Easy Slip Cover Tutorial

This slip cover was created because I needed to make the black chairs in my kitchen lighter for photographs. We didn't end up using them, but it was so easy to do, I'm going to make two more for the chairs I didn't cover. Here's what I did:

Measuring and cutting:

1. Measure chair back across and to the seat.

 

2. To cut I added 1/2" to the measurement going across and 3/4" to the measurement going down.

3. Cut two layers of fabric on the fold in your new measurements. The fold is the top of the chair, so you are cutting the long way.

4. For a ruffle, cut a piece of fabric double the width of the chair x 4 1/2".

Make Ruffle:

1. Fold the ruffle fabric in half the long way right sides facing. 

2. Sew a 1/4" seam on each short end of the ruffle.

 3. Press, trim and turn so the right side is out.

4. Press

 If you have a ruffler for your machine, by all means, use it. I did. But if not do the following:

5. Using an 1/8" seam allowance sew a basting stitch across the right side of the ruffle. Pull thread to gather.

Hint: I like sewing from the middle to each end.. That way I have less of a chance of breaking the thread when I pull it over the two shorter distances. Another good idea is to sew two lines of stitches to give you a fuller gather. Always press your ruffle after you have gathered to hold it in place. 

Attach the ruffle to the back side of the slip cover:

1. Fold the short ends of the slip cover in 1/4" toward the wrong side of the fabric and press in place.

2. Pin the ruffle in place 1/4" from each end of the right side of of one of the ends of the slip cover with the raw edges of the ruffle along the fold you just created.

 
 3. Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the ruffle in place.

Create the slip cover:

1. Fold the piece together right sides facing and sew each long edge using a 1/4" seam allowance (pin the ends of the ruffle inward so they don't get in the way).

2. Press stitching, trim corners and turn and press again. The ruffle is now facing down and the folded edge you sewed on is folded under.

Hem:

1. When you pressed the ruffle down, the hem of the ruffle side naturally turned up toward the wrong side of the fabric. Now turn the other side up 1/4" toward the wrong side to match and press in place.

2. Turn the piece inside out, and edge stitch along the inside edge of the folded hem using a 1/8" seam allowance.

Finishing touch:

1. You'll notice at the top of the slip cover that the top corners are rather pointy. To make them more of a box shape, fold each pointed end down 1/4" onto the side of the slipcover and hand stitch in place.

 

  

Comments

[Jennwith4]

1.

Very cute and super simple. =) I'll have to try this for my chairs.

[Kimberly Shaw]

2.

This is helpful, love the ruffle!!!

[Sivje]

3.

So cute Bari! I love the fabric you chose. I remember making 150 white cotton slipcovers for my wedding reception folding chairs 21 years ago and they were pretty much exactly like that. Well, except for they were white. But you know what I meant.
Have a great week!

[MahSistersQT]

4.

This is so me. I love it. Thank you for sharing.

[jen]

5.

so cute! i'd love to make a slip cover for my office chair as it is ugly and boring.

[SewWhatsNewcom]

6.

This is a great project! We'll be featuring this at Sew-Whats-New.com. Great work! We'll post a link to your fabric line too.

[Erika Sews-it-all]

7.

We love this project, and we're featuring a link all next week at www.WeAllSew.com! Contact me with any questions, thanks! - Erika

[Karisa]

8.

I just wanted to let you know I have linked to this project and thumbnail on our site. I think it’s a great project that our readers will love to make! We are always looking for more tutorials and sewing patterns, so if you have any similar projects please feel free to send them my way or let me know if you prefer we not link to you. Thanks!
Karisa
[email protected]
Editor, www.AllFreeSewing.com

[Joanie]

9.

Thanks so much. This is exactly what I have been looking for. Can't wait to get started.

[Beverly]

10.

I used some pretty pillow cases to cover the back of my chairs. Just slip them on! Depending on the chair, you might have to do some simple altering.

[[email protected]]

11.

is there a web site where I can purchase half chair covers for dining room chairs. The frame is wicker which are frayed and I want to cover just the tops. Two are winged with arms???
Could you please reply via e-mail.?

Thankyou

[joan milligan]

12.

Is there a website where I could purchase half chair covers? My dining room wicker frames are frayed and I'd just like to cover the tops.

Thankyou

[Diane Keyser]

13.

I would like to know how to make this same thing but with rounded chair back. I don't sew much but find your directions easy to follow.

[Mrs Linda Griffiths-Gulliver]

14.

I would like to know how to make cover for dining room chair please