To read Part 1 of How to Make a Couch Slipcover click here
Here it is! What do you think?
PS I am aware of the crookedness of the stuff on the wall. We just ran out of time but we’ll fix it later. :) I have washed it again so it’s still a little wrinkled but seriously, am I going to spend hours ironing my slipcover? No!
And here it is with the quilt. I plan on doing some more pillows and stuff but I need a little sewing break. Whew!
Here’s the Vasoline Distressed “Gate” art
It’s definitely not perfect. The hardest part ended up being the next couple of steps:
Adding the skirt (the part that hangs down with the box pleat)
The first thing you need to do is make the skirt separately. I drew this diagram to help you figure it out. First, measure the length and height of the sides and front of the couch. My couch front was 80″ and the sides were 40″. The height was about 9″. (The height is the drop from where you want your skirt to start to the floor.) So I cut four long rectangle strips that were about 45″ x 12″. Then I cut three small rectangles that were about 10″ x 12.” (I’m guessing a lot here, I didn’t do a lot of exact measuring. I always leave myself a bunch of extra fabric because it’s easier to just cut it off.)
To sew them, I first hemmed the sides of all the pieces.
These are the three small rectangles. See how jagged and unprecise the bottoms are? I cut that off later. Then I layered them like the diagram shows, all right sides down, with the long rectangles touching and the small rectangles covering the ‘breaks’.
This is the front so you can see what it looks like. Then I sewed all the fabrics together. After I did that, I sewed piping across the entire top. Afterwards, I pinned it onto my inside-out slipcover like this:
Pinning the front was fairly easy since I didn’t really have to measure. Make sure that the box pleats are on the corners and front middle, respectively. Mine were a tiny bit off, due to my lack of perfect measuring. That’s what I get I guess.
The sides were harder because I had to make sure the drop was about the same. I didn’t do this very precisely though and ended up with some mistakes. If I were to do it again, I would trim the slipcover to be exactly the length I needed it and then pin on the skirt. So do it that way.
Then I sewed it on, slipped it back on the couch right side out and saw a couple of issues where the arms met the skirt so I unpicked and repinned, then sewed it again.
See it’s a tiny bit off right there…I wanted the box pleated corner to match up exactly with the piping on the arm, like the other side did, but just an inch short of fabric. Seriously though, you really don’t notice unless you are constantly comparing your slipcover to the one in the PB magazine (which I was.)
I choked and didn’t take any pictures of the next part, hemming the skirt. What helped me was to draw little dots at the spot where the skirt hit the floor. I drew dots all around the whole skirt, then it was easy to figure out where the hem needed to be. I folded it twice to hem. And it was rough, I tell you, sewing those hems in my machine. My poor machine really took a beating making this slipcover.
For the back, if you’ve left yourself enough length, you can easily just hem it the same as the rest. I was dumb and didn’t so I had to add a little skirt (sans piping and box pleats.)
The last step is to do the velcro closures. I put these at the back corners of the couch. I put the slipcover on inside out and pinned it shut on top and a little around the sides, but left most of the back corner open. Then I folded the excess fabric back and pinned. The key here is to pull it tight to the couch and meet up the fabric, but then leave an inch or so on the arm side so that the velcro has a spot to overlap.
When you sew on the velcro, make sure the one part of it (the part on the back of the couch) is facing the couch, sewn to the wrong side of the fabric. Then make sure the other side is sewn to the right side of the fabric.
Then when you turn it right side out, it should look like this. Ignore all my unclipped threads.
And fit together like this:
Also ignore the fact that the skirts don’t match up. The other side is even worse. That is my punishment for not measuring exactly. But it is the back so as long as the couch is against the wall you really won’t notice. The best part is…now you are done!!!!!
To see how to make a cushion cover with a zipper, click here
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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! 
A-MA-ZING! Doesn’t even look like the same couch. And, the quilt is gorgeous
Wonderfully done!
WOW – great tutorial Heidi. Your couch is beautiful!! I shared it on my TT&J facebook page
xoxoxox
Jen
Thanks so much Jen!!! I loved your latest slipcover too!
Great job! You got it done just in the nic of time!
Not so hard right? Time consuming for sure though!! =) Looks fantastic.
Yahhhh! good job! I have been putting off slipcovering my couches (although they are hideous and are asking for it) I just don’t know if I should do white canvas or a dropcloth???? I too worry about the white getting really dirty and that’s why I thought to go with the dropcloth. But I love yours and an swooning over your quilt on top!!! If I finally got the nerve to finally slipcover I think I would have to do a quilt like you!!! hahaha! Oh the pressure! Again, love it!!
I love it, great job!
girls you are amazing.. i am jealous of your skilz
WOW! great job. I truly, really love it!
Great job! I also have a sofa that is slipcovered in white… what I really love is your Chevron quilt. Did you make it? I’m not a quilter…but I’d love to have one to put over my sofa.
Thank you! I did make the zig zag quilt also, you can see the post on it here: http://www.honeybearlane.com/2011/04/my-aqua-zig-zag-quilt.html
It sure does look amazing — you must be so pleased. Some early nesting going on huh?
Wow, you are quite a seamstress! Your slipcover looks so pristine and beautiful!
It looks fantastic. I’m incredibly proud of you.
You’ve inspired me. I’m going to do this! My couch is L-shaped. Wish me luck!
This is AMAZING!!!!! I LOVE how your living room redo is going:) Everything looks so nice!
I am in complete admiration! WOW! Great job.
WOW! I have been wanting to do this for awhile but my couch is HUGE and I don’t think I could ever get it to look as good as yours!
I think it looks amazing!!
Nicely done!
a.ma.zing. I love the velcro closure! It’s so beautifully done…you did a fantastic job!
Love your blog!! Its so cute!!! I am your newest follower!!! i would love to feature you on my blog. so let me know!!
So if you would like to go and check out my blog and follow me too! That would make my day!!! 
I am so excited to start blogging and share my ideas on food, crafts, and mineral make-up. I will also be doing giveaways on stuff, like mineral make-up. So look out for it!
Thanks!
-Brooke
For-the-luv-of.blogspot.com
Hi! this is truly amazing. You did a great job – I am super impressed! Found you through Centsational Girl today!
And started following!
Wow! I feel inspired and it all looks great! I have made cushion covers before…and several times I have wondered if I could do my whole couch. What stopped me was that the back cushions are attached firmly to the frame. I see that it didn’t stop you and now I believe it can be done. I like it I like it!!!!!!!
It looks really great! I am curious to know how it is holding up. I know it hasn’t been that long since you finished, but one thing that makes me nervous about making my own is wondering how long it will hold up…and how it looks on a day-to-day basis?
Good work on yours!
So far it’s held up great! I have my quilt over it almost all the time so that helps a lot of the dirt not get on the actual couch. Actually my son even got a little blood on the quilt and I’m happy it wasn’t the couch but I’m not sure how to get it out of the quilt. As for the fit, I made mine a snug fit so it really just looks great and not frumpy like some slipcovers do.
Hydrogen peroxide will take blood out of material. Blot it on full strength, then rinse. Or put all in washer with half cup in reg cycle. Works for me!
LOVE the result- really, realy professional looking.!!
I think you did a great job! It looks great.
This. Is. Amazing!!
Hi Heidi, I am wondering how much fabric did you purchase for this slip cover? I’m terrible at guessing how much to buy before I start cutting things up. It’s beautiful and I can’t wait to try it!
I think I purchased like 22 yards which was way too much. There is a guide on Fabric.com but I added more because I was making slips for each cushion on the back. I would say 18 yards or so but find that guide on fabric.com.