fabric at the end and the pattern could be crooked.

16. Take a razor blade and cut off the extra fabric.

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17. The last stepis a dust cover for the bottom. Voila!