hate me, why didn’t I straighten out the slipcover first?
I made this beautiful white slipcover last weekend. And by “I” I mean, my friend in real life, the slipcover whisperer from Pink and Polka Dot. She is a self taught slip cover queen. And also, the title of this post is a lie. I am not going to be telling you how to make the slipcovers, but I can tell you where to find out how to make them. It’s easier than you might think.
Here we all are Tiny Twig, The Nester, Pink and Edie. And our victims, an office chair and my $12 thrifty wing back chair. I know it’s hard to tell because of my mad photo shopping skilz but Edie wasn’t actually able to make it for the weekend. So I just snuck in a photo of her to make it look like she was here. We so missed her.
I used about $50 worth of white canvas or duck or something like that. I just asked my fabriteer what people use for white slipcovers. They can also tell you how many yards to get for your item. Then you need to wash it in hot water and dry it so it shrinks before you sew it.
Pink commented on the fact that I should have found a curvier chair for my first slipcover. I think she was being sarcastic.
I am not even going to try to tell you what we are doing in every photo. Not because it’s hard or impossible to remember but because Pink has already done the hard work of creating an ebook so the world can know her secrets.
Basically we cut pieces of fabric the shape of the chair and pinned it all together, I couldn’t believe how easy it was once we got the hang of it.
Doesn’t it look like something out of the Curious Sofa’s Halloween Extravaganza?
We basted everything with black thread. Basted is fancy talk for let’s pretend we are in the 1800′s and get out a needle and thread and do really big stitches around where we pinned everything so that it will help hold all these pieces together. Then we all started sewing. Including Edie.
Here’s Twiggy’s slipcoverd chair~she is so adorable.
Because I am Nellie Olsen, I decided it was imperative to have the most elaborate, labor intensive, persnickety skirt possible for my slipcover. Much to my surprise, Pink was all for it and knew just how to attack making the little knife pleats all around the bottom. She’s almost like a slipcover mistreater, she knows all the cheats to make slipcovering easy and not intimidating but also is smart enough to know how to make it so it won’t fall apart when you wash it.
Here’s Pink, slaving away. In my defense, I actually did sew the entire body of the slipcover all by myself. But she did all the real work.
It took the four of us from 10ish in the morning until 5ish at night to do the two chairs. Edie was no help whatsoever though and Twiggy left at 2ish when her chair was done. I think it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in a long time. Not that raising boys and stuff isn’t rewarding but there is something about seeing immediate results that is so invigorating.
The chair has claimed it’s rightful place as my most adorable piece of furniture I’ve ever owned. I am in love. I wish I would have done it sooner. And I feel totally confident that I could recover another chair all by myself.
If you love white slipcover but think you can’t have them because you have kids and animals, read about Pink’s experince with white slipcovers. She’s had them for years. However, it is a commitment to wash them from time to time. Here are a few comments from the post I did the other day when I asked if you like white slipcovers.
If you are ready to take the next step and want to know how to make your own slipcovers you will want to invest in a little $10 ebook that Pink wrote. {disclosure, I get $2 for everyone that sells for being an affliate, I’m going on a shopping spree at the dollar store right after this} Click on the button to the left to find out more about the ebook. It will coach you through slipcovering the universe.
*
Lastly, before you need to go trim your 5 inch long fingernails, shave your wool legs and meet your new grandchildren for the first time, after reading this post, would anyone out there be interested in coming to my house sometime in the future to learn how to do slipcovers with me and Pink and hopefully Twiggy and Edie? We could um…practice on my sofa. It would be like a sweat shop fun hangout time for you to learn how to make slipcovers while I watch everyone sew serve up iced coffees and entertain you. You would need to be able to get here to the Charlotte area, know how to sew {just VERY basic sewing nothing at all fancy} and bring a sewing machine.
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You are so cute! Love the drawn in image of your friend…and that chair! $12?! Great job…reminds me of fashion school, draping of the form, but this time a chair. Very cool! Janell
LOVE LOVE your chair and the slipcover is OH SO PRETTY!! I am really really going to try and make a (white??) slipcover for my own chair after my vacation. Heck for my cat Pinky, lol she is just sweet and if she messes up (or moi) the washing machine is my best friend lol. Going to check to how to and tips now.
