My Husband may not want more pillows for the office bean bag (spoiler alert: he got them!). However he does need an ottoman under his desk to alleviate the 9 to 5 leg fatigue as well as the work-from-home perils of cats determined to be in his lap making for some surprisingly uncomfortable positioning. Now at last, my Stuffed Pumpkin Ottoman expertise can be put to good use thanks to some Minecraft themed fabric!
Seen previously in my Treat Yourself Haul three years ago, these two full Minecraft bolts were $14 each at Goodwill. While the blue sword print material has already been put to use as a duvet covert with matching pillowcases, these aren't the softest cotton and this green bolt actually says it's not intended for children's pajamas. What then was I to do with it? Alas, this green print is ideal for a square ottoman design befitting the game's grassy building blocks. Initially I intended this as a no-sew, all hot glue one day project. However the shorter fabric width meant I couldn't cut out three downward blocks and three sideways blocks to create a six sided square to stuff as one whole piece. Instead, two pieces were required with four panels that would be the bottom, back, top, and right side while a separate piece would be the front and left side. Thankfully, unlike my original Black and Orange Polka Dot Skirt Attempt, the direction of the Minecraft print didn't matter. Although I originally wanted to do a twenty inch square, the eighteen inch cardboard piece I used to measure, trace, and base my block panels turned out to be plenty big enough! Maybe even too big – if one's office wasn't already a slightly comical area of video games, collectibles, and Minecraft Curtains.
After cutting my shapes, I realized that if my sewing machine cooperated – unlike with the Cheap Elsa Costume – sewing these straight lines would be a lot faster then folding all the seams and hot gluing them slow and pretty. Fortunately, these quality materials went smoothly with no tension issues, threads breaking, or jams. After turning the giant square right side out, it was time to put in the simple cardboard base and stuff this mother! I used the last of the leftover recycled denim packaging I saved layered with more random Styrofoam and plastic bags. Sometimes trash comes in handy! My mother had also previously given me foam blocks from before she retired as a manager at TJX. These were actually boot packing supports that she thought I might like to use as more Candy Cane Christmas Candles, teehee. While I was in this stitch and stuff phase, I also used two odd rectangle panels from my two piece cut out and put them together to make a matching pillow, because why not? The world is harsh, we need more pillows – especially cute ones that work out unlike my Wonky Halloween Pillows.
After pinning the top, this giant ottoman was easy to hand sew closed just like a pillow. I refer to the top, but this fun block can really be tossed and turned in any direction. The soft lines and comfortable filling make for a fine place to sit or put up your feet as intended. The cats have already given it their seal of approval, and that seemingly too large size means there is enough room to put up your feet and have a cat sit on it, too – if they let that happen, that is! It does bug me, however, that thanks to the two wrapped panel corners, this isn't a perfect looking square as per the game. Had I sewn all six panels individually and maybe lined each of those seams with a thin cardboard strip, this might have been a more rigid design. If this was a formal living room piece, I probably would have gone all out with the curved upholstery needle, wood supports, piping, and fancy trims. Fortunately, that's not necessary for this fun under the desk comfort. Besides, I don't have to live with this project – my Husband does, hehe. 😁
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