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Blogging...Mayfly's DIY Slipcover

102408_mayfly1.jpgWe 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...

 
 

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"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."


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"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 ]

Tags

DIY, slipcover, sofa, mayfly

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Comments (23)

BRAVO!

posted by kayonyc on October 24th 2008 at 11:53am
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wonderful!

posted by j_wild on October 24th 2008 at 11:54am
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well done!

posted by amt230 on October 24th 2008 at 11:59am
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Is it weird that I like the old upholstery better?

posted by AshleySunshine on October 24th 2008 at 12:04pm
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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?

posted by cojaclynsy on October 24th 2008 at 12:18pm
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Magic

posted by Daniel Poitiers on October 24th 2008 at 12:26pm
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WOW!

posted by madampince on October 24th 2008 at 12:31pm
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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.

posted by justveggingout on October 24th 2008 at 12:38pm
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amazing job!

posted by hanako66 on October 24th 2008 at 12:43pm
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Ashley -

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

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

posted by bepsf on October 24th 2008 at 12:48pm
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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.

posted by gourdsaregorgeous on October 24th 2008 at 12:50pm
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wow, well done!!!

posted by maike on October 24th 2008 at 1:15pm
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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.

posted by Mrs.Mack on October 24th 2008 at 1:22pm
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Good job. Slipcovers do take a lot of fabric! 21 yards, yikes.

posted by dmh on October 24th 2008 at 1:30pm
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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 :)

posted by AyeshaZ on October 24th 2008 at 1:45pm
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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.

posted by ammanda on October 24th 2008 at 2:37pm
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Where can I find a similar coffee table? It's very sleek!

posted by alysaaria on October 24th 2008 at 7:19pm
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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.

posted by Vincent B. on October 24th 2008 at 7:38pm
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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.

posted by somedudeinvicenza on October 24th 2008 at 11:23pm
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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.

posted by ChrisToronto on October 25th 2008 at 2:13am
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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!!!!

posted by quiltmaster on October 25th 2008 at 4:40pm
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sweet.

posted by Goody on October 26th 2008 at 7:25pm
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There comes a point where kitschy and ironic with "character" becomes gross and in need of a slipcover.

posted by twitteringbirdie on April 13th 2009 at 4:52pm
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