How to Make a Ruffle Sofa Slipcover

Create your own ruffled sofa cover using basic craft supplies.

Old, weathered sofas make a room appear disheveled and unsightly. Buying a new sofa to replace your old one is costly, and may not fit into your household budget. Instead of buying a new sofa, cover the sofa you have with a decorative, ruffle-edged sofa slipcover. Save even more money by making a ruffled sofa slipcover yourself using a few basic materials purchased inexpensively from an arts and crafts or fabric supply store. Making your own slipcover also allows you to customize the slipcover using your favorite fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Elastic ribbon
• Sewing needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Measure the width and length of sofa you're going to cover, using a measuring tape.

2. Cut out a rectangle from stretchy fabric to the same measurements as the sofa, adding on 24 inches onto each side of the rectangle.

3. Measure around the perimeter of the sofa, then cut out a long strip from the same stretchy fabric to double the measurement in length and 6 inches in width.

4. Lay the fabric rectangle out flat, then wrap the fabric strip around the perimeter of the rectangle. Fold the fabric in the strip over into 1-inch wide gathers, every 2 inches.

5. Fold the edges of the rectangle under by 1/2 inch, then pin the edges on top of the gathered edge of the fabric strip using straight pins, overlapping the strip by 1/2 inch.

6. Sew around the pinned edge using a sewing machine, then remove the straight pins.

7. Turn the sewn form over. Cut four pieces of elastic ribbon to measure 6 inches long.

8. Fold the sides of each corner over by 3 inches on both sides.

9. Place one of the elastic pieces diagonally across each of the corners, positioning the elastic over the folded corner pieces. Sew the ends of the elastic ribbon pieces in place using a sewing needle and thread.

10. Turn the sewn form back over, then drape it over your sofa.