What to do about a ripped ottoman?

I have an ottoman that is ripped. Any ideals on how to cover it? I can not sew.
  30 answers
  • Debbie Debbie on Aug 30, 2016
    Take off the old cover and use as a template for new material and staple new cover on with a staple gun.
  • I'm in the process of my own ripped ottoman redo. I'm using sisal rope. Using E6000 glue plus hot glue gun to wrap around my ottoman. On the top. I'm planning on material decoupage to the top. Then I'll wrap one row of sisal to finish the edge of top.
  • Felicia Felicia on Aug 30, 2016
    Two ideas that may work: (without seeing if this is from a set), if there is another piece like the sofa or chair that you can trim excess fabric from the bottom of, make a patch for each hole using Heat Bond as a backing and iron it down. The product works well for smooth edges. You can also fashion an entire cover using about a yard of sheet of Heat Bond to trim remnant fabric to fit, (like wrapping a present), tucking the edges in and ironing it all down smoothly. You only need to use the Heat Bond on each corner. Try buying the extra fabric in a contrasting color to cover pillows on the chair or pillow. That way it could look like a room refresh.
  • Sandra. Jackson Sandra. Jackson on Aug 30, 2016
    You don't have to sew, you can use a glue gun instead, you could cut out a pattern you Iike, I've used flowers, different coloured shapes to cover the rips or take it all off and still use the glue gun and stick on the new cover and glue on some trim to finish it for,
  • Kathy Kathy on Aug 30, 2016
    You can recover using iron on fabric tape instead of sewing.
  • Alice Alice on Aug 30, 2016
    Turn it upside down and see if you can take the fabric off. Usually held on with staples. Get fabric of choice and re-wrap the Ottoman and staple it back on. Rent a power stapler if you can't borrow one. Keep it stretched evenly might need someone to help.
  • Sophia,M.,McConnery Sophia,M.,McConnery on Aug 30, 2016
    All of the above are excellent options for the none sewing people.Can you do hand stitch?That would be another option.I am better at hand stitch!
  • Kristin Kristin on Aug 30, 2016
    Why do you have to be so negative Johnchip? I can't sew, but trust me, I am not spoiled or lazy! We all have different skills we are good at.
  • Sue Kiene Sue Kiene on Aug 30, 2016
    Johnchip there is basic sewing (sewing a button on, fixing a hem and the like) and then there is the sewing that is needed to do things like upholstery, actually making clothes etc. Big difference and no, not knowing how to "sew" does not make one lazy or spoiled.
  • Donna Donna on Aug 30, 2016
    Can YOU sew, Johnchip?
  • Galina Galina on Aug 30, 2016
    With an ottoman you go just as with any seat. You don't necessarily sew. Use an upholstery stapler (in my projects I used PowerShot, $19.95 Lowes, easy for a woman). Also, you can find various fabric remnants in Joann of different sizes that fit your piece. Just wrap it and staple. Here is a link that might be helpful: http://www.suburble.com/2013/07/the-no-sew-wa.... Good luck!
  • Sandra Jones Flint Sandra Jones Flint on Aug 30, 2016
    Thank u for all the help....
  • Cait Cait on Aug 30, 2016
    SEE BALLARD OTTOMN KNOCK-OFF OUT-DATED OTTOMAN REHAB BELOW IN THE LISTING. NO SEWING
  • Pauliegirl1 Pauliegirl1 on Aug 30, 2016
    JoAnns also have an iron on tape...measure, cut, iron your pieces together.
  • Sho10532149 Sho10532149 on Aug 30, 2016
    Leave the tear. Make a cover and slip over. What tear ? !
  • Terri Summerfield Terri Summerfield on Aug 30, 2016
    Just wondering, if this is cat scratch damage. I have a faux leather ottoman that my cat just kept scratching on. I glued burlap, them trimmed it in sisal rope. That way, the cat can scratch away, and I just replace the burlap, as needed.
  • Deb Deb on Aug 30, 2016
    I've used a hot glue gun for refinishing chairs, couches, etc. As long as you can fold in at the edge and bottom you can do easily.
