Instructions to Make a Fitted Slipcover

Fitted slipcovers in shabby chic style on sofa and chair.

A fitted slipcover is a cover that is custom-made to fit the specific piece of furniture in a close-fitting way. This results in a more tailored appearance and often the furniture can appear as if the cover is the original. To achieve this result you must fit the cover closely to the piece of furniture and often you make a muslin cover to create a tight fitting pattern before cutting and sewing the cover fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Muslin fabric
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Seam ripper
• Marker
• Fabric
• Laundry
• Iron and board

Instructions

1. Purchase inexpensive muslin fabric in addition to your finished fabric. Many cover makers will create the muslin cover and use the pattern they create to calculate their finish fabric. They buy extra finish fabric to allow for pre-shrinking by laundering and ironing the fabric before cutting out the pattern.

2. Position your muslin over the largest part of the furniture being fitted. For a couch and overstuffed chair this would be the seat back to the floor. Position your second piece based on the second largest part of the furniture. For a couch and chair this would be the seat base and forward to the floor.

3. Pin the fabrics together along the seat crease (or seam areas) and pin widths based on the widest part of the furniture. The fabric will need to be able to pass over the widest parts of the furniture. Cover the sides, arms or other features of the furniture by following the seams and being mindful of the requirement to pass over the widest sections. Pin as closely to the furniture as possible. Observe areas where you may be able to attach ribbons to tighten the fabric after you install the cover.

4. Create 1/2-inch seam allowances at each seam and 1 to 2 inches along the bottom for future hem measurements. Remove the cover and sew it along your seam lines using a wide basting stitch on your sewing machine. A basting stitch is wide and for creating a temporary seam.

5. Turn your cover right side out and fit it onto the furniture piece. Pin areas where you can tighten or improve the fit. Pin ribbons to the cover with safety pins and tie the ribbons to tighten loose areas. Continue fitting the cover to the furniture by ripping out old seams with a seam ripper and sewing new seams until the cover fits cleanly and as tightly as possible.

6. Turn your cover inside out and trim along your seam lines for a uniform 1/2-inch seam allowance. Mark areas of darts, pleats, gathers, ribbons or other fitting features by drawing directly on the muslin with a permanent marker. Label each panel. Generally, you will not include hem measurements so allow excess fabric for your future hem line. Rip all your seams with a seam ripper and iron your muslin. You will use this muslin as a pattern.

7. Wash and iron your finished fabric. Match your patterns if you have shapes, flowers, patterns, stripes or other design elements on the fabric that need to go the same direction and relate to each other. Patterned fabrics will often require extra yardage to match. Pin your muslin to your finished fabric and cut out your cover.

8. Sew your cover with fabric face sides together. Generally, you will sew darts, gathers and pleats prior to joining the sections together. You can sew ribbons or elastic fittings, snaps, buttons and other details both before and after the seams, depending on your design. Clip your corners and ease your seams. Clipping corners is a way to remove excess fabric at corner areas. Easing means to release tension in curving seams by cutting small slits in the back sides of the seams.

9. Turn your cover right side out and place it on the furniture. When the cover is correctly positioned, pin your hem all the way around. Remove the cover and sew your hem. Trim any excess fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your muslin pattern to make additional covers. Watch for fabric sales in colors and types of fabrics you like. Keep in mind that piping, while it looks crisp, will often shrink in the laundry and pucker. A cover without piping may look better after washing than one with piping.

References

• Threads Magazine: Slipcover A Side Chair Dressmaker Style; Linda Lee; 2008
• Wise4Living: Fitted slipcover -- The Pros and Cons of Fitted Slipcovers