 |
The Making of a Slipcover: A Lost Art
Today in this world of fast everything, most of us just don't
have the time (nor patience) to do an all consuming job of making
a slipcover. We go buy them and not always are they what we want.
They are generic in most cases and just don't work on the
furniture right or look professional. If you can find the time
and feel creative, you can produce a masterpiece for an old (or
new) piece of furniture that needs a change to correspond with a
new room update. The slipcover will produce a sense of
confirmation and beauty for "you", the person doing the work. A
job well done is always good for growing self- confidence and
character!
I owned a very busy tailor shop and I was use to "custom
fitting" my clients and worked the slipcovers the same way. When
one was finished, it was hard to tell if the piece had been
re-upholstered or slip covered. What a great feeling it was to
see the finished piece!
So with that said, I have a few techniques for you to use that
will make this lost art of slipcover making a bit easier.
Start with a simple furniture piece. A good example would be
an ottoman, simple dining chair or a toaster! Look at the piece,
see where the natural lines are? That is where the seams will be
for the slipcover. Scratch out a picture of your furniture piece,
this will help as you take measurements for pieces. Measure width
and length, add an extra 1¼" to width and length for seams.
Write each piece size down on drawing to reference from. Make
sure you have your closure type figured out. You will need to add
extra material for overlapping if using velcro or ties and
zippers. Where will your closures be? Do you even need one on
this slip cover? All of this needs to be calculated into original
diagram of furniture piece. We will tailor fit these pieces to
the furniture INSIDE OUT. You will end up with all your slipcover
pieces being odd sized squares or rectangles, etc. This is easier
for quick marking and cutting instead of attempting to cut the
exact shape of each piece. There will be some extra material in
certain areas (which you will cut away) but it gives you room for
making a few mistakes! Remember, the art of slip covers and
upholstery is very forgiving!
If you are using denim or heavy cotton or anything that does
not have to be dry-cleaned for your slipcover, I suggest you
preshrink the material. You can wash and dry it later many times
without shrinkage (a great option if you have small children and
newer furniture). Choose a solid color. Sheets or curtains (even
older ones found at Goodwill if you're on a budget) can work for
making slipcovers and you may find them on sale to make the cost
less. Cording can be covered and added into prominent seams of
the slipcover if you want to add some detail. Most of your
material to cover cording with will come from the leftover inches
at the sides going along the length. They will be long pieces
sewn together on a mitered seam. Cording material width is 1
¼". Cutting everything with pinking scissors will eliminate
(to a certain degree) having to serge or finish the edge of
raveling fabric.
You will "railroad" your slipcover measurements by marking
them (and eventually cutting), going length wise on fabric and
then side by side across the width of fabric. If you have an
exceptionally wide piece you will "railroad" it going length of
material instead of across, thus avoiding seams. Visualize how
the sizes will lay out on the fabric, using drawings here will be
very helpful. Example: If you use 60" width material, you will
get at least 3 dining chair slipcover backs across, if they are
16" - 18" wide. They could run 36" - 48" in length down the
material. Then you will need to figure the inside back, seat, and
sides or skirting (remember, if you are doing 2 or more of same,
times each piece by the number you are doing). Depending on how
much turn up you want for the hem will depend on how much extra
you add on side or skirting measurement. Figure out how much
material you will need by calculating the length of longest
slipcover pieces, adding them together and divide by 36" for
yardage. Make sure to utilize the most from your fabric. There
are cheat sheets at some material stores that give basic yardage
for upholstering & slip covering furniture , see if you can
find one, their priceless!
Once you have all your measurements for your slip cover
pieces, start with the largest sizes and mark everything out on
your fabric, WRONG SIDE. You will need a yardstick or longer,
measuring tool. A large square is good to have also. (Any
hardware store should carry the tools) Label all pieces; i.e.
back back, front back, seat, sides or skirting, etc. Cut your
pieces.
Holding your slipcover pieces up to the furniture piece INSIDE
OUT, pin the seams together about every 2 inches lengthwise along
the seam. Make sure to center your pieces over furniture so you
have equal seam allowance on sides, edges, etc. Back-back to
front-back, pin. Seat to front-back, pin and so on. Sew these
pieces together. Once you start sewing, your seams will only be
about 3/8" instead of the full 5/8". This gives the slipcover a
tiny bit of room to move when finished. I recommend getting some
T-pins to use when you are making slipcovers for larger
upholstered pieces, you can stick them into the furniture and
they will hold the slipcover fabric in place when fitting the
pieces together.
Normally, I will pin fit the whole slipcover together inside
out on the furniture piece, then go sew, removing pins along the
way. This is similar to a puzzle, make sure to sew all seams that
dead end into other seams first. Once you have it sewn together,
turn it right side out and fit it. Check for areas that may be a
bit off and correct. From experience I can tell you it is usually
pretty good if you can sew a straight seam. You can put some
masking tape on your sewing machine face plate and mark 3/8" over
from the needle to help with this. Complete all finishing
touches, stand back and take a picture!
This is a wonderful way to grow patience, skill and redecorate
for less. There is time involved, but you will have a great sense
of accomplishing a lost art! Have fun!
