Miss Muffet sat on her Tuffet!

These two adorable cousins are our Grandchildren! Emma who is almost 6 months in this picture and Julia who turned 1, sitting on her tuffet!!

A tuffet, pouffe or hassock is a piece of furniture used as a footstool or low seat. It is distinguished from a stool by being completely covered in cloth so that no legs are visible. It is essentially a large hard cushion that may have an internal wooden frame to give it more rigidity. Wooden feet may be added to the base to give it stability, at which point it becomes a stool or a footstool. If the piece is larger, with storage space inside it, then it is generally known as an ottoman.

A couple of years ago I took a "Tuffet" class with my friend Fawn, from Myra at Northwest Quiltworks in Bellevue,Wa. We had so much fun and started making  the cutest little footstools/child's tuffet. I thought, what a perfect gift for a child! They just love to sit and have their Mom, Dad, Grandpa or Grandma read them a story. Story time was big in my children's lives, they still remember that special time. And now, I am making these tuffet's for my Grandchildren, on their first Birthday, so that they can have their own special seat for story time. Wee Bear buys three story books to complete our traditional 1st Birthday gift to our grandchildren. To date of January 2017 I have made 10 tuffets for my grandchildren and a few others as gifts. I have one more to make the end of 2017, for grand child number 11.

Note the hand painted muffin feet. I used acrylic paint and painted each muffin foot to resemble a different ball; basketball, Titliest Pro-V 1 golf ball, football and a baseball. I also embroidered a sports clothes line as part of my signature label, the down loadable pattern on Embroidery Library.

 

Cute at a Button- Madison's first Birthday Party!
 For Madison Lee's First Birthday I made a elasticized secondary cover for her early years. I added tulle for a tutu around the outer cover. If you have a ruff and tumble child, I would not recommend, as it is delicate, but, washable in lingerie bag. I added cute buttons and thin ribbon around the edges. Below is Madison Lee and the permanent cover pictured below Madison's picture.

 

This is Fawn's first tuffet. Gorgeous warm colors..........

I just love my little foot stool, it adds a perk to my room!

Olivia's first Birthday brought some new idea's into mind. If I made a tuffet for her to sit on when she was young, it would most likely get dirty. So, hmmmmm.....why not make a cover, themed with her favorite story, nursery theme or character, that is elasticized so it could be washed?? I made two covers, the permanent cover "teen cover" and a cover that I elastized, for her toddler years. Olivia's Mom decided that her 1st Birthday theme was "Princess Minnie Mouse". I made the cover using a sparkle embossed cotton pink fabric and white. My friend Fawn, who owns a embroidery business, embroidered "Princess Olivia" on it and I embellished the button with Minnie's head and a tiara. Adorable!! 

 This tuffet for Julia's Owl themed First Birthday was made with the same idea, a secondary cover for her early years. This time I added tulle for a tutu around the outer cover. If you have a ruff and tumble child, I would not recommend, as it is delicate, but, washable in a lingerie bag.

I added Julia's name with my new embroidery machine!

Julia's nursery is a WHOOOOOT!! So beautiful!

Julia's "Teen Tuffet" was made with a lot of her Mom and Dad's favorite college team's colors!

This is Cooper's tuffet done in Seahawk fabric! I took chenille trim and sewed between every four wedges.

Myra Mitchell created this pattern and it is copy written. You can buy the pattern at Quiltworks Northwest or take a class from her there. I found her square tuffet pattern which was featured in a magazine, on the internet. To purchase the round pattern you may contact Myra at her e-mail - mmitchell@w-link.net or call her directly at  425-392-5798. 

Square pattern on internet at- http://www.quiltershomemag.com/pdf/tuffetwebpatt.pdf

Classes or purchase of pattern-
Gossypium Quilt Shop
355 NW Gilman Blvd ste 102
Isaaquah, Wa 98027
Phone 425-557-7878
 

Mackenzie's tuffet - the outer cover is a "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" theme. The permanent cover is a tone on tone fabric of dots, rainbow.

I always personalize my quilt or tuffet. Here is a sample on Julia's tuffet.

This Tuffet I made for my niece, Cierra, who had just graduated high school. She has started going to a community college. I made a secondary cover, but she loves the permanent cover. I added two different trims with a glue gun to give it the look I was wanting.

Supplies for this project include:

1/8 yard of 15 to 20 fabrics (or 64 different fabrics)
6" square of coordinating fabric
5/8 yard of coordinating fabric
2 yards (12 ounce) upholstery batting
2 yards muslin
roll of freezer paper
12" Add-A-Quarter Ruler  (Quiltworks or other quilt shops)
2 1/2 " Button for covering or a button of your choice (I found at Pacific fabrics, Seattle)
3/4" plywood (ONLY) 18" round board (I had my friend Mike cut me a entire piece of plywood into rounds, Thanks Mike!)
2-3" X 18X18 or 1-6"X 18"X18" Piece of Foam Rubber (I found at Pacific Fabrics in Seattle, and they cut it for you, just bring your pattern)
Upholstery Spray Adhesive
Upholstery thread
12" Upholstery needle
Bun feet or Wood legs (Lowe's or http://www.cabinetparts.com/c/wood-products-bun-feet?gclid=CP7ox-vOtbMCFeGDQgod-VAA6g)
Primer(Kilz spray) (for feet)
paint- several colors or stain (for feet)
Spray sealer- flat, satin or high gloss
medium grade sand paper
Drill and 5/16 drill bit
4 tee nuts 5/16" X 1/2"
4 Hanger bolts 5/16"X2 1/2"
Staple gun and staples
Optional accessories: beads, soutache braid, piping, tulle or ruffles 

Here are some pictures of the work party I had to prepare the base for Julia's tuffet. We had so much fun!!

 

This is the adhesive I use for adhering the two foam pieces together and onto the board.

Stapling the two layers of batting to the base.

Stapling the cover over the batting.

I use a electric staple gun, easier on the hand.

I have several tips that may or may not be included in your pattern. 

1. Wash all your fabrics to preshrink the fabric.
2. The feet can be bought at Lowe's or on line
3. The Hanger Bolts need to be 2 1/2", replace the bolts that come with the feet, if they are included.
4. I finish the bottom of the feet with felt 

 Here you see the fabrics I chose for Julia's nursery tuffet cover and the bolder fabrics for her teen tuffet.

This tuffet is so fun to make, and my Grandchildren and their parents just love it! The black and white one I made for myself is really fun and adds a punch to the room it is in! It makes a nice extra seat when you have a crowd! This would be a very nice gift for Christmas/Hanukkah  for a loved one or one of your Grandchildren! Or, make in collegiate color's for a college student! Cut the mascot or logo for top of button.