Hugs from Marian
I wish! I purchased a slip cover a few months ago, only to return it because it looked terrible on my sofa! I have such a comfy sofa, but the color just isn’t my thing anymore, and would really love to lighten (and brighten) my living room! Wish I were closer, cause I’m even learning how to sew right now!
I would do a slipcover party! I’m in Charlotte so I would totally be there!! I’m a sewer (if being able to make a pillowcase counts as being a sewer) but I have wanted to tackle this project FOR YEARS but I’ve never had the guts to try. So if you decide to try this sign me up!
I’d be up for helping out! Keep my name handy. One of the other girls probably has one, but if not, I can bring along a serger too to make the seams all legit-like.
Plus, it’d give me a good idea if I’m brave enough to tackle my own!
YES tracy–that would be GREAT!
Hi! I’m in the Charlotte area too and would love to learn to slipcover! Please let me know if you’re going to do this. I have sewn before to various sucess on the simplest of projects and own a sewing machine so I think that should qualify me??!!!
Yes, you are beyond qualified!
I would LOVE to come learn how to slipcover my sofa, but 1) I don’t know how to sew beyond a button and 2) I don’t own a sewing machine. Oh well!
Your chair looks fantastic!
I’d be there for your sofa slipcover project in a heartbeat (!) if it wasn’t for the fact that I live -oh, probably 12 or so hours away.
The chairs are beautiful! And I can’t wait to see your “new” sofa. I think you’re gonna love having white slipcovers!
That’s it. I’m making my husband pack up and move the kids up to Charlotte with me. Sure, his job is here in FL, our families are in FL, but once I tell him that when we’re in Charlotte I can go to the Nester’s house for slipcover parties, yard sales, swap meets, and other such fabulous gatherings, he’ll completely understand. :)
Nellie Olson? You are too funny!
Love the slipcovers. They are positively dreamy.
Yes ma’am! I’m a hop, skip and jump away. Count me in.
handmaderecess@yahoo.com
ohhh, great post! I so need to do this to my love seat, and a huge chair I just inherited from daughter Jamie. I have really been playing it over in my head. However, I’d rather be operating a table saw than a sewing machine. hmmm That won’t work, will it?
I’m going to check out pink’s site!
thanks!
gail
I’ve been meaning to ask you – would you post your iced coffee recipe? Pretty please???
Good for you on the slipcover! I love pleated skirts. Have you seen the latest issue of Country Living? I plan to copy that slipcovered ottoman for my sunroom.
tina
OH it is so easy.
2 shots of chilled espresso, then like 1 1/2 cups of milk?, then creamer to taste.
I never measure anything.
LOVE your slipcover. It’s so pretty! I really want to slipcover some of my furniture and while these posts are great, I would really like to get together with you gals and see first hand. I live in the Charlotte area and would race for the chance to practice with you! Please let me know if you do it.
P.S. Edie looks great and I am still in total chair envy over here…. great job!
I’ll keep you posted–if and when it happens, I’ll announce it on the blog!
can i come?
i’m in love and suddenly want everything in my house to have a white slipcover.
YEEEEEEEESSSSSS!
I bet if you come then my sister will be sure to come! She doesn’t sew but she likes to hang out!
I like to hang out too. Maybe I’ll bring my mom along to do my sewing for me ;)
now that is a GREAT idea! my mom sews {way} better than me too ;)
Oh My Word! I would love love love too. I’m about 4 hours away from Charlotte and have friends there. I have a sewing machine and can sew fairly well. But I am intimidated by slipcovers. I’m a fan of white and all that but I just use king size sheets and throw them over the ugly I’m trying to cover. This would be soooo great. Let me know when.
I want to make slip covers so badly! No matter how many great tutorials I read, I’m still chicken. One of these days maybe.
You are too sweet an have given me a big head! I had a blast with you and twiggy! Thank your gracious family for having me! Those pleats make me scream like a little girl! Luv them! Great job!
What impeccable timing!! I was literally sitting down to check out my ‘daily blogs’ before going off to tackle a white slipcover for the chair that’s been sitting in our basement for…oh let’s say…4 years. I’ve googled how to make one but Pink & Polka Dot never came up.
