How to Make Bar Stool Covers

I needed to replace the worn out covers on my bar stools in the kitchen, I saw these really cute blue jean fabric bar stool covers at a local pub and set to work on making my own bar stool covers. I chose to use Levi's blue jeans as they are a durable fabric and will hold up well. When choosing a fabric for your bar stools choose a durable thick heavy duty fabric, so it will hold up for a long time.

Here's what you will need:

staple gun & staples

fabric

cotton batting-if you want to replace the old batting

Scotch guard fabric spray

piece of cardboard-to trace shape of seat with

flathead screwdriver

Scissors or utility knife

heavy cardboard

rubber band

1) Okay to start turn your stool upside down and with a flathead screwdriver remove all staples that are holding your old cover on.

2) Once you get the cover off of your stool, place your piece of cardboard on the floor, turn your bar stool upside down and place it on your cardboard, trace the seat.

3) Using your scissors or utility knife cut out your cardboard seat pattern and set aside.

4) Place your cotton batting on the stool and smooth out and trim around the edges or you can use your cardboard pattern to trace seat and then trim batting, whatever is easier for you.

5) Place your piece of fabric over cotton batting, gather the draping fabric together under the seat and pull tight to the middle and rubber band the fabric.

6) Turn your stool upside down.

7) While pulling your fabric tight, starting on the outer edges of seat, start stapling, and continue all the way around.

8) Hold the extra fabric that is held together with the rubber band and trim down, (like cutting a ponytail).

9) Remove the rubber band.

10) Take your heavy cardboard, place it in the middle, and place it on top of the fabric and staples.

11) Then take your staple gun again and staple the cardboard all the way around and some in the middle (the cardboard piece helps hold the fabric in place better than without it, and gives the underside of the seat a cleaner look).

12) Then turn your stool right side up and spray several coats of scotch guard fabric spray (let spray dry in between coats) use 2 coats at least, so fabric will resist food stains.

Now you're done, you can enjoy your new stool cover and it will hold up for several years before needing to be replaced.

I have included two pictures one of the cover and the other the bottom of seat cover so you can see how it was put together, I get many compliments on my bar stools and people always ask me where I bought my stools. They are shocked when I told them I just re used my old bar stools & worn out blue jeans to give them a new look. I made these bar stool covers 4 years ago and you can tell by the picture it holds up well to abuse as my sons cat claws on the covers all the time and there are no rips or tears in the seat covers.