There is more to this than what I have here, but you should be
able to get a pretty good idea of what to do and how. There are
some very good books you can get from your public library and
material/craft stores to help you and I would be happy to help,
if you mail me at the address below.
About the Author:
Robin Hall has been a successful Tailor by trade in the Midwest
with over 30 years in business. She has sewn everything from
leather, to clothes and alterations including home décor
items. She has just started an online home décor store where
you will find a little bit of everything including great tips on
decorating and home improvement. Please stop by and see us/her at
http://www.coollampsnstuff.com
or send email with questions to [email protected]
 MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. May / 21 / 2022
|
|
|
Related Hobbies - Crafts articles:
Craft Fairs, Bazaars
& Flea Markets? Oh, My!
Many names are associated with events such as these. Craft
Fairs, Bazaars, Flea Markets and Swap Meets are a few names
you can find.
The Easy Way to Make a
Special Present
We all know someone who is difficult to buy a present for.
Someone who has everything they need and would not
appreciate 'normal' gifts.
Learn Exactly How To
Repair Your Sewing Machine At Home!
My name is Tony Asef and I start my own sewing machine
business 21 years ago with little knowledge of repairing
sewing machine at that time. I remember very good when I
was looking for someone to teach me all trick in sewing
machine repair business.
Jewelry Making:
Measuring for Bracelets Without a Tape
Your cousin's friend in Saskatchewan has asked you to
design a custom bracelet for her. You have all the beads,
materials, and tools, but you're stumped about the length.
Be Your Own Way, but
Still Use the Safe Tools
It is so often that people are not aware with the tools
they use when doing their home improvement. Sometimes they
use wrong tools just because they want something quick to
be done.
How to Make a Childs
Handprint on a Ceramic Tile
This is a fun craft to do with a group of moms and their
kids, one child per adult works the best. Each mom will
need:---One soft brush, any size but 1/2" works the
best---One jar of "One-Stroke Ceramic underglaze", either
Duncan E-Z Stroke or Gare One-Stroke.
Do You Really Know What
You're Buying?
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a popular gift
show in my local area. My purpose in attending this gift
show was to scope out my competition and the quality of
their soy candles compared to what I offer.
Comic Book Supplies,
Necessities of the Serious Collector
If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop
shape, comic book supplies will become part of your
collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are
natural environmental forces going to work to try and
destroy the ink and the paper.
Capturing the Craft Show
Market
Finding the right product to sell at a craft show is
extremely important in finding success on the craft show
circuit. You may already have an excellent craft product or
line of products you are creating or even selling, or you
may be looking for a craft to produce in order to enter the
business.
Collectibles: Searching
for those Hard-to-Find Diecast Models
For collectors of any kind, there are always those items
that are much sought after, but nearly impossible to find.
If they're lucky enough to finally locate them, the price
is often exorbitant or there are some other restrictions
which inhibit their ability to secure them.
The Art of Cutting and
Cropping for Your New Scrapbook
Often photographs aren't quite the right shape and size or
the photographic image is improperly centered. Having
oversized or off centered photographs creates an air of
being unprofessional.
Rubber Stamps - For
Teachers and Students
Once again we are reminded that summer is not long enough.
It is the beginning of another back to school shopping
season.
The Use of Color and
Photographs in Your New Scrapbook
Color coordination and contrast will highlight and accent
your scrapbook. A well thought out color scheme can help
define the theme of a page, attract attention to specific
items, or detract away from mistakes.
Why Should You Collect
Cat Collectibles?
Let the cat out of the bag! True, you will know various cat
collectibles in here. No secret will be hidden, and no cat
collectibles you wouldn't know.
What Do I Need to Start
Scrapbooking?
The best thing about scrapbooking is that although there
are a plethora of scrapbooking supplies available on the
market, you really don't need a lot to make your very first
scrapbook. Basically, all you need to scrapbook is an
album, some glue, a pair of scissors, and some photographs
or newspaper clippings.
The Proper Use of Comic
Book Supplies Will Help You Maintain a Top-Notch
Collection
If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop
shape, comic book supplies will become part of your
collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are
natural environmental forces going to work to try and
destroy the ink and the paper.
Embroidery Designs
Sewing
Denim is a twill weave and runs diagonally and any diagonal
weave is difficult to control, whether you are attempting
construction sewing or machine embroidery. Twills are
designed to give the wearer ultimate wearing comfort by the
natural "give" it has.
Invitation Envelopes -
Make or Break Your Party
What will separate your party from all the other events of
the season? Of all the planning that goes into your special
occasion, there is no excuse to forget about specialty
envelopes. Your invitation is the first impression that you
and your party will have.
Why Do I (You)
Collect?
I just got back from the vet with my cat "Spud". He gave us
quite a scare, we went away for a couple of day's vacation
and on our return we found him very listless.
Depression Glass
Patterns
Collectors of Depression Glass find not only its beautiful
colors fascinating, but its patterns, as well. With many
glass producers making this type of glass, as you can
imagine, many patterns resulted, creating a wide array of
pretty, practical, and inexpensive glassware affordable to
every American household in that lean era of history and
making Depression Glass one of the most collectible items
today.
|
|