Seriously. This is providential.
I have chair envy!!!! I have 2 matching craigslist chairs that I bought with intent to slipcover them using Pink’s instructions. Haven’t gotten around to it, but this might have given me the motivation to just do it! I would LOVE to know how to do the little pleats, pretty please, do you think she would tell us how??
I have a slipcovered chair w/fabric light in color, yes it gets dirty, but I wash it and it feels so good. I wish all of my furniture had slipcovers. I have two small dogs and two small children and I would buy that chair again and again and again.
OK, pink, you have to tell everyone how to do the pleats now!
sweet friend, can we have our husbands drag my couch over, too? and get the sweatshop (i mean…friends) to do mine, too. yours looks great!
hee hee
That still looks hard to me and I’ve sewn all my life. Maybe It’s that I’m old and lazy! Actually, I might try it if I had Edie here!!
Not really hard but, somewhat time consuming
I. LOVE. IT!
I’ve been contemplating slipcovering our chair and sofa for a long time… but was too chicken.
Thank you for the inspiration!
so glad you featured this. I stumbled upon Pink’s post on how to make a slipcover months ago when I became the owner of 4 wingback chairs for $20. Yes….4 of them for only $20. Two were red and two were a weird brown color from a friend’s family’s restaurant that shut down. I didn’t know what to do since hubs had this idea of using them around our kitchen table even though they totally didn’t go with the decor/look I was going for. Luckily I found her blog and was inspired. I have two young kids ( 10mths and 3yrs) plus 2 cats that continually test the durability and create challenging “let’s see if she can get this clean” stains to the white slipcovers . I must say with Oxiclean and bleach in hand I just have to smile as with in hours it’s clean, stain free and back on. Thank you Pink&PolkaDot and Nester for bring more people over to the White Slipcover Side! Oh and love the extra pleating done on the bottom of yours.
I hope to do our dining room chairs soon. :)
Oh, I can so tell that Edie has lost weight….and I would love to come to bring the Southern Inspiration, but I am just oh so far away over here in TEXAS; I would love to come and see how the experts do it!!! ;D
Suzanne
Wish I were closer. I’d love to come help and learn how to make my own.
Anyone ever successfully slipcovered leather furniture? Can it be done (and look nice)?
ummm….YES…in a heartbeat, sign me up!
I would make the drive from Virginia! I sew, own a new Viking and have a small wingback I have been wanting to cover forever!!!!! OK…now you are getting me excited ;-) If I can manage a chair, I would then tackle my Ethan Allen sofa..I’m thinking big!
Oh, that is soo pretty! I have a question though. Can you see through that cotton duck to your below fabric? I have a couch with rather “Tuscan” colors in it (reds, golds, greens) and I am wondering if that white slipcover would look like a lady wearing white jeans with colored panties?
hahahahaha! that’s the funniest thing EVER! i didn’t notice any visible panty lines on Nester’s chair. you can’t see through mine either–and i got a lighterweight duck than Nester did.
I was worried about that too–nope, it’s thick fabric
Love the slipcover AND the Nellie Olsen reference.
I have off-white slipcovers, two boys and a husband who refuses to keep his snacks in the kitchen. No major catastrophes after a year with them. And like other people have pointed out, it’s so much better to SEE the dirt and take care of it (i.e. wash the slipcover) than to sit on upholstered furniture that “hides” the dirt. I don’t want to lay my head on dirt, albeit “hidden.”
Well, I could ride over with Edie, cause we live in the same town…but have only met via our blogs, LOL! And, I don’t sew, so not sure that would work out. But I’d love to come along just to hang out with you lovely ladies. :) Good luck! Sure wish I could sew!!
Don’t tell Edie, but she is looking kind of rough lately. I feel bad for her. ;)
SO jealous that you have local friends to help you with stuff like this. I am about ready to offer to pay for Pam’s gas (from Bibbidi Bobbidi Beautiful) so she can drive down to my neck of the woods and help me. I can sew a straight line, but measuring and cutting are beyond my skillset. ;)
It looks great, and I bet you are pleased with the end result, even if we all call you Nellie.
