How to Make a Spherical Ottoman

Ottomans can serve as footrests or even as formal coffee tables. To add a playful accent to a room, you can make a spherical ottoman that matches or complements your other furniture’s upholstery. You won’t be able to set a tray of coffee on it, but you can rest your feet on it or use it as an extra seat. If you place against a wall or couch, you can use it as a backrest when you sit on the floor. A spherical ottoman is also a good addition to a child’s or teenager’s room.

String
Kraft paper
Upholstery fabric
Tailor’s chalk
Pins
Sewing machine with heavy needle
Heavy-duty thread
Fiberfill or foam stuffing
2 buttons

Instructions

- 1
  Decide how large a spherical ottoman you want. An easy way is to use a piece of string to make a circle on the floor as large as the circumference of the finished ottoman.
- 2
  Draw a triangle on brown Kraft paper with two sides equal to half the length of the string plus 1 inch for seam allowance. The third side of the triangle should be one-sixth the length of the string. Sketch the longer sides to be somewhat convex and keep the short side straight so the entire triangle looks like the bottom of an iron. Cut out the triangular shape to use as your pattern. This sphere is based on a beach ball design and will consist of six identical panels. Of course, the larger the panels, the larger your ottoman will be. Because the panels are identical, you need only one pattern piece.
- 3
  Fold upholstery fabric, vinyl or leather in half with the right sides together. Pin the pattern to the fabric with the pattern's shortest side on the fold of the material. Trace it onto the fabric with tailor’s chalk. Trace it five more times for a total of six panels. Cut them out and unfold them. Pay special attention to match a print pattern or the nap of the fabric.
- 4
  Sew two of the panels together with right sides together ½ inch from the edge. Sew another panel to one of the free edges of a sewn panel in the same way. Continue sewing panels to free edges until you have sewed all six panels together. Sew the free edges of the first and last panel together with a ½-inch seam allowance, leaving several inches unsewn. Now you have a sphere shape. Turn it right side out through the hole.
- 5
  Stuff the spherical ottoman with fiberfill or foam stuffing. The firmness is up to you but it should be fairly firm or it will resemble a bean bag chair.
- 6
  Stitch up the hole by hand. Stew on a button at each end where all the panels meet.

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Ottomans