How to Make Furniture Slipcovers

Slipcovers help to create a more sophisticated look for furniture as well as protecting it and extending its life. Making slipcovers on your own adds a personalized touch to your home with fun designs and styles.

Things You'll Need

• Furniture (sofa or chair) Measuring tape A sewing machine or needle and thread Slipcover fabric Fabric pins Scissors

Instructions

1. Measure the piece of furniture you want to make a slipcover for using the measuring tape. Measure every side, the front and back, height and various angles. Having precise measurements is very important to covering furniture.

2. Choose the fabric you want to work with as your slipcover. Experiment with different colors and styles. Lay the fabric out on the floor by your piece of furniture. Always buy at least double the amount of slipcovering you need in order to use it for pillows or cushions.

3. Lay the fabric over the piece of furniture and loosely pin it around the edges of the furniture to reaffirm the measurements. You can do this in steps (for example, the back of the couch, the top of the chair) or you can do it as one session of pinnings if the furniture is smaller. Allow for about a one-inch hem on all furniture.

4. Take the fabric off of the furniture and use the sewing machine to secure the hems where the pins are, removing the pins during the process.

5. Fit the slipcover to the piece of furniture multiple times while sewing the hems shut to make sure it fits and that no further adjustments are needed before continuing. Most likely you will make many minor adjustments. Once you are completely done sewing, fit the slipcover to the body of the furniture tightly, but provide a little bit of slack in the fabric. Tuck under stray edges of fabric and use a needle and thread to secure them.

6. Measure out cushions and pillows if necessary or desired, and sew the fabric together without fitting the slipcover on first.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be careful when using sharp machinery or objects.