How to Sew Slipcovers

Once you've fitted your furniture with a muslin mock-up, the mock-up can be disassembled and the pieces used as your slipcover pattern. The muslin pieces can then be stored away and used to make additional slipcovers later.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flat Work Surfaces
• Muslin Slipcover Patterns
• Cording
• Dressmaker Pins
• Dressmaker Shears
• Fabric-marking Pens
• Home Decorator Fabrics
• Ironing Boards
• Irons
• Sergers
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing Machine Needles

1. Prewash the home decorator fabric you'll use for your slipcovers (if the fabric is washable). Iron the fabric if necessary.

2. Lay out the fabric, wrong side up, on a flat work surface. If the fabric has a design that needs to be centered onto the pattern pieces, lay the fabric right side up.

3. Place the pattern pieces on the fabric so that the lengthwise grain marked on each pattern piece lines up with the lengthwise grain of the fabric. Place the pieces as close together as possible to avoid wasting fabric.

4. Make sure that any large designs are centered on the pattern pieces. Arrange the pieces for adjoining sections so that any stripes in the pattern will match up when the sections are joined.

5. Pin the pieces to the fabric and use dressmaker shears to cut around each pinned pattern piece. Use a fabric marking pen to mark each fabric piece (on the wrong side) as to which section it is. You may also find it helpful to label each piece as to its top, bottom and sides.

6. Sew the inside back, side back and outside back sections together to form the back section. Leave 3/4 of one side seam open where the inside and outside back pieces meet. This is where the zipper will be inserted. In a sofa or loveseat cover, you may need to place two zippers along the side or back seams.

7. Sew all arm pieces together to form the arm section, and sew the seat piece and front panel together to form the seat section.

8. Sew each arm section to the back section first. Sew the seat section to the arm section and then to the back section.

9. Finish and turn under any edges at the bottom of the slipcover that will not be tacked underneath the furniture or joined to the skirt.

10. Refer to "How to Add a Skirt to a Slipcover," under Related eHows, if you want to add a slipcover skirt at this point.

11. Insert a zipper at the chosen side seam or seams. Refer to "How to Put In a Zipper" for instructions on zipper application.

Tips & Warnings

• Baste the slipcover pieces together and make sure the fit is correct before you begin the final sewing.
• Use a serger to finish the edges of each slipcover piece before you stitch. You can also finish the edges as described in "How to Keep Raw Fabric Edges From Fraying."
• Remember to use a 1-inch seam allowance at all seams and to clip and/or notch the fabric along curves.
• Use cording, inserted between the seams, to make the slipcover seams stronger and to give the slipcover a more professional look. You can make your own cording or use ready-made cording in a contrasting color.
• Use upholstery tacks to affix the edges of the slipcover to the underside of the furniture if no skirt is to be added.
• Use an upholstery zipper rather than the sort of zipper used for clothing. Upholstery zippers are stronger and come in more suitable lengths.
• Insert the zipper in a cushion slipcover along the crosswise grain of one side panel. Cut one of the side panels into two pieces (remember to add in the additional seam allowance) and insert the zipper into the center seam that is created where the two pieces join.

[prussruss12]

on 5/24/2009 Excellent article, I especially liked the tips and warnings. From one seamstress to another, very well done.