Fabric Covered Flower Pots - Picture Tutorial

Make fabulous, colorful and unique flower pots to brighten up your space! This tutorial will help you cover terra cotta pots of ANY size, not just small ones.

14” terra cotta pot covered with fabric. See notes below for fabric source.

14” wide terra cotta pot covered with fabric. See notes below for fabric source.

I’m beyond thrilled with how this project turned out! I’m going to be sharing below how to create amazing, expensive-looking (not $$$), terra cotta pots covered in fabric. There are tons of tutorials on Pinterest for painting them, and very few with fabric. I didn’t find a single one for covering a pot bigger than just a few inches. So, here you go! After reading several tutorials, hearing what worked and what didn’t, I came up with an effective plan that explains how to cover larger pots that turn out amazing.

This tutorial will walk you through the best supplies for this project, and how to create some amazing flower pots to really add some vibrant color to your yard, patio, porch or interior space. I absolutely love Talavera pottery, but spending well over $100 on ONE large pot is definitely pricey. I wanted something that matched the vibrancy and color, that was at a lower price point. After seeing a few very basic fabric wrapped flower pots, I knew there was a way to create just what I was looking for. I also know exactly why each Talavera, hand painted pot is so expensive! It’s art and takes so much time to make. I also experimented hand painting a few...used stencils - I’d rate that a D and then also used my leopard sponges (from a past Halloween pumpkin), which turned out really great too. (You can see a picture of the leopard sponge stencil one at the very bottom.) Case in point - the fabric is best!!!

First, some tips for fabric, pot shape, and level of difficulty.

I’m an experienced crafter, seamstress, and patternmaker. I’ve got tips below for novice level, that will lead to a successful project!

1) Select the right size/ shape of pot for you. The larger the pot, the more care you’ll need when covering. Flat and simpler shape pots will allow for easier covering. There are examples below of what I mean by this. With patience you can cover whichever size/shape you select. If you plan to make multiple pots, it’s easier to use several of the exact same size, so you can reuse the pattern you’ll create. If you’d like children to help with this project, definitely start with the small $1-2 mini terra cotta pots. They will turn out super cute and if they don’t turn out perfect, no biggie at all. It’s all about the creative process ; D

2) Fabric: You can use any light to medium weight fabric, but lighter weight fabrics work better and require less Mod Podge. Quilting fabric / basic sheeting weight cotton is ideal. I wanted to experiment with the vibrancy of of a synthetic fabric (woven) and found it definitely more challenging to work with a satin weave due to it fraying a lot (which I expected). All in all, try to stick to cotton based, but if you find a synthetic fabric that you are absolutely in love with, it will work, just be a little more patient. Also, the more sporadic the pattern, the better for a curved pot. Using a very geometric pattern with a grid will not look good for these, unless you are using it on a square or cylinder pot (see my pics below). This is also a great project if you have small pieces of fabric scraps, great for mini pots!

3) Can I rush this project? NO. Trust me, no. It’s hard to be patient in-between coats of paint, Mod Podge, etc. but the end results of layering properly will be totally worth it. There is no short cutting drying time.

4) Plan ahead: This project has multiple layers of paint, Mod Podge and sealant. I suggest starting the project when you have a few days, a week or longer to space out the steps. Some steps take 2 min, where others take 15.

5) Paint: Spray paint vs. hand painting. Highly recommend spray paint for the even coating and ease. However, if you are like me and either have acrylic paint on hand and/or love the color of (and can’t match in spray), you can hand paint these with a brush.

Materials:

- Terra cotta flower pots, or glass vases / jar (an empty candle jar is perfect for repurposing)
- Fabric of choice: You’ll need enough to wrap around you pot(s) and allow for the curve of the pot, plus a little bit extra. I have my exact fabrics listed below.
- Outdoor Mod Podge
- Rustoleum Triple Thick Glaze
- Paint: Spray paint or canned paint (it shouldn’t matter if it’s acrylic or oil based)
- Paint brush (optional)
- Paper for pattern: tissue paper, packing paper or newspaper
- Tape
- Pencil
- Sponge brush / small paint brush to apply Mod Podge
- Straight pins
- Scissors
- Risers for painting/ glazing pots. Small cans of pant work well, as do other small pots.

