ATLA reader "Carsonsmom" was inspired by a past how-to post illustrating how to make your own slipcover for a reading chair and wanted to share her own DIY experience:
I was inspired by the How To: Slipcover a Reading Chair Post and decided to try it on my own. This chair was in my nursery 30 years ago and is now in my son's nursery. It was supposed to be a temporary solution when he was born 3 years ago but my son now loves the chair and won't give it up. It is in perfect condition except for the outdated peach velveteen fabric. I'd been looking for a slip cover for this chair but found that covers for this shape/size aren't readily found and custom slip covers are too expensive. I thought sewing my own slip cover would be too difficult until I read this post.
It should be said that my only experience sewing was Home Ec class in 7th grade and that I sewed this slip cover on the 1975 Singer Model 247 sewing machine that I inherited from my grandmother.
I initially thought that that I'd buy gorgeous upholstery fabric like poster NicoleMari but I quickly realized that I was too inexperienced to work with a heavy weight fabric and didn't want to run the risk of destroying $200 worth of beautiful fabric! Instead, I used an old Ikea duvet cover.
The first night I spent two hours cutting and pinning the fabric. I used the seams of the chair as a guide for where my seams would be and cut the duvet into various pieces. I laid the fabric inside out on the chair and pinned it.
The second night I spent four hours sewing. I removed the pinned fabric from the chair, sewed one seam, then placed the fabric back on the chair (inside out) and adjusted the remaining pinned seams. This process was a little slow but I didn't want to risk sewing the entire slip cover and finding out that it didn't fit.
I spent $1.39 on white thread and didn't have any other project costs.
Although my result isn't nearly as professional and perfect as NicoleMari's - it is quite satisfactory and really a remarkable improvement. I think someone with more patience and more sewing experience could easily have a much better result.
I just thought this might be inspiring to other readers who, like me, have ugly chairs in great condition and limited sewing experience.
Total cost: $1.39
Total time: Approx 6 hours
"Carsonsmom"
Thanks for sharing!
consider me inspired!
view pinko's profile
Nice work. Slipcovers can be a pain! Way to stick with it.
I made one too a few moths ago:
http://adamandcourt.blogspot.com/2008/04/slipcover.html
view courtnayann's profile
I'm impressed with how well you lined up the striped weave/pattern of the fabric.
view wig3000's profile
For those who do not love the sloppy chic look -- Spandex. Using a stretchy fabric and slightly undersizing the slipcovers hides a multitude of sewing and fitting sins. Plus keeps the look sleek and modern. Sorta like stretch jeans... ~:o)
Also, if you have removable cushions, remove them when fitting and cover them individually. Happy sewing!
view quiltmaster's profile
well done, carsonsmom and courtnayann. you should be proud and thanks for sharing.
i havent used my machine in 100 yrs but you are inspiring me to get it up on the table and do it!
thanks for that tip, also, quiltmaster,
view sassydo's profile
Wow, carsonsmom - it looks great! I (also of minor sewing experience) have often thought about this but have been too afraid to attempt at the risk of really botching it.
But you have shown me otherwise!
Time to cut up my old unused flat sheets...
Thank you!
view tahitianpearl's profile
Never let the fact that you haven't done something before prevent you from giving it a try. Fitted slipcovers aren't nearly as hard to make as people assume, especially if you dispense with the optional refinement of piping. Here's my sofa after I gave its garish chintz upholstery a red paint job, and again, after I slipcovered it & my mohair barrel chair. I had no instructions, no pattern, no experience & no machine, but I figured it out. Just me, a saggy baggy Surefit slipcover, a weekend and a box of Band-Aids.
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgBMHH4XCIr7f5Esx8NdhDGqzD59TyqW79l!J51hs4Vfu2slJmi6XqnEp9o2Pel8s9afuOU65wvG7TRAj2r8h2BO1wjEETiwWm77BtGqpSHOI8EuG0FXWQ/magseasons.JPG?dc=4675463698179266966
Magnavedre Rule No. 12: Don't define yourself by what you can't do.
view magnaverde's profile
Thanks, all! As I said, I don't have any sewing skills to speak of but I just couldn't find a slip cover for this otherwise great chair. I think the result would have been a bit more polished if I'd been more patient - but I was tired and being "helped" by a toddler ;-)
view Carson's Mom's profile
Geez, you'd think I could spell my own name...
view magnaverde's profile
A slightly heavier weight fabric (which can be an Indian print bedspread) would have been a better choice. The weight will help the finished product hang better, and a stretch cotton would also work well.
I'd use the old sheets as a practice run or as a liner for other material.
And that 1975 Singer is a vastly superior product to the plastic machines made today. There's a good repair place on Sunset.
view Palmetto's profile
You rock! The chair looks fabu.
Magnaverde...you are sooo right!!!!!
view danze's profile