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I know, you’ve all been on the edge of your seats waiting for this…
My Big Slipcover Reveal!!!
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| I know, your jaws are just dropping, right?!! How awesome does that look?!
Okay here’s the truth. I do think it looks amazing. Really. I find myself admiring my work several times a day. But this slipcover is NOT without mistakes and flaws!! I spent much longer working on it than I thought. Let me take you through my journey… |
Remember how I pinned on some sheets for a temporary slipcover? I was planning on buying some real canvas fabric to make a slipcover, which I would get to AFTER I got through my many multiple other projects. But like I said, the chair was just taunting me over and over to just make a slipcover already! And I thought, “Hmm…maybe I should just use that sheet!” I liked the look of the satin stripes on it and I had a matching fitted sheet. They were sheets we’d had for a long time.
Could I do it with the two sheets?
The answer?
Heck, yes!
(I’m from Utah so I can say that.)
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| Here’s the original chair, to refresh your memory. (A great Goodwill find for $20!) |
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| I didn’t take step by step photos because I’ve never done this before and let’s be honest…it was a very unprofessional journey! But basically how I started was by cutting out pieces to the approximate shape and pinning the pieces together, rights sides inward. I left extra room in the places where I knew I would be tucking so the slipcover would look more fitted. I wrote on it with erasable fabric pen to label the pieces. And for the curvy pieces, I traced around it with the pen and cut two (one for each side.) I sewed a couple of pleats in the top of the ‘wing’ so that it would fit nicely around the curve. |
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| For the cushion, I traced around the cushion shape with the fabric pen and cut out two. I measured the height and cut two long strips (one to go around and one for the zipper piece.) The zipper was freaking easy to put it…do NOT be intimidated by zippers! Conquer your fear!!! And clearly it’s not smooth and pretty but I didn’t care because it would be hidden. |
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| I loved the pleated skirt but I knew I wouldn’t want to iron those every time I washed the slipcover, so I made it detachable with velcro going all the way around. |
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| I made the back fit snugly by putting velcro on both sides. Works great because I can undo the velcro and easily take the slipcover off, but then it looks tight and secure when it’s fastened. And with the pleated skirt you can’t even see them! |
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| The wings were actually not that tricky. I opted to not do piping down the wing, mostly because I had just run out and didn’t want to get more. |
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| If you look closely in this picture, you can see my biggest mistake. The biggest and most troublesome area was the ‘armpit’ of the chair…where the arm meets the wing. I had clipped the fabric after sewing it but realized I had made the seam too small. So I had to go back and add in more fabric. It’s not really noticeable and it fit much better after. The other hard part was the front of the arms, mostly because of the curves. And I could have sworn I cut them with straight stripes!! But apparently not. |
Overall, I think it was a very successful first slipcover.
And I learned SO much while doing it. You HAVE to take on big projects from time to time in order to expand your skills!
After I finished with this slipcover, I have decided that YES, I AM going to make my couch slipcover! I actually think it will be easier than the chair, simple because my couch has way fewer curves. I have a precise plan of attack, and I will definitely be sure to take a ton of step-by-step pictures.
What do you think?
Did I do a good job? :)
Linking up to:
Hi! I'm Heidi and welcome to Honeybear Lane! Stay awhile and check out my craft, sewing, and home decor projects. And visit the Honeybear Lane Shop for puff quilts and other goodies! 
I just wanted to let you know that I think you did a FANTASTIC JOB!! It looks amazing. How proud was your husband??!! Kudos to you on a job well done!
I think it turned out amazing! My mom paid A LOT of money to have slipcovers made for her wingback chairs…so you should be counting all the money that you were able to keep in your pockets!
wow it looks amazing. I have a three seater and a two seater and dream of making slipcover. you inspired me i might give it a try!!!
This is incredible. I am so impressed! You really thought it all out right down to where to put the velcro and why. I am having major skills envy right now!
I'm speechless!! It looks AMAZING!!! SO crafty and it doesn't look handmade at all!
You are making me want to make one for my couch who's fabric is slowly ripping apart. Thanks!
I really like it! We have a similar chair in our living room that is kinda ugly…maybe one day I'll get brave and do something like this. The zippers intimidate me…
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I think it looks great! Care to come and do mine?
Holy WOW!! I can't even imagine attempting something like that. It looks fabulous!