Please read through the steps thoroughly before you begin. The steps below are also repeated more simplistically at the bottom with pictures so you can follow along, step by step.

Detailed Steps. Steps with Pictures, Scroll to Down:

1) Create pattern for you pot(s). These do not need to be perfect! This is a guideline for you to cut your fabric and you can allow room for error. Also note, the fabric will stretch naturally as it goes around the pot, so you have more room to manipulate it fitting to the right shape as you need it to. Think of a dough, you can stretch it or smush it to get into the shape you want. While the fabric isn’t as flexible, you will have room to play. Tape the paper to your pot, working your way around, marking the top and bottom edges with a pencil. Clip fabric with scissors as you go to allow it to bend around the curves. Tape as needed so it will stay in place. Mark overlap line. When all edges are marked, gently remove the pattern and cut excess of, while still leaving about 1” on the bottom border for fabric to wrap to the bottom of your pot.

2) You’ll first need to seal your terra cotta posts with the sealant, as water naturally absorbs into the clay over time, if you don’t. You do NOT want water seeping into your pot. Spray entire terra cotta pot with Triple Thick glaze to waterproof it. You do NOT want water going from the inside of the pot to the exterior, so this step is crucial. You need to cover the inside, outside and bottom. Let dry.

3) Paint pot as desired. This could be the top border, entire inside, etc. Remember there will be dirt in it when it’s complete. I chose to fully cover the insides of my pots for a better visual, and as an additional layer between plant water and my fabric. Let dry. Repeat coat if necessary. Let dry.

4) Cut your fabric with your pattern piece. Pin pattern piece to fabric. I recommend you cut the top fabric edge (where it meets your pot border or where the top of your pot is) exactly how you want it and not leave any extra. This will be your baseline, and the bottom of the pot is where the extra/ overlap fabric will hang out. Leave about 1” of extra at the bottom edge of your fabric, so it can wrap to the underside of the pot, with no exposed edges showing. Keep at least 2” extra on the right side of your pattern, more is ok too, it will just get trimmed later. Start the left side of your pattern on an ideal location on your fabric. Your fabric will be wrapping around so having a spot that can appear somewhat seamless is ideal.

5) Begin applying fabric to your pot using the Mod Podge. Start with the left straight edge of your fabric, and align the top edge of the fabric to the border or top of pot. Apply Mod Podge to this first area, and reposition if needed. Continue working your way around the pot, applying Mod Podge as you go and continually lining up the top of the fabric with your border. You will notice your fabric overhang at the bottom - work this down as you go, folding fabric as needed to create a smooth transition from the side of the pot to the bottom. Seal raw edge well. As you approach the starting place of the fabric you’ll need to overlap the fabric. Let the fabric pattern repeat dictate where to overlap for the smoothest visual transition. You can have 1/4” overlap or a 3” overlap. Do what looks best and works. Seal raw edge well. If you have a tricky spot in your fabric, where no matter how you reposition it, it just won’t lay flat enough, simply cut the fabric slightly. Then overlap the cut edges to get the bump to go away. Seal edges well. Let dry.

6) Reapply Mod Podge for 2nd and 3rd coat, drying in-between coats. Let final coat cure completely.

7) Seal with Triple Thick Glaze. Let dry completely.

8) Celebrate! And plant some beautiful flowers or plants in your new pot!

Questions:

1) Do these hold up outside? YES! I have had mine out for almost an entire year and they look excellent. We have hot summers and cold winters and they have faired perfectly.

2) Can I water my plants/flowers like normal? YES! They have been super waterproofed.

3) If part of my fabric comes up over time, what do I do? Reseal it with Mod Podge as needed. Let cure completely before watering plants again.

