You know the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover?" Well now your guests won't judge your favorite, albeit hideously floral, couch either. All they'll see is a crisp slip cover, made by you. Follow these simple, do it yourself steps to make a slip cover and take a well-deserved seat. Your guests will too.
Fabric
First thing's first, pick out your fabric. Pay attention to the hues in the room where the chair will sit. PIck something that draws out the color of your walls and doesn't clash with other existing furniture. You can find inexpensive fabric at most department stores or local sewing stores like Fields Fabrics.
Pinning
Remove the seat cushion from the chair, and cut large rectangles in your fabric (or in a sheet to use as a template) and drape them over the arms, the back and the backrest of the chair. pin the fabric as you go, and trim the extra away when pinning is completed. Leave a small seam, about two inches, around the outside of where you have pinned. Label the various parts of the chair using masking tape.
If you are using a sheet or other fabric as a template, remove the template and cut pieces out of your slip cover fabric to match the template pieces. Re-pin the slip cover fabric INSIDE OUT, and make sure it fits properly, and snuggly, onto your chair.
Sewing
Use straight stitch on the sewing machine to sew up the edges that are pinned. Fit the slip cover onto your chair to make sure it fits. You may have to rip some seams out and re-sew them.
Repeat the same process to cover the chair cushion.
The Finished Product
To adhere the slip cover to the chair, you can use a stapler to attach the loose fabric the to underside. Or if you want to be able to remove the slip cover with ease, use velcro or pins to attach the fabric.
Written by: Erika Fifelski was born and raised in West Michigan, and after a brief stint on the sunrise side, she's home and loving it. Erika enjoys cooking, sewing, vacuuming, and discovering new ways to live sustainably and support local businesses. Photo: Kym McLeod
