DIY Ottoman or Footstool Using a Wooden Spool

Rest Your Feet on this Easy to Make DIY Piece

When I saw this wooden spool by the trash (that formerly held wire sold by the foot), I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it… The DIY ottoman or footstool is made using a wooden spool with upholstery fabric, batting, foam and casters. This easy to make piece requires minimal sewing skills (basically sewing a straight line), an upholstery stapler and a drill…

Materials:

• Old wooden spool
• Scissors
• 1″ foam (I used a piece of a memory foam mattress topper) (<– affiliate link!)
• Upholstery batting
• Decorative upholstery fabric
• 1/4″ filler cord or decorator piping
• Iron-on hem tape
• Upholstery stapler with staples
• Cardboard tack strip
• 2″ casters and 3/4″ screws

Step One

Take a few measurements of the spool… This will be really helpful in determining how much fabric, batting and foam are needed, as well as how long the skirt will be. The spool I used measured 19″ across, 13″ tall and was 62″ in circumference.

I cut a piece of fabric measuring 36″ long by the width of the fabric. (Most upholstery or decorator fabrics are approximately 52″ wide.) I laid the fabric on a table, right side facing down, then laid the batting on top of it. I traced the top of the spool on the foam, then cut out the circle.

Step Two

Secure the fabric and batting to the underside of the top of the spool using the stapler and the staples. Pull the fabric as tightly and as smoothly as possible while stapling. The staples should be positioned so they are close together. This helps keep the fabric taut so it will not pull out. Trim the excess fabric and batting away.

Step Three

Decorative welting will be applied to the sides of the top. I made my own welting with a strip of the fabric (cut at 2″ wide) and 1/4″ cotton filler cord. Welting can also be purchased at any fabric or hobby store. Position the welting on the sides of the top so that the underside of the cording is flush with the top of the side – staple in place.

Step Four

Position the casters on the bottom of the spool and secure in place with the 3/4″ screws.

Step Five

The length of the skirt will be determined by the height of the spool plus 2″ for the hem, 2″ to cover the casters and 3/4″ for the top “seam”. I cut four pieces of fabric at 17-3/4″ by the width of the fabric because I wanted to add 2″ box pleats all the way around. I sewed the pieces of fabric together, end to end, then pressed a 2″ hem in the bottom. I used the iron-on hem tape (because I was too lazy to sew the hem) to hold the hem in place. I started pressing the box pleats in place along the length of the fabric. I pinned the top to hold it in place until I could sew the pleats down. I continued with the pleats until the piece measured the circumference of the top piece of the spool. Stitch a 3/4″ sam along the top of the pleats, then sew the ends together.

Step Six

The skirt will be attached to the top piece of the spool by using a cardboard tack strip on top of the “seam” portion of the skirt (at the top of the pleats). Position the skirt on the top piece of the spool with the stitched seam just below the corded portion of the welting – the skirt will have the wrong side facing to the outside and the skirt itself will be upside down. Place a piece of the cardboard tack strip on top of the skirt piece and staple in place. The tack strip, when placed directly under the cord piece of the welting, will create a crisp edge when the skirt is turned right side out.

Can’t find an old wooden spool to use for this awesome ottoman/footstool? Stay tuned because I will share plans on how to make one of your very own that is cheap and easy! Have questions about the DIY ottoman or footstool using an old wooden spool? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2016-01-08 08:00:10.