Black and white buffalo check slipcover custom made for a classic English rolled arm chair. I wanted to keep this one 🙂 Fabric: Naples Shade, a heavy weight and durable poly cotton blend. Machine washable even though the label says dry clean only. Very little shrinkage. Ehe check is a directional pattern. I recently got hooked on 12 oz. Brazil linen while making a very detailed, traditional sofa slipcover for a customer. As I was working with this beautiful linen I wondered how it would look in a very simple, easy to make slipcover. Something with a loose fit and no details at all. I put it to the test and love the results! Here are a few tips for making your own: 1. Use a heavy weight linen for best results. For my chair slipcover, I used 12 oz. Brazil Linen in color Off-White from InstaLinen. Read my review on my Fabric page. 2. Pre-shrink your yardage. The natural beauty of Brazil linen comes through after it’s washed and dried. I
t takes on a soft crumple and floppy drape. No hard wrinkles, no pressing necessary. Here’s how I pre-shrink slipcover yardage. 3. Pin a loose fit. I loosely pinned muslin on one half of my chair to create a pattern and then cut it out in the linen. Learn the half pattern method from Paul A. Carter’s videos. 4. Forget about the details. No need to add welt cord, ties and zipper openings. A slipcover void of detail puts the focus on the lovely linen. I stitched my simple slipcover on my home sewing machine using a no. 12 size needle. Linen ravels so be sure to overlock or zigzag the seams. finally found a good quality white linen for slipcovers. It’s called Brazil, a heavy weight 100% linen from Insta Linen. I It worked up beautifully in slipcover copies I made for Shelley’s Quatrine sofas. I used her old, worn slipcovers as templates and tweaked the tailored fit to be relaxed and inviting. After washed, this linen takes on a casual look, floppy drape and softly crumpled texture. N
o hard wrinkles at all. Read more about why Brazil is a favorite. Are you thinking of updating an old chair for a new space? My customer did just that with indigo denim slipcovers for her Lake Michigan cottage. I used a 14 oz. yarn-dyed washed denim. This durable cotton cloth is family and pet friendly and offers smooth coverage over textured upholstery. Great for everyday slipcovers. To give this slipcover the best fit and function possible I inserted a placket zipper in the back for easy on and off. I also detached the back cushion, added new poly cluster fill and made a removable cover. A awning stripe slipcover made for a big, old comfy chair. This piece is now ready for its new home on Lake Michigan. It’s hard to believe these are the same chairs! To give the saggy back cushion new life, I detached it and refreshed the stuffing with polyester cluster fill. I also wrapped the seat cushion with poly upholstery batting to plump up the crown.
Fabric: Bridgewater Stripe in color Lake, a beautiful, grainy yarn-dyed cotton canvas by Roth & Tompkins. Changing out decor seasonally sounds like a daunting (and pricey) task, but there is one simple switch that is easy, affordable and makes a big impact -- covering your sofa with a new slipcover. This can instantly transform a space, update tired seating or protect furniture from pets, kids and stains. If you happen to be handy with a sewing machine, you may consider making your own, but if not, don't worry. There are many options on the market in a range of colors, fabrics and price points that will suit any design style. Read our buying guide and tips from decorating experts to help you choose the best slipcover for your furniture. Buy the right size. Since slipcovers come in many sizes, it's important to measure your furniture before heading to the store. Margaret Nanni, SVP of Product Development at Sure Fit, suggests to take note of the longest measurement of your chair or sofa, including the arms.
Sure Fit and other similar slipcovers will fit couches that are 83 to 96 inches long, a love seat cover will be for a 58 to 73 inch piece and a chair slipcover is for 32 to 43 inches. Also, measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of your sofa, as some covers have a ruffled or pleated skirt at the bottom. Bottom line: If you are hoping to get a more fitted, custom look, look for a cover made for your furniture's exact measurements. (Annie Sloan, an interior designer and author of Creating the French Look and 22 other books on interior decorating and paint usage, suggests measuring twice!) For a more laid-back feel, an approximate measurement will do. Or, consider a loose-fit slipcover. You won't need to fuss over exact measurements, yet you can still achieve that same casual affect.Slipcovers have gotten a bad wrap in the past as generally unsightly and unstylish pieces of fabric thrown over furniture. But Nanni told us that "the perception of slipcovers has changed, they are not only functional -- they are fashionable.
They have come a long way from what they used to be." Lisa Jackson, interior designer and CEO of Lucca & Co., always slipcovers furniture. She told us, "I love the attitude; it's more casual and inviting. You want to put your feet up and relax." Surprisingly, there are many options available in terms of fit. Traditional covers looks the best on sofas and chairs with rounded arms and rectangular cushions, but specialty shapes are available for other types of seating, such as wingback chairs or recliners. You can find a slipcover that works with any decor style, whether you prefer a clean modern look, traditional or shabby chic. And a slipcover can even give new meaning to a room's decor, making it unique and stylish. Jackson says, "there is no reason not to mix slipcovers with more formal furniture. It's the juxtaposition which makes the room sing." Fitted styles that hug the furniture tightly come in several pieces and have a seamless aesthetic. Also, details like contrasting welt or decorative trim can add visual interest and accent the lines of your piece.
Jackson mentioned that she looks for details -- like a tailored skirt and zippers -- when choosing a cover. Other covers drape loosely and just tuck into the cushions and may tie in the back. These are often less expensive, and our friends at Sure Fit say they take only minutes to slip on, so are great for pet owners or even to spruce up a dorm room. Bottom line: While the seamless styles are clean and modern, make sure they are easy to slip on and off for cleaning and swapping.Sloan says "It’s the fabric that defines the style. An upholstery fabric needs to be tough and firm." Heavy cotton duck, canvas or a twill blend are the best bets for seats that get a lot of traffic. These fabrics often fit looser and are more inviting and comfortable to sit on. Form-fitting covers offer a more modern and tailored look and are made from stretchier fabrics like a micro-suede or a polyester and spandex blend. Wool, linen and silk may be elegant and soft to the touch, but often need to be dry-cleaned.