Yes, but, did you notice, she still had all of her necklaces on?
Ya know, we have white towels and I have no problem buying all 3 of my kids white clothes because that washing machine-with a little Oxyclean or bleach-is a beautiful thang. BUT…I never thought I could do white slipcovers because of kids. Why does my thick noggin insist on thinking inside the box??
Well, now I’ve seen the light! I’m a believer in white! :)
Love, love, love the slipcover. And if I lived anywhere near you I would definitely come to help with your sofa. And then I’d let you return the favor and help me do mine!
I would love to come! I have a sewing machine and I’m not too shabby of a seamstress. I’m not very far away…came to your yard sale. =) My couch needs a slipcover desperately. It is (are you ready for this??) cream, peach, some pinky color and seafoam green striped. It’s a very well built couch and comfy as can be, but is 40 years old, and yeah, it needs help. It matches nothing and I just kind of ignore it as much as possible and decorate how I like. White would be beautiful but I have three little people and white scares me a little. (I’ve never been a risk taker! I just need to take the plunge!) What about making a slipcover out of drop cloths? It’s quality fabric, cheap and a nice neutral, linen type material. Whatcha think?
Great job on your chair, it looks fabulous!!
Yes, but you can BLEACH white!!!
Love for you to come girl, if/when I decide I’ll announce!
Laine-
If you prebleach the dropcloths and wash them multiple times, they are a GREAT option. I have used them, not for a slipcover, but for other things, and I bleach them every time I wash them. They have not lightened since the prewashing/bleaching. Such a durable, econimical source for scads of material!!
Hhhmmm…never thought of bleaching the dropcloths! How white do they become? I don’t usually use bleach, so how much bleach would I need to use and how many times should I wash them? Such an awesome idea!! I have drop cloth curtains and bleaching them opens up another world of possibilities. So exciting!!
Thanks so much for the inspiration — that chair look GORGEOUS!! :) And if I didn’t live so darn far away — I would soooo be there! ;)
Oh yes, I would be very interested in coming to learn how to do slipcovers. But when you say basic sewing, that’s all I’ve got. I do have a sewing machine my mom bought me that I’ve never used, but…
That sounds like so much fun! I would love to come!!
The sweatshop sounds like fun to me! :) I would have to check my schedule because I would be driving down from Raleigh, but I’ve always wanted to be able to do this. Such a fun idea!
Great job on the chair- especially the pleats! I’m a gigantic sucker for dressmaker details.
Holy schmoley. I would totally drive to all the way to Charlotte to learn from Pink…and hang with you, of course. :)
I’ve desperately wanted to be able to do my own slipcovers for AGES. I’ve even read Pink’s tutorials. They’re awesome but I’d love to be able to sit next to her and work!
I’d bring my sewing machine…that I don’t even know how to thread…but I would finally teach myself how to use it before I come! :)
!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can be excused from needing to know how to sew since you are Kimba and I am biased. I’ll teach you what I know and it will take about 4 minutes.
What’s so funny about this is that when I saw your paragraph about how you COULD have them no matter what type of beast you have in your home, I knew I would be in the mix. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Nester you made my day!!!! And I almost told you I would drive to Charolette, then I realized that all my beasts (read husband/kids/dogs) would probably not like that. So if you take your slipcover show on the road, make a stop in Tulsa and we’ll get busy!
Sign me up! I have wanted to try this for years, and I am a sewer with a machine! And I live in Charlotte!
By the way, I also totally fall into the don’t-think-they-can-do-white category, because I have four sons nine and under and a toddler girl :-)
I would be delighted to be slave labor…if only to get me out of spring cleaning and painting my family room the most wonderful shade of yellow *EVER*.
I do love the shade, but have been putting it off for 2 yrs already. What’s one more weekend? ;-)
Of course, I probably live a good day and a half drive away. And I’d have to stop and visit my grandmother on the way (you are way east of me)…and my parents would want to know why I came all that way and didn’t come visit them, too…
I’ll tell you what–you come and help me slipcover *my* couch, and then you can go home and tell folks all about the crazie Okies, their cows, the total lack of amazing thrift stores within a 2 hr radius of my home, and other tidbits interesting to absolutely no one except the entirety of PW’s audience.
