How to Measure for Slipcovers

Follow these steps for each piece of furniture you want to cover. You will need to purchase the calculated number of yards in both your chosen home decorator fabric and in muslin. The muslin will be used to make your slipcover pattern pieces.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Muslin
• Home Decorator Fabrics
• Measuring Tapes

1. Use a tape measure to take your measurements. The tape measure will more easily conform to the shape of your furniture than will a ruler or yardstick.

2. Remove any cushions or existing covers from the furniture before taking the measurements. Any mending of rips or tears in the existing upholstery should also be made at this time.

3. Measure the length of each section of the piece of furniture, from top to bottom. Measure the outside back, inside back, seat, front, inside arms and outside arms. For box-shaped chairs and couches, remember to include the top back and the top of the arms in your measurements.

4. Add 2 inches to the length measurement of each section for the seam allowance. Add 5 inches to the inside back measurement. This extra fabric will be tucked between the inside back and the seat.

5. Add all the length measurements together and divide this number by 36. Add 2 yards to the total if your chosen fabric has stripes or any other design that will need to be matched. This is the approximate yardage you will need to make a slipcover for that piece.

6. Take the same measurements for a couch or loveseat. Home decorator fabrics are usually not wide enough to completely cover these longer pieces of furniture, so the slipcover will have to be made up of two or three sections. Determine the total yardage needed by multiplying the total yardage in step 5 by the number of sections.

7. Measure the distance from the bottom edge of the piece of furniture to the floor if you are adding a skirt. Add 2 inches to this measurement for a seam allowance.

8. Measure around the bottom of the piece of furniture. If the skirt will have pleats, multiply this number by 2. If the skirt will be gathered, multiply this number by 3 (remember to include extra fabric for the seam allowances). Divide the width of the fabric into this measurement.

9. Multiply the number calculated in step 8 by the number calculated in step 6. Divide this number by 36 for the yardage needed to add a skirt to the slipcover. Add this number to the total yardage calculated in step 5.

10. Remember to measure all of the cushions that will be covered as well and to add this yardage to the total yardage required for the piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a pen and paper handy to jot down the measurements you take.
• Look to the existing upholstery as a guide for the placement of seams and to determine the sections of the piece.
• Make a list of the required measurements and write these down. Use this list as a guide when taking measurements.
• Choose 54-inch or wider home decorator fabrics for your slipcovers. This will allow you to cover larger areas (such as chairs) without the need for seams.
• Look for muslin that is the same width as your slipcover fabric.