My First Slipcover!

Well, I did it.  I survived the making of my first slipcover.

I showed you the beginning stages of this project here when I decided to tackle making my first slipcover.  I referenced multiple tutorials in that post, but Miss Mustard Seed’s Slipcover video tutorials were the most helpful.

I used some white cotton twill fabric from my stash and an old, stained Rachel Ashwell tablecloth to cover this chair.

The seatback, seat bottom, and arm pieces were cut individually from cotton twill.  The back piece and the front skirting were cut from the old tablecloth so I could use the crochet trim as the finished edge.

Now, in case you were expecting a Miss Mustard Seed caliber slipcover here, complete with piping and a pleated edge… well, ahem, you might need to go visit her blog.  Ha!  Since this was my first slipcover, I thought I’d try and simply succeed in piecing it together before I went and got all fancy schmancy.

I think it turned out pretty cute, wonky seams and all.  In retrospect, there are some things I would have done differently… for starters, I would have not done the separate arm pieces but rather would have extended fabric from the back of the chair to wrap around and join to the seatback. Those little pieces were very difficult to maneuver while sewing, causing me to rip a few seams and suffer a few poked fingers.  *ouch*   I also would have sewn the back portion in two pieces with a center seam to help it hug the chair a little better.

So, will I make a slipcover again?  Maybe.  Hopefully if I do try this again, I’ll take my time and make it a little more Miss Mustard Seed.  As for the chair, I’m not quite done with it yet.  Those little legs need a fresh coat of paint, don’t you think?

This little corner is in my Master Bedroom, and I’m working to make it a cozy little place to sit and read.  I still need a small table and a lamp and a few more things on the wall… but it’s getting there.  This slipcover marks another project off the to-do list – woot!

Hope you had a great weekend and an even better Monday!

Linking here:

Savvy Southern Style

Inspire Me Please Party

The Inspiration Gallery

Fabulously Creative Friday

Somewhat Simple

Whipperberry

Tatertots and Jello

Funky Junk Interiors

Too Much Time

I Heart Naptime

Three Mango Seeds

The Sunday Showcase

Home Stories A to Z

Inspiration Exchange

Power of Paint Party

The Scoop

Tuesday’s Treasures

The 36th Avenue

Transformation Thursday

Be Different Act Normal

It’s Overflowing

Beneath My Heart

Happy Housie

Slipcovering Furniture for the First Time

I have redone quite a bit of furniture over the past couple of years, but am a newbie when it comes to slipcovering furniture.  Yes, I made new slipcovers for the Paint-Dipped Camping Stools I refurbished last year, but since those were a simple rectangle with ties, I’m not really counting them.  I’m talking the real deal, custom-fit slipcovers here, made to wrap every curve and angle just so…

And with that, here I go.

I found a neat barrel chair at our local Habitat Restore last summer for a steal.  It’s old and not in the best shape and since it’s got that nice 70s pleather covering, I wasn’t sure that reupholstering would be the way to go.  Thus, I decided to venture into slipcovering.  This is the progress so far.  I’m using some white cotton twill that I had on hand to cover the front seat and seatback and hope to use a stained Shabby Chic tablecloth to cover the back of the chair and the trim.  The tablecloth has a nice crochet edge detail, so I’m hoping to be able to use it as the finished edge all the way around.

Ambitious, I know… but if all else fails, I figure I can always find more fabric, right?

I must’ve watched Miss Mustard Seed’s Slipcover series a million times before I attempted to do this.  There are other tutorials available as well; here are a few more I thought were good:

She Endeavors

Blue Roof Cabin

Custom Slipcovers by Shelley

Honeybear Lane

Progress has been painfully slow around here since my unexpected surgery last month, but I’m happy to report that I’m fully recovered and ready to get back to my project list.  First up is this chair… right after I get back from the beach, that is, since we’re heading out on our annual summer family beach trip next week.  I’m looking forward to some sand and sun – you can keep up with the fun if you follow me on Instagram!

So tell me… have you been brave enough to charter the waters of slipcovering?