Slipcover for Bistro Table – Going Undercover
Our office renovation is nearing completion. We’ve been working on the room for two plus months now. The majority of the work is complete, but we are waiting for two desk cabinets to come in to the Office Depot warehouse so we can actually order them. At this point I’m wondering if I should just build my own! <<Sigh>>
After searching for over a month on Craig’s List, I finally broke down and bought a small counter height bistro set from Big Lots for the corner of our office. We thought it would be a great place for the kids to sit and do homework. Or better yet, for Pretty Handsome Guy and I to talk and have our morning coffee!
The height and footprint is perfect, however, the dark wood (in addition to the other furniture in the room) made the room too dark for my taste. Okay – and I’m a sucker for hidden storage (need to hide that stop sign red box!) So, I came up with the idea to slipcover the table.
Unfortunately I didn’t have enough fabric left over from my yard sale re-upholstered chair and the back of the bookcase project. But, I did have enough to cover just the top of the table.
Then I bought two small 4′ x 5′ painter’s drop cloths for $5 each. I am seriously addicted to these must have fabrics! I already used a pair for our laundry room curtains and I bleached another one to make grain sack valances for our dining room at a later date.
So, anyone remember their geometry class? I barely remembered enough to figure out that the circumference of my 3′ diameter table is 9.42 (π x diameter or 3.14 x 3= 9.42). Therefore, two 5′ wide cloths would just cover my table!
The first thing I did was trim the fabric around the tabletop allowing a 1″ overage for seam allowance.
Then I ironed the drop cloths, and decorative table top fabric. I hate ironing – I hardly ever iron. Usually I’ll just spritz water on my shirts or pants in the morning and they dry wrinkle free. Or if it is really wrinkled, I will dampen my clothing and toss them in the dryer for a few minutes.
Sometimes, I just have to break out the iron. But, I found a way to make ironing enjoyable. I set up my ironing board and watched a little HGTV or DIY Network while I de-wrinkle. Nothing like a hot DIY hunk to make me all steamy. Hee, hee.
I folded the top of the drop cloths so they just meet the table top and the bottom brushes the floor (this way I won’t have to hem the bottom.) Next I pinned the 2 drop cloth pieces around the table. Being sure to use lots of pins, since sewing around a curve can have a tendency to make the fabric pucker.
Then I stitched on top of the drop cloth, as close to the edge as I could. Being careful to avoid letting the fabric pucker.
After a few trial and errors, I got a smooth line and the drop cloth edges overlapped slightly.
Next the fun part! Digging in my grandmother’s button tin! She passed this down to my mother and somehow it ended up in my possession. (Shhhh, don’t tell my sisters!) I love this tin. The smell I encounter when I open the tin is part metal, part perfume, and 100% nostalgia.
I remember the feeling of running my fingers through the buttons. Isn’t this the prettiest eye candy? All those colors and textures.
<<snap of the fingers>> Okay, back to the project at hand. I chose four large brown buttons. Then eye-balled them on my slipcover and put a pin where each one would be attached.
I used a disappearing pen to mark the size of the button on the side that overlaps the other.
This is the first time I’ve used the buttonhole foot on my Brother CS-6000i sewing machine. (No, I’m not paid to endorse this sewing machine. I just can’t believe all the features it has for the $125 price!) I was impressed by the button holder that automatically tells the machine how big to make the hole.
The machine also has a feature where it can stitch your buttons on, but I knew it would take me longer to read and measure how to tell my machine where the holes in the buttons were. So, I sewed them on by hand.
O M G…I have my grandmother’s button tin, and she has been gone for almost 11 years. Every so often I open it just to smell…my husband thinks I am insane!
You aren’t crazy, just sentimental. I do the same thing ;-).
Adorable! I just might have to find an excuse to try out the button holer (sp?) on my sewing machine.
http://theboutons.blogspot.com
that is so cute. I love the buttons that you used and the print on top. Very fun project!
XOXO
Jen
That is so cute. I love the buttons! Thanks for sharing the details, I'll be linking.
I love the table top – way to add that "yes, a girl lives here, too" aspect. I'm surrounded by testosterone here in our house, so I appreciated seeing the pic with the boys.
Wonderful idea! I also have a tin of old buttons that were my great grandmother's. Sometimes I just run my fingers through them and remember playing with them when I was little and now I try to incorporate them in my craft projects whenever I can.
Britt, I'm in love with your blog despite the fact that I simply don't have the patience for the type of projects you take on. Not enough garage time or power tools involved. I need to come by and see the house and all the nifty stuff you have done. Keep it up! Great blog too.
Chris
dadofalltrades.com
😛 Before I even read, "shhhh, don't tell my sisters", I was stamping my feet!!!! YOU BRAT! I am GLAD you are enjoying them though. I have G'ma Heagy's kelly green embroidered tablecloth and linens. Remind me to show them to you while you are here, in case you have a project for them. I am not letting you near G'ma Mac's afghan though!
Gosh, that looks lovely! What a great way to spice up a corner. The button detail takes it another level. Great work!
I love old buttons! My mom actually passed down a lot of buttons from my great-grandmother. I love to use them because they are unique and special!
Hannah
http://youngancrafty.blogspot.com/
I think I want to do this for my kitchen table!
I am so glad I found your blog. You are amazing. You don't do anything halfway.
Oh my what can’t you do? I just looked through a few of your older post and it seems that you are 1 craft AND handy lady…..just like your title says!
Love how you keep your extra buttons in a bowl. I never know where to put mine and they end up being scattered all throughout the house.
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!
Kendra “Domestic Princess in Training”