LOL
The chair looks absolutely GORGEOUS! Love the knife pleats…something I would dealy looooove to do…details, details, details…I will be waiting with bated breath to see the couch redo…
What fun!
Adorable! Love the ruffle! A whole new you! I must admit I am going to miss the plaid and red and everything I have come to love about your style, but I know how it goes. You just want to evolve into a new-to-you look! And they are very adorable and girle and fresh and pretty. So cute.
Now you have me wanting to write a new post about my white slipcovers so I will. If anyone is thinking about white slipcovers and needs more input, I’ll share my own experiences on a post. I love them, but there are some issues to be aware of. i was gonna write them all here but it would fill up your comments so I’ll spare you!!
I would love to come to your party with my wingbacks but I bet they would make me buy them their own seat on the plane.
HEART!!! You and the slipcover!
WEll, I will always have color somehow. And I’m still a little on the fence with the slipcovers, now that I have painted my walls I am still deeply in love with my sofa. It’s just really starting to wear, like with holes and such and I can’t buy a new one so a slipcover seems like a good idea.
PLEASE COME!!!!
Hiya, Nester! Dern foot- I didn’t realize you were serious when you asked me to come down and make your slipcovers!! I wish you lived closer! Any chance you could make the slipcover get together in early June? We’ll be on vacation in Kitty Hawk June 6-19. How far is that from you?
I meant to chime in the other day when you asked about living with slipcovers. I absolutely love living with mine, especially with little stick-handed people- but I have a secret. I have found a miracle product. It’s called Folex and you can buy a big ol’ bottle of it for around $7 at Bed Bath & Beyond (it’s in the “beyond”). It’s actually a carpet cleaner, like resolve but I’ve been using it on slipcovers and upholstery (and tablecloths and curtains…) the great thing about it is- no rinsing! You just spray a little on the spot, rub it around with your finger a little and the spot just disappears into thin air. I have no idea how it works, but it does- amazingly. I even used it to get magic marker (not the washable kind) off the linen slipcovers in my dining room. That took a little more rubbing, but it did work. As with anything, you probably want to try it in an inconspicuous area first just to make sure it doesn’t affect the color of the fabric, but I haven’t had any problems with it. It’s awesome for when you have some spots on a sofa slipcover but don’t want to go through taking the whole thing off, washing, pressing…
Your chair looks fabulous! I hope you enjoy it!
OH dear girlfriend, I chuckled the whole way through this post. Then fell onto the floor laughing as I tried to figure out if I was sitting at the table sewing or face down on the table in despair. You probably got way more done without me there. I take frequent coffee and chatting and laughing breaks. Oh it makes me so sad that I didn’t make it this time but I’m so ‘in’ on the sofa! And if you’re Nellie Olsen when it comes to bossy then I’m her mother. But with Ma Ingles personality. So I could help you sweetly boss everyone else around. And I’ll bring my killer machine!
It’s looks great. Ms. Pink and Polka Dot is amazing and I wish I could have met Twiggy!
Love you all!
edie
I will slipcover my car if you agree to come.
me too! please come!
I love the slipcover for your chair. I have two wing-back chairs that I am thinking of making slipcovers for also. How many yards of fabric did it take? You have inspired me, now it’s getting my nerve up to do it.
mmmm, I think about 6ish yards?
I have a chair similar to yours that needs slipcovering. I’d love to come and learn how and help with the sofa. I’m not far from Charlotte and have a sewing machine and know how to use it!
I love this! I’ve long been wanting white slip covers, but my non-sewing skills are less than inspiring-her post makes me think I could actually do this. (after I practice making a straight seem with the sewing machine). I think white slip covers would be the best for my three children, one husband, and one hairy dog. :) Putting slip covers in the washing machine is much easier than putting a sofa in the washing machine!
Oh, I want to learn to make them turn out right. I made a sad little cover for my sewing chair a couple of years back. sad, I tell ya. I want to make cute little slipcovers for my dining room chairs, which are leather. Your chair looks so cute now. I’m here in Charlotte and would love to practice on your sofa. I can sew, just have no confindence in my slipcovering abilities. I do love the slipcovered look, and have several things in my long term to-do list that are slipcovers, but I’ve shyed away from attempting them.