That is awesome!!! Zippers scare the heck out of me and yours looks AMAZING! Congrats
Heather
Great job, Heidi! Your slipcover looks fantastic. I've been thinking of making one for my rocking lounge/nursing chair but the curves of the arms frighten me. I think I might actually take it on now. I can't wait to see how your couch turns out.
you rock …good job !!!!
you are a sewing star! seriously! lovely lovely lovely!
Wow! This really does look amazing! I love the little pleats around the bottom! So pretty! Great job Heidi!
You did a FABULOUS job!
you're a genius! detachable pleated skirt, seriously, a genius. I wish you'd come teach me how to sew.
Very good job! Love the stripes & the pleated skirt! Wasn't it worth it??!!
holy cow it looks amazing. I am soooo impressed.
Awesome job! Your chair looks fabulous. Great job on your first slipcover. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Great job- I love the detachable skirt- very cute and very smart.
This is fantastic! I have a $20 couch with some aesthetic damage that I've been meaning to recover; you've definitely inspired me!
It looks amazing! I should keep my eye open for a chair like this, I think I need one in my house.
omygosh! it's absolutely fabulous! i can't believe this is your first slipcover! i'll be featuring you tomorrow! lovely!
Beautiful job!!
I am attempting my first as I type and so far I am very pleased. Not as hard as I thought at all!
Well done and you have earned bragging rights!
Janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
Yes, you should be very proud. That is amazing. I can't wait to see what you do with your couch.
I admire your braveness. I have been wanting to do my wing chair, also, but I still don't feel confident. Your encouraging words are helpful. Thanks for sharing.
You did an AWESOME job on your slipcover! I saw we were featured together on Pink and Polka Dot's Friday's Featured Slipcovers how fun! Love what you did! You got skills Girl!
popped over from Pinkandpolkadot.
You did a great job with your slipcover and you totally rocked the zipper on the cushion!
Loved your idea with detachable velcro for the pleats. Very clever.
I have been checking out a few of your article stories and I must say pretty clever stuff. I will definitely bookmark your blog. Thank you very much.
I just book marked your blog on Digg and StumbleUpon.I enjoy reading your posting. thank you very much.
Oh yes, you did a great job!
Really good;)
Looks perfect!
I`m your latest follower, please come and visit my blog too, that would be great;)
http://pudel-design.blogspot.com/
Lovely greetings…
oh my gosh! soo amazing! i have 2 wingback chairs i am getting ready to inherit from my grandpa’s house, and i was contemplating making them. this makes me think i may be able to handle it! a lot of work, but oh so worth it!
This looks great!!! Im going to try it today! TY and Sew ON!
Wow. I am so impressed!! And inspired to do a little chair I have!
Ya-I’m not gonna lie it was easy at first but then since I had too much bravado I started messing up, making it a lot harder! Anyway just go for it but don’t just wing it! No pun intended.
I think you did a fabulous job!!!! I tried to make a slip cover several years ago and I had the worst problem trying to figure out how the back of the chair front, and the inside arms and seat were sewn together in the back seat corners and the sides allowing the extra inches for tuck in. I pulled it off and never figured it out!!!! I wanted to jump on it as that usually allows me to get my sillies out, but I didn’t this time; too many pins!! It is funny, that you breezed right through my most difficult part and I had no trouble with the parts you found difficult. If you or any one wishes to write and give me a hint on how to do it, I’d really appreciate it as I have two chairs to do and not much more hair available to pull out. Now mind you, I have only been sewing for 60 years.
Thanks Kate! Believe me, it was not as easy as maybe I made it seem. At first everything was going great and did seem pretty manageable. But I was a little over zealous with joining the wings with the arms and ended up having to piece it a bit. The other very hard part was the arms. I think I could do a better job if I were more careful! However, the best tip I can offer is to mark where you want your seams to be with a fabric pen. You have to pin it, of course, but marking the exact line really helps to figure out where EXACTLY to sew. Good luck!
What a great job!!!! I have a chair exactly like that and have been afraid to tackle it. Are you at all near PA? I’d hire you to do mine.
Keep up the good work. Just happened onto this site a few minutes ago so am going to check it out more. Anxious to see pictures of the couch when done.
Thanks so much! I’m not near PA, I live in the west. But really, this project is manageable…I wish I’d posted a better tutorial!