That's a great looking slipcover. It's quite possible that the slipcover itself will hold the skirting up out of the way. Or like you said, you can pin the skirt up underneath yourself. I'd just wait till your slipcover comes and try it on and see how it works for you. JCP is super about taking things back if you need to return it. I hope you'll take before and after pix for us.

Not sure I understand "wholesale type store" but anyway their are good quality fabric dyes and poor quality fabric dyes and also the process in dyeing will make a difference. Most likely you got the latter. Theirs not much you can do, except try a little bit of bleach on an area of the slipcover thats not seen. Anytime you try to clean something with a cleaner you should always test in a inconspicuous place.

It should be fine. If you are doing the cover yourself be sure to ckean the floor in your work area or put old sheets on the floor so the fabric doesn't pick up any bits of dust as you work with it. service your machine and buy new needles. Let the machine cool between lots of long straight seams, home machines just weren't made for heavy continuous use.

I am having some chair slipcovers made next month and looking at home dec fabric at a local fabric shop. Most of it is dry clean only, but in my experience a lot of of it can be washed well enough. You could always do a sample wash before you buy a large amount. In fact, the person who is sewing the covers instructed me to wash and dry on hot in order to shrink as much as it possibly will shrink, then in the future wash the covers on cold. i have looked all over for fabric and haven’t seen much in the price range you have specified. The best I’m finding is about $11/yard at our local shop - somehow they end up with all these oddball bolt ends of fabric. You might try Hobby Lobby if you have one nearby...I think they allow a coupon on fabric. Also, try fabric.com, fabricguru, Amazon, and Hancock Fabrics online. I have also seen rolls of fabric on craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and estate/garage sales. i know you don’t want duck or similar, but there is a reason it’s used for slipcovers - it holds up well not just for regular use, but for putting on and taking off the covers, which can be quite a job with lots of pulling and tugging. Make sure whatever you use has a double rub count of at least 15,000. Any less than that won’t wear well.