Hi Nester! I am so in love with the look of your slip covered chair! I would love to learn how to make one! I live in South Carolina but I still want to come to the slip cover party. Can I? :}And I will bring my husband’s sewing machine!
Count me in on a slipcover party! I actually attempted to make one of these several years ago as a new military wife, when all we had was my parents’ 30-year-old sofa. I had no instructions, and no super-sewing aunts nearby (or any other relatives for that matter), so I just made it up. Although we did use it for awhile, everyone (especially the captain’s wife) could surely tell that I had “just made it up.” Kind of embarrassing, but better than orange velvet. To learn a real techniques for making a slipcover from *The Nester * would bring the whole experience full-circle!
Definitely count me in!!!
Gus loves the photos of Edie. Tee he he.
I have one of the world’s ugliest couches and am just dying to slipcover it, especially if it turns out as cute as yours. I tried once, years ago, and got as far as the seat cushions. I would love to come try my hand at it again. I took a quilting class this summer, so I do have basic sewing abilities, and I’m right outside of Charlotte. Perfect!
Hee hee.
You’ve had about 20 people say they’ll come (at least half of whom live in or around Charlotte (wherever that is…)) and about another 15 who’d come if they did live in Charlotte.
I hope you’ve got a big room/garage and a lot of extension cables. A sort of slipcover cottage industry could be hitting Charlotte any day now!
Nick–you don’t know where Charlotte is? Are you in Canada or something?
North Carolina!
I’m in England. As in the original one the other side of the ocean, not New England!
The closest I’ve been to Charlotte would be Killington, Vermont. (Or maybe the airport we flew into is closer…)
I love it, sweet girl…:) You all did great…:) I plan on making it to the party with my party hat on…lol I have a few slipcovers to show off…Have you seen my newest one, Poor Pitiful Pearl? She is sweeet…I am working on Olive Oyl, her twin sister…I hope they get along…You know how sisters can be…lol Thanks for sharing your slipcover…I love it!!!
I soooo want to come to the party! Am I crazy for looking on google maps to see how long it would take me to get there from KY? Does that qualify me for a total stalker?
I love to sew, and love to do slipcovers, and would LOVE to hang at with you guys while we work.
I slipcovered a chair with a drop cloth and I love the way it turned out. Very affordable! :)
And it has stayed really clean, and with a house full of four boys…that’s pretty amazing!
Love this post!
ooohhh…i’d love to see that slipcovered chair done w/dropcloth!
I love it! It’s like this post was meant for me. I found two wingback chairs for $10 each a while back and I’ve just now gotten serious about making white slipcovers for them this past week. They’re exactly like the one you found, just a different floral print. Would you mind sharing with me how many yards of fabric you used for it? I found another tutorial that said I need 11 yards and that just seems like way too much. Awe – now I can’t wait to get started on them. Thanks for the great post!
I already have slipcovered sofas or I would be jumping at the chance to learn at the feet of Nester (I am only 90 miles away)! With so many slipcoverers-to-be wanting to attend, I’m imagining that the “party” may look something like this this photo :)
Nester’s slipcover party
Can you believe how excited your readers are at just the thought of a slipcover party at your house? I am loving it!
that photo is awesome!
Glad you liked it. The scary thing is that my grandmother used to work in a place like that!!
oops, you forgot, there should be bars on the windows and chains on their feet!!!
I agree that the photo needs some creative editing ;)
Simply adorable. So happy you and friends tackled it–i’m so impressed at quickly you all did it!
Oh, is Charlotte a very far drive from Atlanta? I’d love to come for a slipcover making party, especially since I have a $25 sofa we bought from craigslist that has very good bones (originally from Storehouse) but has yucky fabric problems! I was thinking I’d learn to reupholster it, but slipcover would be a good option too I think.
Seeing your chair makes me wanna go troll Craigslist for cheap chairs right now!
Amazing!
