My suggestion would be for you to first make the slipcover in inexpensive muslin. Use the basting stitch on your machine, so you can easily make adjustments. Once it fits perfectly, take it apart and use the muslin as your pattern.

Good luck.

Maddielee has the perfect suggestion. I made a slipcover for my platform rocker a few years back. I'm one of those (crazy) people who make their own patterns and kind of wing it. The slipcover did turn out well . . . if you don't look at the details too closely! Next time, I'll try the muslin first!

Maddielee has made a great suggestion. I made fitted slipcovers for 2 sofas and a chair and did just what maddie suggested. I bought muslin, played with it and cut it into patterns and then basted it. When I finally had it right I actually made the slipcovers useing the muslin as a pattern. I really don't sew, but they really look great if you don't look at the details too closely.

I bought some cheapo slipcovers until I can actually have a chunk of time to make my own . . .but in the meantime, I found some great books at the library. I think piping gives a slipcover such a finished look, but since I don't know how to sew (maybe you do!) I am going to practice on making pillows with piping, then eventually move onto the slipcovers.

The book Simply Slicovers by Sunset Books is the one I've found most helpful- breaks everything down very clearly. If you already know how to sew I doubt you'd need it, but if you're a beginner like I am, it may be of help. (I'm guessing since you were in a fabric store you're not a beginner, so this post is probably not very helpful!)

Of course, you should also pre-shrink your fabric before you cut it if you intend to wash the slipcover (and even if you don't then preshrink with steam.) I would never make a slipcover without this step even if I intended to dry-clean it for most of its life. Eventually, I know I'd want to wash it and still have it fit even at that late stage.

Make sure any lining material that you plan to use (like for skirts or pleats) has the same, or less stringent fabric-care characteristics. Pre-shrink, or wash it, as well. I'd also wash scraps of both to discover if one, or more colors run.

Regarding piping, if you are going to pipe the slipcover, I recommend removing the existing piping if there is some on the upholstery now. Two layers of piping can make the piece look odd, plus the under-layer bump tends to soil very easily. You can cut it off with a carefully-wielded mat knife.

Piping is easy to make: particularly if you use bias strips of the fabric or contrast fabric. (Of course occasionally you can buy pre-made piping in a shade you'd like, but I haven't always been happy with it, quality-wise.)

I always make a new, linen, tight cover for anything I'm going slipcover. This can serve as the model for the slipcover, or not, as you prefer. If you don't make a permanent cover of the muslin or linen, then keep it rolled up so the next time you can easily make another slipcover for this chair. Just write on every piece which item it is for, and which way the fabric grain should run.

If the padding, webbing or upholstery need perking up, the time to do this is before you invest time in making the slipcover.

I sometimes make twice as many seat cushion covers since I have pets and they aren't good at keeping off. Then alternate them in use to keep them looking roughly like the rest of the cover.

If you can't manage zippers, you can buy gripper tape or use velcro, or in some cases ties.

And keep in mind that slipcovers aren't supposed to look taut like upholstery. The look is usually slight loose. I always need to remind myself of this once I've finished a slipcover project as I am so critical of my own sewing.

Oh, and if your fabric doesn't have a clear, undisputed overall pattern to it, do you self a favor and before you cut it run contrasting basting threads at intervals parallel to the selvedge so you never lose track of which way is with the grain and which would be a railroad placement.

Try to look at a good book on slip covers before you plan your project. There are some "rules" about where to place design elements for a large pattern, like a floral, in relation to seat back, arms, seat, etc. It's worthwhile reviewing the "correct" options, even if you decide afterward to to do it another way. There are subtle things that we're used to seeing, some so subtle they don't occur to you unless you inadvertently do it wrong. Better to have that mental conversation with yourself before you pick up the...

I just bought the book "quick and easy slipcovers" by Gail Abbot. It looks good, but I haven't used it yet. When I did my sofa, I took out about 3 different books from the library and used advice from all three. I'd do that rather than buy one if this is going to be your only slipcover.

I don't have the patience for the muslin patterns, but it's a good idea if you're using expensive material. I just always cut the awkward pieces bigger than I thought I'd need (and I usually needed the extra).

Don't forget to leave extra material in the creases under the cushions for tucking in.

Also, I used snap tape (always buy on sale) instead of zippers or velcro - I just find it easier to work with.

Final tip - make sure you use poly thread so it doesn't shrink when you wash it.

Oh, and my general all round best sewing tip - never sew after 10 pm. Every major sewing mistake I've ever made has been during late night sewing sessions.

Good luck!

I have no real advice except to emphasize that part about pre-washing your fabric, which, unfortunately, I didn't know about till too late. Oh, well. Then again, I really didn't know anything about sewing when I decided to make a fitted slipcover for my scroll-arm camelback sofa sofa out of one of those saggy-baggy numbers from Sure-fit. Then again, it shows.

On the other hand, it also shows that it can be done, even by someone who has absolutely no idea what he is doing, no instructions, no experience & no machine, only an unbounded confidence in himself, a case of Pepsi & a box of Band-Aids. Well, that and the reassuring knowledge that if he totally screwed it up, he'd could just toss the whole thing & pretend it hadn't happened. Who was it that said "Failure isn't failure if nobody knows about it"? Oh, that's right: I said it.

Of course, my slipcover would look better & more finished with piping, but as I said: oh, well. For one thing, I didn't have time for refinements like that--this was a two-day project, done right before friends arrived from out of town--and for another thing, I didn't have whatever kind of cord you're supposed to use anyway, and I wasn't about to go hunting for it in downtown Chicago, so I just skipped that part. Face it: we live in a sad & imperfect world & obsessing over trivialities like non-existent piping or a crooked seam or two--OK, I admit it: they're all crooked--is a waste of good brain cells. Besides, I figure if this baby, even with its missing piping, is good enough for Oprah--my place will be published next month!--it's good enough for me. So get busy!
Regards,
Magnaverde.

{{!gwi}}

Magnaverde - amazing how the same furniture has such a different feel in each photo. You did a great job and published in Oprah?! Congrats!!!

Thanks everyone for your tips and advice. I will pre-wash the fabric, and had actually kept that in mind when choosing the fabric - no hand-wash or dry clean fabrics made the cut. I chose a fabric without a pattern, knowing my sewing skills. For 9 yards, some needles, and the thread, I paid under $45, so I have nothing to lose really. I know myself, and although the muslin suggestion is a good one, I don't see it happening, LOL! I see myself pulling an all-nighter or two and doing alot of swearing ;O) But every little bit of heads-up helps. I never would have thought about extra fabric for tucking in, or about the direction of the grain of the fabric (I am not a seamstress - obviously). Also love the suggestions for zipper stand-ins, because I don't do zippers.

Basically this is a chair that I am not too attached to. It was cheap, I needed a place to sit, a new chair isn't in the budget, so I'm going to try my hand at a slipcover for it - right now it's very floral and very dirty. I think that even a poorly constructed slip cover will be an improvement. That's my plan anyway :O)

As for piping/cording, I have spent the last couple of hours looking at slipcovered furniture online (apologies to my employer) and I have no preference. Here's a photo of a very comfy looking sofa (imo) that has no cording, and I think it looks great. I am going to cover the T-cushion tonight, w/o cording, and see how it looks.

I'll take before/during/after photos. If I can pull this off, anyone can :O)

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I will be anxiously awaiting your images as I am about to attempt this myself using the magnaverde method ;-)

And just in case your fingers give out before you finish, you can always try painting your sofa the way I did with this one, which started out a loud floral chintz. As long as it's a smooth fabric (as chintz is) you should have no problem. I'll see if I can find my directions. M.