4) What fabric did you use? I used several.
- Colorful Ikat from New Branch Studios available on Spoonflower.  (Fat Quarter)
- Bohemian Rhapsody by Groovity available on Spoonflower   (Fat Quarter)
- Floral Rose Teal Poly/Cotton from Walmart  (available by the yard)
- Leftover fabric scraps from prior projects

5) What shape/ size of pots are easiest to cover? Cube or cylinder shaped pots are the easiest because the pattern piece is a rectangle and you are just wrapping the rectangle around the pot. Pots with curves have pattern pieces that naturally have to curve to go around them. It is completely doable to cover the curved pots, so don’t let that hold you back at all. If you want to test your hand, I do recommend starting with a flat pot to get the hang of it. Smaller pots are also a great way to practice before you move onto a larger pot. The great thing with the fabric & Mod Podge technique is it can be repositioned, if needed as you work your way around.

These are the 2 pots that were the easiest to cover because the pattern piece is a rectangle. Cylinder on the left and cube on the right. Also, this fabric is a geometric and worked well with these shapes. However, this pattern design would not work well on a curved pot.

I have NO idea how I was so late to the Spoonflower party, but wowzers, am I glad I discovered this designers dream, create your own fabric website! If you aren’t familiar with Spoonflower, go get engulfed, I mean peruse, their offerings. Such a fun rabbit hole for someone like me, Fashion Designer by trade and creative in nature. I love how independent designers can share their designs and anyone can use them to create beautiful fabric.

I want to give a huge shoutout and thank you to Melissa Pedersen at New Branch Studio for helping edit the colors on the Colorful Ikat to get them just right. Not only did I use Colorful Ikat - bright blues (turquoise/teal) for these pots, but I also printed it on Celoisa Velvet too, for an accent pillow for my living room, which is gorgeous!! My obsession with velvet is a topic for another day ; )

Steps to covering your pot, with pictures:

1) Create pattern piece for your pot(s). Review detailed instructions above, if needed. The below pot is a 14” wide pot, for size reference.

Paper has been wrapped around flower pot to create pattern. Top and bottom edges marked with pencil. Overlap point is the vertical line you see. Notice how I’ve clipped the paper to allow the paper to bend around the curves. Tape as needed. Mark top and bottom of pot to ensure you know which way is up on your pattern ; )

Cut paper edges shorter if it is in your way.

Clip and fold paper pieces over so they aren’t in your way. Tape into place and work your way around the pot.

Final pattern piece shape. Trim bottom edge to 1” below pencil line. Cut top edge on the pencil line. You do not want extra fabric at your top edge. Add 2” + to the “overlap” line so you have extra room to blend fabric pattern. Fold over tape so no sticky part is exposed. Mark top and bottom of your pot, size of pot, etc.

2) Seal terra cotta pots with Triple Thick glaze. Let dry completely. Skip step if using glass. No picture.

3) Paint pot as desired. Apply 2nd coat if needed. Let dry completely.

3) Cut your fabric while pots are drying. Pin pattern piece to fabric and cut out. Repeat if you have additional fabric / pots of the exact same size.

4) When all paint coats are dry begin applying fabric to pots with Mod Podge. Start at the “left” vertical edge. Left meaning as it is shown in the below picture. Notice how the true top edge is lined up with the purple border, and creates a clean line at the edge of the pot. All extra fabric should extended towards the true bottom of the pot, as shown. Brush the Mod Podge on, securing the left side, and continuing all the way around the pot. Work fabric down onto the bottom of the pot, folding fabric as needed to create as smooth as edge as possible. Remember, this is the bottom of the pot, and you will barely, barely see these fold when the pot is standing correctly.

5) Allow 1st coat of Mod Podge to dry, per instructions, and repeat 2nd and optional 3rd coat. You may notice with a thicker fabric you need 3 coats, but a thinner fabric may only need 2. It should be sealed very well, when coats are complete and dry.

6) Allow last coat of Mod Podge to CURE per instructions. This is longer than the dry in-between coats.

7) Seal entire pot with Triple Thick Glaze - inside and outside for one good, final coat. You will need to do this in 2 steps, so you can coat everything evenly. Allow to dry completely.

8) Celebrate your beautiful new creation!

Happy Crafting!

Notice this fabric does not have a geometric design shape to it. It worked really well with a curved pot.

This is a recycled candle jar which I covered in the same method. It perfectly holds a 3” sized plastic potted plant and allows for drainage. Also easy to cover since the shape is a cylinder.

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