Could you give me some advice on Sewing Machines? I bought a Singer Simple recently..and returned it less than a week later. It was horrible. If you, or anyone you know has any recommendations for a basic cheap machine please let me know! Or even anyone who sees this, I’d love some feedback. Email me at smilensarahlee@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Oh I love this post! I can’t sew, but my sisters can, I can’t wait for them to read this post! Thank you for sharing! I have white slipcovered couches & I love them! I can’t imagine life without slipcovers & I have 5 kids & we live on a ranch! They are the best. I haven’t ever had to bleach mine. I use oxiclean & it works great! Your chair looks so cute!
Take Care,
Maria
So glad you posted this. I started a slipcover on a yard sale find six months ago and got only as far as the top cushion. I needed a little inspiration to get back to it. Thanks!
Love your white slipcover for the wing chair! The ruffle~ly skirt trim is sooo cute, glad you caught the slipcover DISEASE. It is so contagious!
I’m in Greensboro and would love to learn about making slipcovers. Even though I own and operate a custom window treatment workroom, I’ve always been intimidated by slipcovers! If it pans out, could you possibly do it on a Saturday? BTW – your blog is one of the first that I ever read and I love it!
If only I could come! I would totally travel from Jersey just to learn AND I have my own sewing machine……but wait, I only know how to sew a straight line. Darn! Now I wish I had practiced more! I have been dying to learn how to make slipcovers, (I can never find premade ones that look good.) Oh well, I will be glued to my computer and try to learn from the posts.
I can’t wait to run over there and read Pink’s tutorial as soon as I post this comment! I have 2 wing back chairs and an ottoman that this creamy color that is just ‘off’ somehow. I think they just look dirty with the rest of the colors in my living room. A slipcover would be perfect! I’ve just always been too intimidated with my limited sewing skills. Great post. I wish I lived closer ’cause I’d definitely come to your sweat shop. :0)
I’m completely inspired! Looks amazing!
Does my mother’s 1950s Sears sewing machine count? Do I have to have at least some aptitude for sewing? Who am I kidding? I’m totally not qualified! But I’m totally willing to bring the donuts, order the pizza, etc.! :)
I have been thinking about learning how to make a slipcover for our sofa. With the four of us and three dogs, it takes a beating! I would love to come join the party. And we will be moving soon, it might put me a little closer to you. We’ll be moving to Huntsville, Al.
Happy Nesting!
Great how to. Why do white slipcovers work? One word — BLEACH. They’re easy and that’s why I like them. Even entitled the name of my blog after them: Slipcovers for your Walls.
Just one big question? How to you get the EEEEWWWWWW off of a used chair/sofa? I’ve seen some potential pieces lying around Goodwill or yard sales, but I just can’t get past the gross factor of some of this nasty furniture. No telling what has sat on those things? Now I’m sounding like Nellie Olsen, but seriously, what do you do to “clean” it?
FABULOUS!!!!! LOVE it.
And you are SO darn funny. ;-)
I would totally come to a slipcover party– even all the way from Atlanta! Seriously, I’m stuck with a brown couch I hate– I just know white slipcovers would make me love it again!
Is it hard to wash all that fabric at one time?
I loooove that slip cover so much! I’ve been looking at it all day and it makes me smile every time. The little blue pillow is just perfect. Did you buy it (where?!) or make it?
I’ve been thinking about doing slipcovers for some time now, but your post and Pink’s directions inspired me. I ran right out and bought some canvas. It’s being washed and dried right now, then I’m cutting it up.
Bravo girlfriend, I am so impressed!
I have a sewing machine and sew the basics. I would love LOVE an excuse to drive down and hang out making your sofa slipcover.
I have 2 chairs in hiding that I desperately want to slipcover! They would love to make a journey to your destiny for a makeover! Keep me posted b/c I want in….maybe I would even bring some cookies to the party!
I would totally come to your party! My bro lives in Huntersville and of course Lily is up there so I could make it a visit / continuing education experience.
Do tell…what dreamy blue color is that on the walls in the photo of the Slipcover Post? While I’m impressed with the white slip, I was more drawn in to the background color of the photo (considering blue for my dining room).
Thank you kindly!
That is the sweetest slipcover I have ever seen, LOVE it! Also lovin’ the blue wall color, I’m looking for a blue for the bedroom but getting blue right seems to be difficult.
