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

1. Set up your sewing machine for a straight stitch.
2. Place all-purpose sewing thread in the needle and fill a bobbin with the same thread.
3. Place two of the seven fabric pieces you cut, right sides together. Pin at the middle straight edge.
4. 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.
   
5. Open the two pieces. Press the seam allowance to one side.
   
6. Add another fabric piece to one edge, stitching on middle edge only.
7. Open flat and press seam in the same direction as the seam from step #5.
   
8. Continue adding pieces until all seven seven fabric pieces are sewn in a row.
9. Press all seams in the same direction.
   
10. 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.
    
11. 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.
    
12. Continue stitching the top diagonal edges together, remembering to start ½" in from the point. Do not sew the last two diagonal edges together.
13. Next, stitch all the bottom diagonal edges together.
14. 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.
15. Turn the ottoman right side out through the opening. Roll the seams between your finger to achieve a nice edge.
16. Stuff the ottoman with fiberfill through the opening.
17. The opening will need to be stitched close by hand. The easiest method is a whipstitch or slipstitch.
    

Comments (8)

Elisabeth Jean said:

... I made one! I enlarged it slightly to fit my embroidery design & I also lengthened it to make it a couple inches taller. I chose upholstery fabric, which was fine until trying to sew the last points together. Next time I'll use something not quite so heavy! I also think I under-stuffed it (after 2# of fiberfill...)

October 22, 2010

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi VLT, as one of our earliest projects, this little ottoman has gone back to live with its seamstress, so I don\'t have exact measurements of the sample. This was before we kept super detailed sample archives. But based on the template, and my memory, it is about 50-56\" in circumference and about 20-21\" from the center of the top to the center of the bottom.

August 30, 2010

VLT said:

... What are the measurements of the finished ottoman?

August 30, 2010

Victoria Drake said:

... Thanks so much for answering my question. I am making one for my daughters room in the Woodland Delight fabrics. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

July 29, 2010

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi Victoria -- sorry for the delayed response, but I wanted to chat with our original seamstress on the project to get her input. Her suggestion is to subtract one of the panels rather than add. Nothing should have to be adjusted it will just be a tad bit smaller. Have fun... I love this little cushion!

July 29, 2010

Victoria Drake said:

... I wanted to have alternating prints in my ottoman. Would it be possible to add or subtract one of the wedges in this pattern?

July 28, 2010

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi daianagm ... you did pick one of our more complex projects... I guess good for you for having no fear! I talked with my favorite accuracy expert Michele Mishler about this and here is her response: 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.

March 19, 2010

daianagm said:

... OK, so I am a novice (TOTAL) at sewing and I took a crack at this project. The hardest part for me has been the stitching of the diagonal points. Somehow I couldn't get them all to meet. Does anyone have any pointers they can provide?

March 18, 2010

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