How to Estimate Fabric for Slipcovers
A new slipcover on a sofa makes a big difference in a room. The varieties of fabrics available allows you the freedom to create many different styles. With just a change of fabric, you can go from the colonial styles of New England to the southwestern styles of New Mexico. A slipcover is not the same as upholstery, a slipcover is made to slip over the upholstery. Therefore, it takes more fabric to do a slipcover. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Make a list of the different components of the sofa. Include on the list outside back, inside back, deck, arms, back and seat cushions, skirt and self-welt cord.
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Estimate the fabric for outside back by measuring the outside back from top to floor and side-to-side. Measure the inside sofa back from side to side and from top of couch to the deck. The deck is the part that holds the cushions. Allow 6 inches for the tuck in. Put totals by each section on the list.
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Figure the fabric on the deck by measuring from back to front, side to side from the widest point and deck to floor. Add 12 inches for tuck-ins on the deck.
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Calculate the amount of fabric for the arms by measuring each arm from back to front, from deck up over arm to the floor and the front of arms from top to floor. Add 6 inches of fabric for tuck-ins on each arm. Total the amounts for each arm, add them together and write it on the list next to arms.
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Evaluate each cushion, whether it is a back or seat, separately. Measure the longest part from side to side, top to bottom or front to back and cushion thickness to get an estimate for each cushion. Add totals and put next to cushions on the list.
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Measure the length around the bottom of the sofa for amount of fabric needed for the skirt. Figure twice the amount of fabric for a lined skirt.
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Allow ½ yard of fabric for every 10 yards of welt cord needed. Welt cording goes around the top part of skirt, around cushions or on front of arms to give a sofa a finished look.
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Add all the figures from the list to get an estimated figure for the amount of fabric needed for a slipcover.
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Tips & Warnings
Double check your measurements for accuracy.
Allow extra fabric for matching prints.
