As Promised....FiNaLLy.....The Slipcover Tutorial!

Hi there sweet gals!

Ok......here we go ....the slipcover tutorial as promised.

She's a homely little gal....but she's gonna be a cutie!

Let me first say that I am NOT a slipcover expert, just a gal that loves popping some fabric on furniture to give it a new lease on life. :-) So, I'll explain the process the best I can.

I don't have any special equipment.... I do have a lovely sewing machine, but I don't have a serger or anything else....so you'll be able to do this with the standard sewing items.

My first advice would be to save pictures of every single slipcover you run across. It will be helpful to look at the construction of different styles of chair and sofas.

You'll need, scissors, t-pins, straight pins, measuring tape (the sewing type) and lots and lots and lots of patience! :-)

I don't care what the fabric label says....I ALWAYS prewash my fabric at least twice. I'm making these so they can be washed....so I'm tough. I've never had a fabric bleed, but they do shrink. You wouldn't want that to happen AFTER you've gone to all that work!

**Edit**

This could be a great project for canvas drop cloths.....I'm soooo into those right now! If you need a lot of fabric, however, it would be impossible to match dye lots.

And, DO cut your cording fabric on the bias. You won't be able to do the curves if you don't. And, polyester cording is the easiest to use.....it's more pliable than cotton cording. :-)

The beginning piece will be the inside back of your piece of furniture. You'll measure that part from top to bottom and side to side and cut your fabric about 4-6 inches bigger than that measurement.


Spend a little bit of time putting that piece exactly as you want it onto the back of the chair. It will be right side out. Pull it snug with fabric hanging off all around. You'll need to be sure that you have plenty of fabric at the bottom, that will be your tuck in area.

You'll be making the slipcover right on your piece. There is no pattern ...it's fairly easy if you think of your cording as your pattern.

This is where the magic happens. You've used your T-pins to attach your fabric piece to your chair. Then, you'll pin your cording to that bit of fabric.....leaving the ends long enough if you're going to be running that portion down the chair or sofa. This is where the pictures you've saved will come in handy. You'll know if you're going to add a skirt or whatever past this bit and will need to extend your cording.

Carefully remove the t-pins and sew this piece of cording to your back piece.

See the cording extending beyond the bottom?

This is where it gets exciting. You'll be surprised at how simple it is.

Carefully put the piece you've just completed back onto the chair. This will be with the right side facing the chair. T-pin it to the chair.

Now you're going to cut the second piece. Again, 5-7 inches bigger than the actual measurement (side to side and top to bottom).

Carefully pin that to the first piece then remove it to sew it together.

Turn it right side out and pop that finished bit back on your chair and let out a big WHOOOOPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!


It's like MAGIC!!

It actually looks like "something" now! You'll be so proud.

This is where the little tuck-in part comes in. I think you can see how that's going to work now?

I'm sure hoping I'm making sense here. :-)

Next up.....the deck.

You won't be sewing this to the back piece yet.

Cut that piece for the seat again about 5-7 inches bigger than the seat measurement.

Pin it carefully to the seat with t-pins. Pin your cording to that piece with straight pins and whip it off to sew it together.

Now, this bit is a bit tricky, but you can do it! Mistakes get hidden in the little crevice at the back so don't worry too much.

The back piece is on right side out. The bottom piece is on right side out. You'll carefully make yourself a little seam with the raw bits tucked inside. It just makes it easier...I wish I could explain that better.

Yikes.....this is the part where I pull my hair out. You won't do this part on a cushioned chair, so I actually think they're lots easier. This is the finesse part. I wanted the cording on the right to come over to the cording on the left which goes downward. You'll need to fuss and play with it a bit. Remember, you can snip to make the fabric cooperate, but be careful not to clip it too short!

Pin it carefully and sew that baby up.

I tried to get a better picture of this, but I just couldn't do it. I hope you can get the idea.

Some people simply glue the raw edge of the cording fabric, but that's not my choice. Feel free to do that if you like though.

I cut one end of my cord down into the fabric. Meaning, the cording is hiding down there, the seam is open for about an inch and there's a bit of fabric leftover. I cut the other end down flat. Then I fold the longer end over leaving a bit of fabric and tuck that raw bit down inside.

Yeah, I know that didn't really make sense....I'm sure hoping you can understand what I meant.

Like I said....I ain't no teacher! :-)

Next is the box that goes around the bottom......sometimes you'll want this part and sometimes you may not. You can attach a ruffled skirt without this piece, but usually I like it...it's your choice.

You'll do this with the entire slipcover on the chair, inside out. Measure around the chair leaving a bit of a seam allowance and stitch it together. It's starting to look like something, isn't it?

Oh yes.....you're going to be so excited!

You can finish it up at this point by hemming the bottom if you're not a skirt kind of gal, but I always add a little something. Nothing minimalist about me!

I've used tiny little ruffles, pleats or a long ruffle. It's all up to you.

I always go back and zig-zag all the seams. I want these to be able to be washed regularly....

Ta Da!

This is the part where you'll get goose bumps and thank Jesus for seeing you through.

It is a challenge, but you can do it. Take your time........measure twice and cut once.

Think ahead a little bit so you can be sure you're leaving enough fabric or cording to attach your next piece to.

Ok my sweets!

Go out and zip yourself up a slippie!

I think it's easier to fit them snugly, but you might want yours sort of sloppy....that's good too.....just plan on leaving more fabric.

Big, huge huggies and lovies.....

Spence