Miss Nester,
Congratulations on your slip cover. It’s lovely! Such a fun time with friends.
I did my very first EVER slipcovers the other day. I, too, am in love. But where was I? I didn’t read your post until today and so I think I missed Pink’s party. Boo hoo.
BTW, I’m going white.
Here’s my post (if you have 4-5 minutes…I wrote a lot – sorry – I get excited)
http://kitchentableproductions.blogspot.com/2010/03/louisa-and-penelope-are-all-dressed-up.html
I will totally come help you sew slipcovers. I can bring my machine and my skilz. I had an old sofa and love seat that I made tailored slipcovers for… my daughter was a baby/toddler, so I had her standing on my calves and hugging my thighs as I kneeled to do all the pinning!!! It was such a thrill to take that threadbare furniture and make it into something new. Such a blessing, when money was so tight. So tell me when & I will be there. Tuesdays are my least available days. Blessings!!!
That was hilarious. I especially like the part about Edie being no help. And your drawings of her–well, priceless. :)
how funny! love your gray {walls and blog background!}.
wish i liked to sew like that but, alas… i supposed I could always knit a slipcover…. ?
;o
You made this almost looks easy, but I know myself…it would be a hair pulling, tear inducing project.
You chair is beautiful!
-FringeGirl
I’d love to come join you for a slipcover lesson. Please let me know if this works out. I just bought a babylock serger too.
What fun!!!! I love the idea of having slip covers you can just throw in the wash. I want to do the same to my couch.
I would love to come to your house~sadly I don’t live close enough.:( What fun that could be though.
Ruth
They are sweet , easily washable and to safe my lovely sofas from being dirty by my kids. I will ask my wife to read this post as I think males are not better in sewing such things.
just now reading this post and perfect timing because last night as I was falling asleep I was plotting furniture rearranging and how I could move the not so beautiful but comfy and FREE green chair that I’ve had for years into our bedroom but it really would disrupt our peaceful white haven and how maybe I could use an old white sheet I have that I wouldn’t mind cutting up and experimenting with to make a slipcover for it. I don’t know how to sew and don’t own a sewing machine but was considering just using a staple gun and some safety pins (maybe hot glue?) and going after it! We’ll see. I’m also plotting a dust ruffle “mistreatment” on my guest bed that’s in the nursery-in-the-works to hide the exersaucer, jumperoo,etc. that we are so thrilled to have been given for free but that we won’t be using for a few months yet. lots to do . . . maybe I should get off the computer! Kelly
p.s. have i ever asked you if you have photos of your boys’ nurseries that you would share?
Ok forgive me- I tried to read thru the comments to see if you’ve already addressed this but got lazy (and I’m at work, so . . . ). My question is, how much additional trouble was it to add the piping? Tell me all about it! It adds sooo much to the end result. And of course the knife pleats are a must! I’ve done a cheaty slipcover before and did not think to baste my seams- I tried to use a stapler (doesn’t work too great). I left off the piping though and it just looks not as great. For my next project I’m begging you to tell me it’s so easy and at least halfway mean it :)
Just found your blog for the first time thanks to the Pioneer Woman. Love that girl! I would love to learn to make a slipcover since I have a GREEN plaid sofa that doesn’t go with anything. Maybe you could have weekend lessons in fabric stores?? Come to Tulsa! I need you.
I wonder if I could do that for my sofa? Looks a little complicated, but the results are fabulous. I moved recently, and in the move my current slipcover ended up looking worse than I’d like it to. And the pillows are starting to look like they need serious help. I think I’ll start by making covers for the pillows and see if that helps.
Please include directions on to do a ruffle or the knife pleats online please!
Would love to know how to do the knife pleats also! And would love to come and joing you for a day of slipcovering!!! Let us know. I am on the coast of NC.
i love your chair. i’m new to your blog and excited about maybe trying a slipcover myself.
I just stumbled upon your website and have found it to be very inspiring. I have a white slipcover on my sofa and have been searching for the perfect blue/grey color to paint my living room walls. You have great taste and I’d be forever grateful if you would please share the name of the paint you used?
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