How to Sew the Upper Section of a Seat Cover

You don't have to go to the expense of replacing your aging couches or chairs just because the fabrics look worn or outdated. Seat covers can give your furniture a vibrancy and color that will enhance your entire room.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Remove the pattern and the pins securing it to the fabric once you've finished cutting. Keep pins in a small box or bowl so they're within easy reach.

2. Turn the fabric pieces together and line them up, right sides together. In other words, the sides of the fabric that will be visible once the seat cover is on the chair should face one another. You will sew the seat cover section this way to minimize the appearance of the seam.

3. Check that the edges of the two pieces of fabric are even and line up together. Trim any extra fabric or loose threads before you begin sewing.

4. Pin the section pieces together at either corner. This will hold them together when you sew and reinforce the corners.

5. Set your sewing machine for the seam allowance indicated on the pattern. Many seat covers call for a 5/8-inch seam allowance, but check your particular pattern before sewing.

6. Reinforce the first corner as you begin to sew. Sew the section pieces together according to the seam allowance on the pattern. Reinforce the opposite corner at the end of the seam.

Resources

• Find all kinds of great seat covers here.
• Get patterns and directions for sewing many seat covers here.