Blogging... Mayfly's DIY Slipcover

We get this question a lot: "Where can I find a slipcover to fit my sofa?" And while we've all weighed in at some point, nothing beats a custom job. We recently discovered Mayfly, a blog by artist/muralist Alicia who made her own slipcover for her sofa a few years back. After completing it, she wrote, "It took 21 yards of fabric, 4 spools of thread, and many, many cuss words. Even a little blood was shed." Photo above is what her sofa looked like before, and check below the jump to see the after photo...

"Here it is looking all prim and tucked in for the photograph. In reality it looks a little more frumpy and lived on, because well, it is."

"This slipcover has taken over my life, the dining room table, and sun room for two weeks...But it is so much better than the old upholstery."

Check out more great photos and inspiration at Mayfly.

[ Photos from Mayfly ]

Comments (23)

Is it weird that I like the old upholstery better?

I thought of making one myself for my sofa. I bought "SureFit", but sure enough, it doesn't fit. I constantly have to tuck it back in after each sitting.
Anyway, I have very limited sewing skills but am a fast learner... I plan to do it one day.
Where can I find the pattern for my sofa? (or guide)
Does anyone know of any good books, websites, videos for making a slipcover?

Without any sewing experience, I, too, sewed a fitted slipcover for my horrendous sofa a few years ago. It was simply a matter laying pieces of fabric on the sofa, pinning it into shape I wanted, sewing it, and turning the finished product inside out. It took a looooooooooot of patience, for which I have a limited amount; however, I thought the result turned out pretty darn good.

The result in the photo above, however, is simply amazing.

Ashley -

It's not weird - I love the old fabric too.

Sure the slipcover is nicely made - but the old sofa has character

Simply Slipcovers published by Sunset ( got it off of Amazon ) was a simply wonderful guide. I used it for my couch and it helped tremendously. It taught me how to "pin-fit" rather than to use a pattern. Highly, highly recommend it for any upholstery project.

Oh, gorgeous! I'm starting to think I need to do this too, since I can't find reasonable priced slipcovers that'll fit my weird furniture.

Good job. Slipcovers do take a lot of fabric! 21 yards, yikes.

Wow Alicia!
I am a beginner sewist ..and TOTALLY appreciate all the efort, time and hard work went into this project. I am sure you'll be really proud of yourself :)

This looks good. Hmmm, I'm tempted to try this for our ugly old (but very comfortable) sleeper sofa. We're talking mauve plaid with baby blue flowers ugly. Limited experience, but it sounds like more fun than the painting project I am putting off :)

I'm thinking a heavier fabric pulled more tightly around the cusions and maybe some fresh batting stuffed inside would help with the frumpy look that was mentioned... hmmmm... might need to swing by JoAnne's after work to do some brainstorming.

Where can I find a similar coffee table? It's very sleek!

I'm with bepfs and Ashley Sunshine, and will go as far to say I think the original is RETRO SEXY! Why cover it up with blah greige? To each their own. All that work to slipcover over the groovy thing they had going on.

I too think the old sofa has character. Kinda like, "I'm an old, ugly sofa. GET OFF MY LAWN!!"

I'm more impressed by the big windows in your place. It makes the room light and airy, a feeling that the old sofa cantankerously grumbles upon and the new sofa sofly welcomes and encourages.

I'm with Ashley, the original fabric had punch and personality and was on the cusp of being in style all over again. The slipcover--abeit well-made--is a swan dive into mediocrity.

Punch & personality? Are you kidding? That original fabric was butt fugly. And who knows how dirty, greasy or stained it was, or many nasty naked butts have sweat on it. Yuck! I'm for recycling, but I'm also for covering the darn thing with something fresh and new so your family can enjoy it.

Now that you've made one cover in muslin, you can take it apart and use it as a pattern for making many more in as many trendy fabrics as you like.

Again, that original fabric was butt fugly. It had to die!!!!