Make a Tuffet MCM style

Make a Tuffet MCM style with basic sewing skills and materials from the hardware store.  The footstool is cleaned lined with a classic geometric fabric reminiscent of patterns made popular during the Mid Century Modern period.  The MCM style is very trendy today with young couples purchasing homes that were built in the late 50’s and 60’s.  I live in a 60’s rambler so it will be perfect in my house.

Materials for a Tuffet MCM style:

• Tuffet 
• 3/4 yard Robert Kaufman Canvas 
• 3/4 yard Robert Kaufman Geo Pop 2 fabric
• Rope Trim
• pencil
• scissors
• Sewing Machine and thread
• Serger (optional)
• Zipper Foot
• Seam Ripper (optional)
• staple gun
• staples
• scissors
• flat head screwdriver or  staple lifter (optional)
• Power Drill with Phillips Head bit
• Wood disk and wood feet ( Home Depot)
• Paint brush and DecoArt Paint
  

Instructions for Tuffet MCM style:

1. Cut 4 eleven inch squares of fabric and sew them together to form a 2o inch square.
2. Place the tuffet cushion in the centre of the fabric, and trace the circle 2 inches bigger than needed.  I surged the edge but you do not have to.
3. Cut your rope trim to size and add an extra two inches.
   Better to have more than enough than to cut it too close. Line up its raw edge along the raw edge of the top panel. You will be attaching it to the right side of the fabric. Start sewing about 2” down from the start of the piping.
4. Pin the two together and set your machine to baste stitch. At this point, you are just basting, so there is no need to get too close to the cord.
5. Cut fabric for side panel and surge one edge.  Again, you do not have to surge the edge but I do.
6. Line up the side panel with the edge of the top panel. Start sewing with a basting stitch about 2” down from the top. You will be sewing a 5/8” seam.  This will hide the basting stitches from earlier.
7. When you’ve sewn around the perimeter, remove the pieces from the machine and line up the edges for a custom fit. Do this by marking a straight line on both ends of the panel where they should be sewn together and pin them in place. (Make a test fit as shown in the image below.)
8. The zipper foot allows you to get close to the piping-use a regular stitch to sew the pieces together.
9. Trim off the excess seam allowance, iron open, and sew along the piped edge to ensure that it’s completely closed.
   
10. Place the fabric over the cushion. Pull taught but do not distort the shape. Place the wood base on top of the cushion. Pull fabric up over edge firmly but not so much you pull the pattern out of shape. Place three staples approximately two inches from outside edge.
11. Place three more staples on the opposite side of the first three then do the same on the left side and the right side
12. Pull firmly on the unstapled sections, smoothing as you go and staple in place after one section is stapled and smooth.
13. Repeat step 11 until all the fabric is smooth and stapled into place. If you make any errors remove the stapled area and rework.
14. Cut off excess fabric up to about 1/2′ from staples
15. Add the brackets for the feet and then add the feet.   You can add the brackets before or after you staple the fabric.  Your choice.
16. I painted my feet with polyurethane to protect it from spills.  How you finish the feet is your choice.

Now that you have read the Tuffet MCM style instructions I hope you are ready to make your own. If you would like to see another stool with a similar style and great fabric check out this tutorial.