Thanks, Izzie. The linen slipcovers are washable, but it turns out they are only available through Crate and Barrel. So now I'm weighing the Sunbrella vs. various washable cotton slipcovers. This particular Sunbrella is for indoor use, and it's a bit softer than their outdoor material, but it still feels rough to me. Anyone living happily with light-colored cotton slipcovers in a busy household?

LOL, Trust me, there are millions of upholstery fabrics out there. You just need to go to a decorating fabric store to get upholstery fabric:) The only way you are going to find upholstery grade fabric on line is if you know exactly the brand and collection you want. Then you contact a place like www.eadeswallpaper.com (who would have guessed they sold fabric!) and you get a qoute and order if you like the price. There are hundreds of mills that sell hundreds of designs, so you need the product information. For instance, I just ordered Kravets (brand), Allure Velvet (collection) 14743 (style number) 135 (color code). Upholstery grade fabric is determined by many elements: the ply and twist of the thread, the weight of the thread, the weave of the fabric, the dye, the finish and any decorative embellishments. You can take a finished upholstery grade fabric, embroider all over it and make in totally unsuitable for upholstery. You could find a med. weight fabric that feels like upholstery grade, but the weave may be inappropriate. Likewise, some silk dupioni, which is a light weight fabric, can be used on upholsterybut you have to apply a knit backing to it first. Other heavy silks cannot be used on upholstery due to its weave and finish. Truly, the mill has to determine its use. All fabric manufacturers will mark their fabric for end use. Flip to the inside back of the fabric book for the list of end uses. If the fabric is rolled and hung on a display rack, look on the hanging tag. If it is not marked and you are in a reputable decorating fabric store, ask the salesperson if it can be used for uphostery. Generally speaking--and this is assuming you are in a decorating fabric store--if you see a fabric the weight of shirting or a bed sheet, it is not upholstery grade. Most likely for drapes and throw pillows. Look for something the weight of a heavy damask tablecloth. Then ask to confirm it is suitable for upholstery. The linen will probably feel rougher than you envisioned, but it will soften in time and washings. Have you considered purchasing a slipcover? It maybe a lot less trouble. Many places will custom make it to ensure a good fit.

imho, i hate microsuede. it's unmistakably fake looking ...and looks cheap. i'm sorry, but i had to be honest. especially since you are comparing PB to a reputable company like lee. i have been dealing with them a lot lately as i purchased two sofas from them (linen slipcovers w/down-feather cushions) as well as a velvet bed for my daughter. both orders were customized: the sofas i chose came with two seat cushions. i prefer one, so they gave me one at no additional charge. the bed is a little different in that i wanted the same height headboard and footboard so it would resemble a day bed. there was a slight up charge but if i remember correctly it was only $100. you should consult with your dealer on any design changes you'd like, or perhaps they could recommend a different model that would satisfy. also: quality aside, i tend to steer clear of the retail chains as they are without fail more expensive. crate & barrel sells lee, but you'll pay a higher markup. as for the durability of microsuede, i can't answer. i'd never drink wine out of a plastic cup either.

It depends upon the fit, whether the material is shiny or slippery, or how the cover hangs. The pins come about 8 in a package and they are really inexpensive, a few dollars per pkg. I used two packages on my very long sofa (8 ft) with a custom slipcover that fit well but moved around. They worked beautifully. I also used them once with an off-the-rack bedskirt that was about an inch too long. I took a tuck about two inches in from the edge so it couldn't be seen and secured it down with deco pins all along the side, and I did it on both sides. I could have just sewn a bigger tuck down the middle of the deck that fits over the box spring, but then it wouldn't have been usable for any other bed size.