I'm going to agree with annie. You're asking for a mess if you try to stuff those two into a cover. The cording will both show and be felt when someone sits on it, and given time, will wear on the velvet differently and leave a pattern of the cording. That stuff needs to come off. Personally I'd then lay the two foam covers together and draw around them as a pattern on paper, then cut the same shape from a high quality upholstry foam. Then wrap the foam in batting as noted above, and muslin slip. Then make your one cover removable if you wish. If you can't get the new foam, rewrap the existing foam instead. But I do think after time it will separate somewhat and again, ruin the look you're after by leaving a gap. You're working with a very very hard fabric, and trying high level techniques (cording with a quilted velvet). I am very confident with this stype of stuf, and the thought makes me want to curse in advance for you. I do recommend that you first make a muslin pattern before you try cutting the velvet. Velvet walks away from you when you sew it face to face so be sure you pin the heck out if it (use french silk pins). And as to the cording, don't even try if you don't have or won't pick up a cording foot for your machine (which you'll fall in love with). If I were making this, I'd first make the muslin pattern (hopefully you've figured that out in your discoveries) and then try to make it up using cheap cording with a cording foot and be sure you have your technique down. Then, if that comes out well, go ahead with the velvet, but remember, more pins verses less, and I like to use two with particularly slippery velvets. The pattern will be lost if you try to remove the velvet backing (or the quilted batting) and it would be a huge amount of work for something that won't even show. I'd find a nice contrasting fabric or a velvet that matches without batting. But again, personally...I'd not do the velvet cording because it's a pain in the kiester! I'd do it in silk dupioni in the same color which flows well with the velvet and is easy to sew.

I will have to come back and read all of the tips. I, too, own white Ektorps (everything-- 2 chairs, sofa, and loveseat). I have 5 kids and 2 cats (but cats don't really count, do they?). It does get dirty and, even with bleach or Oxyclean, I can't get all of the stains out. My kids eat only in the DR or kitchen (not because of the sofas, but because eating all over the house means way too much work for me) and we do not wear shoes in the house, but dirt happens. It IS a lot of work to change them. The washing isn't bad . . .just the putting on and off (esp. the on, even though I leave it a little damp). What I do is have 2 sets, so I wash one set slowly (at my leisure) but the sofa is always covered. No way would I wash every week! But, DH and I still think this is the best option. He hates leather (the feeling) and I feel a little iffy about it (I've been a vegetarians for decades), plus the cats' claws would scratch it. We see how disgustingly dirty the white gets from just BODY DIRT (I'm not even talking food!). Yuck. So, I like the fact that they are actually clean, even though they may not be spotless. DH wants to replace them when the kids get older, but frankly, guests have put more spots on the sofas then the kids . . . Oh, and the nice thing about the white covers is that they are truly cheap. I still cannot figure out how a sofa cover is only $49. So, if the stains get bad enough, I'll get another set. I used to use matelasse coverlets on them, too, but it ended up getting messed up too often, so I stopped.

I am currently having slipcovers made for a sofa and armchair at Todo es. Total labor, fabric and shipping is $440.00. I did get a clearance fabric. The lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from the time that they get your detailed measurements. Since I don't have the slipcovers yet I can't really give you all the details but up to this point in the process they seem very on the ball and I have high hopes that the slipcovers will be just what I was looking for. I took several pictures of both pieces and emailed them to todo. They then emailed several pdf files with instructions on how to measure the furniture. I then filled the forms out with the measurements and emailed the forms back to them. I will post before and after photos. I did a bit of research and they had some good press so I decided to go for it. My local fabric shop gave me an estimate of $800 for just the labor for the 2 pieces. Check them out at http://todoes.com Here is a copy of the email they sent to me about measurements. Hello, Robyn - For your sofa and armchair, you need to complete separate back, front and cushion forms for each piece of furniture. However, you only need to complete the side measurement form once. The Cushion Seat 2 (T-shaped cushion) form is for your armchair. The Cushion Seat - Rectangle is for the middle cushion of your sofa and the Cushion Seat 1/2T is for the side seat cushions of your sofa. Attached you will find an easy-to-follow set of measurement forms that match your furnitures style. The forms are in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format and can be filled in on-line and emailed back. Or, print them out and mail or fax them. Our address and fax number are listed below. If your furniture requires templates, please mail to the same address. Please make sure that the same on your envelope is the same as on your order. To download the forms, youÂll need Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 5 or higher. Adobe Acrobat can be downloaded for free from the Adobe web site  Adobe Acrobat. Before you start measuring - Get organized ÂWhat youÂll need: - Time. If this is your first time measuring, allow about 30 minutes to an hour if measuring a large piece of furniture. - Help. If measuring a large piece of furniture, you may need someone to hold the other end of the tape measure. If no help is available see the section on General Info & Tips below. - Print out a copy of the measurement forms so you can refer to them as you measure. - Measuring tape  Use a flexible dressmakerÂs tape measure. Metal ones buckle around corners and add extra inches to your measurements. - Straight pins  YouÂll need 4  5 - Sheets of newspaper or old gift wrap  If your measurement forms refer to making templates - newspaper or gift wrap will work just fine. YouÂll also need a marker or crayon. - Move your furniture away from the wall and remove all loose cushions and/or pillows from the frame. If you have existing slipcovers, remove them from the frame. If you also have cushion slipcovers over your cushionÂs original upholstery, remove the cushion slipcovers as well. If the slipcovers are the only covers on your cushions, leave them on. Measuring  General Information & Tips - Read the instructions for each measurement and look at the illustration to make sure youÂre measuring correctly. - All measurements should be taken from point to point unless instructed otherwise. - Enter the measurements onto the forms, expressed in quarter inches - Ex: 24.5, not 24 ½ or 2Â, ½ inch. If a measurement falls in between quarter inches, please round up to the next highest quarter inch. - If templates are required, as noted on your measurement forms, please write your name on them and note the piece of furniture to which they apply. - If your furniture is overstuffed, and has no clearly defined outside edges, place something flat (like a book) against the edge that youÂre trying to measure, place a straight pin to mark the edge and measure from that point. - If you are measuring a large piece of furniture by yourself, anchor one end of your measuring tape to the furniture with a straight pin to take long measurements. - Most important: double-check all your measurements before you submit your forms. - REMEMBER - WE HAVE PHOTOS OF YOUR FURNITURE. Drawings, notations and extra measurements most often do not help and only cause delays as our pattern makers try to discern the correct measurements from all of the conflicting information. - Our pattern makers will call you if they need additional information or if any of your measurements do not appear to be correct. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call us  800-467-2810 or email us at customer-service@todoes.com Mailing address  Todo es Custom Home Décor 23011 Moulton Pkwy., Ste. A-7 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 Fax number  949 581-0160

Thank you all so much for taking the time to offer your thoughts, and expertise - I appreciate it! I did a trial run in the photo above that shows only the one fabric all the way down. When looking at the top of the rod the curtain looks "sparse/skinny" if that makes sense. I'm going to try doubling the width on the top floral fabric. However, I bought this fabric at Joanne's back in August on a tremendous sale. I think I ended up paying $9.00 yard; it was orig. $39 a yard! I don't know if I can order more at that price so I might be stuck with that look. And I will use a short rod up towards the midddle/top to hang the 2nd dark gray fabric. Will make ties on the back of the top fabric to tie on the tassels/tie backs (?). It's a difficult job to do as I'm up on a double ladder about 10 feet off the ground carrying fabric and lifting the rods that are 14 feet up - to play around with the look. So I'm wanting to get this right with the least amount of trips up that ladder! Will post a pic when I get these done. Thank you all again :)