Yellow Chair Slipcover Part 2

So I finally had a few minutes to get back

to my chair slipcover project.

I am struggling with how these

photos are showing up, 

but I suppose that is what happens with

an orange chair and a yellow tape measure.

I thought long and hard

about how I wanted to make this slipcover.

With an upholstered chair,

you often use a lot of pieces in order

to really mold and fit around the frame.

But with a slipcover, 

you can simplify the lines

and do larger pieces that just

smooth over the frame.

I decided to skip the front band piece

between the seat and skirt.

I like to start my slipcovers by making 

a "muslin". 

I know some people are brave

and can make the slipcover with the 

actual fabric and do a great job.

However, I prefer a fitted slipcover

 and I don't want to run the risk 

of wasting my fabric if I make a big mistake.

So I start with big rectangles of a muslin 

fabric that I can write on and cut to fit.

I use drapery lining fabric

because I have a lot left over from 

old window treatment projects.

But you can use regular muslin

or an old sheet,

or just some fabric you don't love.

I would use a fabric with the same 

amount of give that your slipcover fabric has

because you want to know how it will lay 

on the chair.

I center the rectangle on the seat and then start

tucking it in, all around.

Then I cut away the excess,

so that I can start to get the shape

of the seat to use as a pattern piece.

But I am careful to leave enough

to have a seam allowance.

This is the corner of the seat 

and covers that front band.

I will cut off that excess at the corner

so that it is fitted.

Once I got the seat piece cut the way I wanted it,

I put the rectangle of fabric on the back and

did the same thing.

So I start tucking and cutting

into the corners to get the shape.

Don't cut too deeply into the corners

because you are going to need 

seam allowances to sew.

Next, I pinned all along the curve
of the chair back.

This is important for this chair,
because if I cut it straight,
it would not fit properly.

I trimmed off the extra,
leaving a seam allowance of about 5/8".

I put my clear quilting ruler on the top
of the back of the chair,
so you can see how curved it is.

When I cut the piece that goes
on the top and sides
of the back, I will need to take this into account.

Next I pinned the next rectangle
over the arm and started
pinning the front curve.

The clear quilting ruler
is useful here too,
for showing the angle of the arm front.

Then I pinned the outside arm panel
to the inside arm panel,
which wrapped around the arm.

I left enough seam allowance to pin
the arm pieces together.

Then I pinned another piece
to the front of the arm,
pinning all along the curve.

Following the curve of the arm,
I trimmed off the excess ,
leaving a seam allowance.

I used a soft pencil to trace
the line of the piping underneath.

This is just a good way to mark the
shape of the chair on the pieces.


Ok, that is all I have for today.

More photos coming.

Happy Sewing!

Sivje