The New Slipcover For The Old Ugly Sofa- Part 3

Hello again!

I am finally getting around to posting Part 3

of "The New Slipcover For The Old Ugly Sofa".

If you are just happening upon this post,

you can read Part 1 

HERE

and then Part 2

HERE.

Part 3 is all about how I made the

new cushion covers.

 Happy Happy Me!!

As I showed in Part 1,

I had measured around the circumference of the 

cushions for the boxing measurement.

Part of this boxing would include the zipper.

 So the zippered portion of the cushion cover would

have to be in two pieces.

The original (ugly) cushion covers had the zippers

measured to 30 inches, 

so I just used that same measurement.

For each cushion, I cut 2 pieces, 

each the length of the zipper.

 Then I sewed them together with a 

basting stitch and pressed

the seams open.

I cut the length of the zipper roll

and made sure I had a zipper pull on it!

I had to be careful not to zip that pull off

before I stitched the ends closed.

I pinned the zipper under neath the seam. 

Then I sewed the zipper in place using my zipper foot.

As I got close to the end of the zipper,

I carefully opened up a few inches of the seam

with my seam ripper. 

Then I lifted my presser foot with the needle still down.

I very carefully pulled the zipper open and past

the presser foot.

Next, I sewed the long boxing piece to

the zipper boxing panel, on each end.

I reinforced this seam and top-stitched it

for strength.

This boxing panel was the length of

the circumference of the cushion,

minus the zipper panel length,

plus about 3 inches for seam allowance

and a little zipper protection.

Then I tried the whole boxing strip on the ugly cushion. 

This is the zippered panel. 

After I tried the boxing panel on the cushion,
I was able to pleat the excess fabric over the

end of the zipper, to create a protective 

fold over the zipper head.

This will prevent that zipper pull from rubbing and

wearing the other fabric out.

After I got the boxing the correct size for the cushion,

I pinned the piping all around both edges.

Notice the cut ends of the piping on each side.

I stitched the piping all around and then left

the ends unstitched.

Where the piping overlapped, there was  

an excess of the piping cord.

So I pulled it out and cut it off.

Then I folded the excess piping fabric and 

wrapped it around the other side of the piping.

The cut ends of the piping cord met I could 

lay the piping fabric over them.

Then I was able to pin the piping down

and stitch it together with less bulk.

Once the boxing was all finished and piped,

it was time to wrap the cushions.

 

 

Uh wow.

Lets just get that covered, shall we?

As each of these foam cushions was actually

in pretty decent shape,

I decided to just wrap them with 

fresh batting.

I didn't even bother taking off the current cover.

As I wrapped them tightly, smoothing out the wrinkles,

I pinned the edges in place.

And then I stitched it all in place,

with a doubled thread for strength.

I wrapped the corners and stitched 

them down to the sides.

I cut 6 identical rectangles,

each the dimensions of the cushions plus 

1 inch on each side for the seam allowances.

  

Then I put the boxing on the wrapped cushion, 

wrong side out,

adjusting the zipper panel to the

correct edge of the cushion.

I opened each zipper a few inches so 

that I could unzip it to take it off 

once I was done pinning the top and bottom on.

Using the piping seam as a guideline,

I pinned the top and bottom seat panels

to the boxing.

This is the inside of the front edge of the cushion.

Each corner will end up being slightly rounded because 

of the wrapped cushions.

I pinned it to fit snugly.

As fabric fibers relax from being sat on,

the cushions can get sloppy looking.

I wanted it to fit cleanly so I made it tight.

After I pinned it all the way around, 

I reached into the unzipped area and 

unzipped the rest of the cushion.

Then I VERY VERY VERY carefully

pulled the pinned cushion cover off 

of the wrapped cushion.

I say very carefully because those sharp 

pins stabbed me so many times on this step!

Then all that was left was to 

sew those cushions together!

Once again, I used my zipper foot,

stitching on the piping seam to get

a snug seam for the cushions.

 After I sewed on the piping seam,

I ran another row of stitches,

1/8" away from the first row,

as reinforcement.

I didn't even trim off the 

excess fabric from the corners,

as that extra fabric provided a little more stability.

I turned the covers right side out!!!!!

  

And then  I stuffed those wrapped cushions back into 

the completed cushion covers,

and zipped them closed.

I covered a few old down throw pillows

with some plaid fabric from my stash,

and added some of the leftover 

sofa slipcover piping. 

Then I jumped up and down and did a gleeful

yet embarrassing happy dance!!!!!

Much whooping and hollering

and loud raucous singing took place at this point!!!

The old ugly sofa was completely hidden

and in it's place was exactly the sofa I had 

dreamed of when I bought the fabric

all those years ago!!!!

Thank you for bearing with me

for these 3 long posts.

I hope they have made sense

and maybe even helped you

drum up the courage to take on the

daunting task of making a fitted slipcover

for your sofa. 

Next up, 

Back to school sewing!

Happy Sewing,

Sivje