DIY: How to Sew a Slipcover for a Wing Chair

A heavy-weight upholstery fabric will prove more durable and prevent wear.

Wing back chairs are traditional and graceful pieces of furniture, often built to last for many years. While this longevity is a benefit, these chairs can show their age in their upholstery. Wearing, fading and tears in the upholstery fabric can mar the beauty of these chairs. Reupholstering can be expensive, so a slipcover is often a more affordable option. With basic sewing skills, you can make your own slipcover using your chair’s specific measurements and the fabric of your choice, to create a custom look for your home décor.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Notebook
• Pencil
• Sewing pattern
• Woven upholstery fabric with no stretch
• Pins
• Marking pencil
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Notions

Instructions

1. Measure the various parts of your chair, particularly the height of the back, the depth of the seat, and the width of the wings. Write these measurements down and take them with you to the fabric store.

2. Purchase a pattern for a wing chair slipcover from your local fabric store, using your chair’s measurements to determine the pattern with the closest fit. You may need to alter the pattern slightly to fit your specific chair.

3. Buy the amount of fabric listed on the back of the envelope. Choose an upholstery weight fabric for a more durable slipcover. If you are new to sewing, you should select a fabric with no obvious patterns that have to be matched or lined up from one piece of the pattern to the next. Stripes and floral designs are more challenging to sew.

4. Wash and dry your fabric before cutting out the pattern pieces, if you plan to wash the finished slipcover. If you plan to dry clean the slipcover, you may omit this step.

5. Cut out the pattern and test fit the pattern pieces to your chair. Be sure that the wing pieces are going to fit the particular curves and size of the wings on your chair. If you need to make any alterations, do so before cutting out the fabric.

6. Cut out the fabric pieces, being sure to match the nap or design of your fabric, if it has any. If you chose a fabric with a design, be sure to center any designs on the main portions of the chair, such as the back of the seat and the seat cushions.

7. Fit the cut fabric pieces onto your chair by pinning them and placing them on top of the chair. Your slipcover should fit the chair snugly so that it doesn’t move when in use. Pay special attention to the fit on the wings of the chair, since these are prominent features of the chair. You may need to adjust your seam allowances to tighten or loosen the slipcover. Be sure the seams lie where intended on the wings, so that the seams are straight and near the back of the chair.

8. Sew your slipcover together according to the pattern directions.

9. Slide the sewn cover onto your chair to determine the hem along the bottom. Measure this hem from the floor to the desired height, so that the finished slipcover hem will look even. Sew the hem.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to use a heavy duty needle in your sewing machine if your upholstery fabric is a heavier weight.

References

• SEW-lutions Guidelines: Simple Seaming Techniques