  • Julie Beard Julie Beard on Aug 30, 2016
    you can pick up a can of spray glue in walmart nd the fabric that you like a couple of isles over spray and press your fabric all around as you like smooth it out with your hands its works nice i have seen it done on cars too for dash and doors and head liner
  • Pamela J. Ludington-Rice Pamela J. Ludington-Rice on Aug 30, 2016
    Sandra, I bought an ottoman off Craigslist that had 4-button tufts on top. I did not want the tufted look so I covered the ottoman first with quilt batting which is fairly inexpensive. I did 4 layers. I mention this because you don't want your tears or scratches to show through your fabric. I stapled them, using a hand-stapler to the bottom of the ottoman over the existing fabric. Then I chose my fabric and did the same thing with it. You will have to ease the corners if you have never covered one before. You can just tuck and fold. You have to make sure you start on one side and staple the fabric, then go to the opposite and pull tight and staple the fabric on the remaining sides. Then do the corners. I thought I had a pic on my phone of the finished ottoman but I don't so will post before and after tomorrow. Hope this helps.
  • Gerry Gerry on Aug 30, 2016
    buy a large piece of upholstery fabric on sale at JoAnn's and a heavy duty staple gun. I did a ottoman and a footstool to match just by folding the fabric around and stapling, no sewing necessary.
  • Bar822173 Bar822173 on Aug 30, 2016
    A repair on a corner is going to be tough. You could try a clear adhesive meant for fabric, but I suspect you'll have to cover it with an appliqué of some sort. You also could try an iron on patch (hard to see the color from.the photo). Otherwise you're looking at a slipcover. There are ready made ones that you can buy online. Just Google "ottoman slipcovers".
  • Liz Straughn Liz Straughn on Aug 30, 2016
    Measure the sides from top to bottom and across the top. Do this for the length and width. You should come up with a large square or rectangle. Give yourself an extra 3"-4" of fabric on each side. Flip ottoman over on the fabric with the fabric right side facing down. Center it with the fabric sides and top. Pull up first one side and staple with a heavy duty staple gun, beginning in the center of that side and work your way to the corners. Then, do opposite side. Turn the ottoman so that you do the same with the other two sides. As you get the middle staples in on the two remaining sides, "wrap the corners" as you would a gift. Corner areas should be stapled last under the frame.
  • Pamela J. Ludington-Rice Pamela J. Ludington-Rice on Aug 31, 2016
    Here are the pics I promised!
    comment photo
    comment photo
  • Sandra Jones Flint Sandra Jones Flint on Sep 01, 2016
    Thanks to everyone for your help
  • 1268409614 1268409614 on Sep 02, 2016
    You should be able to find a non-sewing tape at a craft or fabric store. Buy heavy duty tape. You can apply any fabric over the tape and attach by the use of an iron. Good luck
  • Sandra Jones Flint Sandra Jones Flint on Sep 03, 2016
    Thanks for the information
  • Phyllishildreth Phyllishildreth on Sep 15, 2016
    Take off the fabric and cut a piece of fabric a little larger. Put the fabric inside out on top of the ottoman and start fitting it around using pins which should make it fit as tight as possible. The excess material should be cut a few inches bigger so you can fold under when you turn fabric over. Turn fabric to right side, find center and use pin to hold fabric there to ottoman. Pull fabric down sides and turning in one side flat and tack anywhere possilbe. Then fold then edge of other peice at the edge of ottomon which will cover all raw edges. pin these tightly until fabric is smooth all over ottoman and it looks finished. You can use fabric glue, fabric fusion, or nail heads to finish. If fabric glue put pins back in until it is dry. Attach the excess material under the bottom and pull fabric until all looks smooth and use tacks to hold it in place
  • Yvonne Jensen Yvonne Jensen on Oct 16, 2016
    Try using spray adhesive along with decorative nailhead tacks, which are now sold in strips for easy installation. I once used a large circle skirt with the waist band gathered in the top middle with a large button .