How to Make Slipcovers From Jeans

Turn old jeans into slipcovers.

Denim is a sturdy material, and even when old jeans can't be worn any longer, some of the fabric is still good. Making slipcovers is one use for those old jeans. With a pattern made from muslin, a pile of pieces cut from old jeans, a few yards of another fabric and a sewing machine, you can piece together a denim slipcover in any pattern you like. You can add pieces of other kinds of fabric to match your decor. Your slipcover will be custom-made; make it look the way you want it to look.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern to fit your chair
• 3 yards fabric
• 10 pairs of old jeans legs
• Scissors
• Quilter's cutting guides (optional)
• Rotary cutter (optional)
• Cutting mat (optional)
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Sewing machine needle
• Embellishments (optional)
• Anti-fray product (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Cut usable sections from old jeans for reuse.

   Examine the denim material and cut out any areas that have holes, stains or other flaws you don't want in your slipcover. If you are able to salvage large pieces of some of the jeans, such as entire legs, you could cut some of the pieces in a rectangular pattern. When you cut the rectangles, cut along the grain of the denim and take the rectangle from the middle of the material. The excess you cut away from the top and bottom will be somewhat triangular since the top of the leg is wider than the bottom.

2. Iron or press all pieces of material so they are flat and wrinkle-free. Use the cotton or high temperature setting for the jeans pieces and whatever setting is required for any other pieces.

3. 

   Cut the jeans material into pieces of the size and shape you want. For simplicity, use squares, but if you want a more complex design you might try cutting triangles or other shapes. Quilter's cutting guides would be helpful for that.

4. Lay the muslin pattern pieces on a flat surface. Place jeans pieces on top of them in whatever arrangement you like. Overlap them about 1/2-inch on each edge to account for the seam allowance. You can create a checkerboard pattern by alternating light and dark squares of denim or a patchwork made from several colors or shades of jeans or mixed fabrics. If you want to use mixed fabrics, you could make the area on the slipcover that will get the most wear and tear, such as the seat and arms of the chair, out of jeans squares, and make the larger segments of the slipcover, such as the back, with another type of fabric that matches your decor.

5. 

   You can use a variety of fabrics in a custom-made slipcover.

   Sew the pieces together. Decide which surface of the jeans pieces you want to be showing when your slipcover is completed. The surface that shows on the outside of anything made of fabric is called the "right side." Place the pieces right sides together, leave a 3/8-inch seam allowance, and sew a double line of straight stitches down the edge where the pieces will be joined. If you do not have a double needle, just sew one line of stitches, then another. It will take a little longer, but will work just as well.

6. Repeat the sewing process with each piece of fabric. Continue adding pieces until all of the pieces are sewn together.

7. Put the slipcover onto the chair and check the fit. Take note of any places where it is too loose and sew another line of stitches in those places to take up a small amount of the slack. If there are places where the slipcover is too tight, rip the seam in those places and restitch it with a slightly smaller seam allowance.

8. Mark where the hem should be, remove the slipcover from the chair and sew the hem. Turn the edge under and sew a double line of stitches to secure the fabric. Use an anti-fray product on the hem if you wish.

Tips & Warnings

• You may use decorative stitches on the hem or elsewhere on the slipcover.

• Add any other embellishments you desire.

• For a different piece of furniture, such as a sofa, adjust the amount of fabric as needed.

• Make sure the needle and thread match the material(s) you are using to prevent breakage.

• Using larger pieces of material saves time.

References

• Slipcovers and Bedpreads; Sunset; 1989
• The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Home Sewing; Jeanne Argent; 1990
• Sandra Betzina Sews for Your Home; Sandra Betzina and Debbie Valentine; 2002