Even though you will be able to buy yourself a slipcover without spending that much amount of money, the one that you are going to buy will be too tight for your chair,or it might be too loose. It is quite hard to find the one that will snugly fit your chair.
Well, to make the slipcover fit perfectly to your furniture, you will have to make them by yourself. Now, you might think that the process is going to be a tedious one, but that is not entirely true. Well, we will show you how to make a slipcover for a chair, and you will understand that making one by yourself is the best option.
Methods for Making a Slipcover for a Chair
A slipcover can be a relatively cheap and easy way of sprucing up an worn out, old and beaten up chair. And if you decide to make them on your own, you will be able to save a couple of bucks more.
Apart from that, you will also be able to ensure a perfect fit, as we mentioned. With all that said, these are the methods that you can follow to get your chair a slipcover:
Method 1: Making a Slipcover Using a Drapery
If you do not have that much of DIY skills or do not have any tools for dealing with cloths, then you can simply make a slipcover using a drapery. The steps that you are going to have to follow for this method are:
Step 1: Source the Fabric
First of all, you will have to gather the fabric that you are going to use for the slipcover. Some of the fabric ideas that will work for this method are:
- An old quilt
- An old bedsheet
- A canvas drop cloth
- Any fabric that is purchased from the store
However, you will have to make sure that the amount that you are selecting is enough for the chair. It should completely cover it and also should reach all the way to the floor. If you are looking for a general measurement, then you should get something that is at least 6×9 feet.
Step 2: Cover the Chair with the Drapery Cloth
Now that you have got yourself a cloth that you will be able to use for the slipcover, you will have to drape it over the chair.
In this case, you will have to ensure that the pattern of the cloth that you have selected lines up the way you want it to be. However, if the fabric does not have any sort of design or if it is unicolor, then you will not have to worry about alignment.
Step 3: Tuck the Cloth Inside the Folds
After completely covering up the chair, you will have to use your fingers to push the cloth into the several folds that you will find on the chair. Tuck them through all the folds and make the fabric hug the chair snugly. If there is any type of creases or unsightly folds, smooth them out.
However, if you still notice that the creases or the folds are not going away, you can use fabric adhesives. By using that, you will be able to make the drapery cloth fit snugly with the chair. Alongside that, you will also make sure that it does not slip off from the side.
You will be able to use the adhesive over the original fabric of the chair. However, if you use more than the adequate amount, you will have trouble in the case of lifting it up.
Step 4: Cut off the Excess from the Bottom
After you have ensured a perfect fit, you will have to cut off the excess. But before you do start the cutting process, do make sure that the folds are tucked into place, and the glue has dried up completely if you applied some.
If you want to leave skirts to hang on the bottom, you would have to cut it at about two inches above the floor. But do make sure that you cut in a straight line or else it is going to look a bit odd. However, if you do make a mistake in the case of cutting it, you will be able to trim it back to half an inch again.
Method 2: Making a Snuggly Fitting Slipcover
As we mentioned, you will be able to make the slipcover snuggly fit with your chair. However, the process is a bit more tedious than the one that we described in method number one. But the end result is definitely worth the effort. Nevertheless, these are the steps that you will have to follow for this method:
Step 1: Take the Measurement
First of all, you will have to get yourself a measuring tape. We are recommending a measuring tape because you would want to get precise measurements. Here are the things that you would want to measure:
- Width from the back of the chair
- Height from the back of the chair
- Top to bottom distance
- Arm length
- Width of the seat
- Depth of the cushion
- The distance that is from the floor to the lowest edge of the seat fabric (optional)
- Distance of the bottom circumference (optional)
The optional measurements that we have included in the list are the ones that you would want to measure if you plan to include a skirt on the slipcover. If you do not plan to include one, you can skip those.
Step 2: Select the Fabric
Now that you have all the measurements, you will have to get yourself a fabric. For durability, we would recommend you to opt for sturdy fabrics such as thick hemp blends, twill, canvas, or denim. But do remember to keep some extra if you make any mistakes or for hemming.
Step 3: Get Yourself a Tracing Paper
We would recommend you to buy a tracing paper for making an initial pattern for the slipcover. You will be able to use Swedish tracing paper, freezer paper, or medical table paper for this too.
Step 4: Make Outlines of Each of the Sections
After you have got yourself a tracing paper, you will have to make outlines of each of the sections on the paper. This step is important because without properly tracing out the sections, you will not be able to make the slipcover snuggly fit your chair.
Step 5: Cut According to the Outlines
After you have traced each of the sections on top of a tracing paper, you will have to cut them. Use a scissor or a utility knife for the cutting process. Do remember to leave one inch for the seams and two inches for the hems.
Step 6: Mark the Patterns on Top of the Fabric
Now that you have cut the tracing paper, you will have to place them on top of the fabric. Lay each of the sections on top of the fabric and mark the outlines using a fabric marker.
Step 7: Sew the Pieces Together
Using a sewing machine, you will have to join each of the pieces of fabric together. First, you would want to start with the front and arm sections. Then work your way along the back and the front sections. Lastly, you will have to join the bottom and seat pieces.
If you want a skirt on the bottom, you will have to first strip the material that you want to use for the skirt and sew it on the bottom section of the slipcover.
Step 12: Install the Slipcover on the Chair
Now that you are done with sewing all the sections, you will finally be able to put the slipcover on top of the chair. After you have put it on the chair, if it seems a bit uncomfortable to sit on it, you might have to re-sew the seams.
Final Words
We hope that we were able to properly show you how to make a slipcover for a chair. With that said, we would like to conclude here by wishing you good luck and hoping that you have a comfortable sitting experience on your chair after putting the slipcover on top of your chair.