How to Make a Couch Throw Cover

Make a handmade couch cover using basic sewing materials.

Used couches can appear weathered, tattered or ripped, causing the rest of your room decor to look unappealing. Although purchasing a new couch may not fit your decorating budget, you can save money by recovering your old couch using a decorative couch throw cover. Buy a new, premade couch throw cover from a department store or create a handmade, custom throw cover using a few inexpensive materials purchased from an arts and crafts shop or fabric supply store.

Things You'll Need

• Stretch fabric (1 yard wide by 5.5 yards long)
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Elastic ribbon (2 inches wide by 48 inches long)
• Sewing needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Cut four pieces of stretch fabric to measure 36 inches wide by 48 inches long. Sew two of the pieces together width wise using a sewing machine, then repeat to sew the other two pieces together width wise. Place the two long rectangles together lengthwise and then sew them together to create a large piece of fabric measuring 72 inches wide by 96 inches long. This will create a couch throw cover for use on a standard 6-foot long couch.

2. Lay the fabric out flat with the right side facing down.

3. Turn the edges of the fabric in by 1/4 inch and then again by another 1/4 inch.

4. Pin the edges using straight pins and then sew around the pinned edges with a sewing machine. Remove the straight pins.

5. Cut two pieces of 2-inch wide elastic to measure 24 inches long each.

6. Pin one end of an elastic strip onto the wrong side of one corner of one of the short ends on the fabric. Then pin the other end of the elastic to the other corner on that same short end of the fabric.

7. Sew the ends of the elastic in place by hand using a needle and thread.

8. Repeat to sew the other strip of elastic onto the other short end of the fabric.

9. Slip the couch throw cover over your couch.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not pull stretch fabric when sewing the fabric with a sewing machine. This could cause the stitching to create gathers or tucks in the fabric.

• Keep sharp scissors, straight pins and sewing needles away from children.