How to Make Seat Covers for Bar Stools

Make covers for your bar stools to protect them during normal use. You can make covers out of any material, but machine-washable fabrics like cotton and denim are excellent choices in high-traffic, kid-friendly areas. Whatever material you choose, make two sets of covers so that your benches are always protected and you have the freedom to switch up the room design to fit different occasions.

Ruler
Fabric
Compass
Scissors
Needle
Thread
Sewing machine
1/4-inch elastic
Small safety pin
Fabric glue

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the diameter of the seat and the thickness of the seat.
- 2
  Cut a round of fabric 3 inches larger than the sum of the diameter and thickness.
- 3
  Calculate the circumference of the bar stool seat using the following formula: circumference equals pi times the diameter. For example, if the circle's diameter is 20 inches, multiply 20 inches by 3.14 to get a circumference of 62.8 inches.
- 4
  Cut a piece of elastic half the length of the fabric's circumference.
- 5
  Sew a loose running stitch along the perimeter of the round, one-half inch from the raw edge. Pull the beginning and end of the running stitch thread to gather the fabric.
- 6
  Hold the material so that it resembles a sack with the wrong side of the material out.
- 7
  Pin the elastic around the mouth of the fabric bowl about one-quarter inch from the raw edge. Overlap the ends of the elastic one-quarter inch.
- 8
  Stitch over the elastic with a zigzag stitch.
- 9
  Trim any stray threads. Coat the raw edge of the fabric with glue and dry overnight.
- 10
  Turn the piece inside out so that the decorative side of the material is showing and fit it over the stool like a shower cap.

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