Slip Into Something New With Slipcovers, Make Your Own And Do It Right!

June 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Slipcover basics

Initially, making slipcovers for your couch, loveseat, recliners and dining chairs is relatively easy and at the same time complicated. Choosing the fabrics and designs for them is the easy part, measuring and cutting the layout of the patterns from your fabric is something else.

Romina Abrigo Editor of the "Sewing Machines For Sale" website -- http://www.SewingMachinesForsale.me -- pointed out;

“…One very useful tip is choosing the fabric after measuring your chair and after you've finished cutting the layout. This is where your savings will add up. If you know the exact measurements, getting the right size of the fabric will be a breeze, and you won't need to waste any during the cutting process…” Added Romina Abrigo

Measuring tips

Since taking all the measurements of your couch is a painstaking task and might consume more time than putting it all together, this is the most crucial part in making your very own slipcover - one wrong slip and you might end up wasting a lot of fabric.

Here are some very useful tips to make sure that you get it right the first time around:

1. Assign a letter for every curve of your chair. Paying attention to the details could simplify your workload rather than complicate it.  Example: for an armchair, its parts include the back rest (both front and back), arm rest (both inside, outside and front), and the front gusset. Assign a letter for the length and width of each part.

2. Measure your chair carefully. This is the most important step in making your slipcover. A ruler would be useless for this task since most chairs are padded down and a ruler could be ill-suited for all the curves. Use a measuring tape instead. Write all the measurements down on a piece of paper.
3. Using your measuring tape and chalk, try to draw the measurements on a large piece of paper which will serve as your pattern when you transferring the measurements on to the fabric. You may need to keep a close eye on your chair to get it right. For this part, you need not rush. Take your time and make sure that you get all the measurements and curves right.

4. After you have successfully made the layout that will serve as a pattern for your fabric, you may now proceed to cutting. Compare each part of the pattern to the chair. This will ensure your accuracy.

Once all the measurements are done, and the patterns are all accounted for, you can now proceed to choosing the perfect fabric and design for you chair.

Fabric and design

The fabric that you plan to use for you slipcover must accentuate the entire ambience of your room. Various fabrics have their own unique designs and are readily available on the market today. Some of these fabrics include solids, prints, plush, toile, stripes and plaids.  

You need to consider the design of the fabric used before you start cutting it up for your slipcovers. Those with patterns like stripes and plaids needs to be well thought out since you don't want to look at your chair and get a feel of slapdash or a messy design. You need to make sure that the pattern will fit the overall design of both the slipcover and the sofa.

Lay the fabric on the sofa to determine the location of the pattern on the chair. Once you think the pattern is in the right place, you can now mark down the location and proceed with cutting the fabric using the pattern that you made earlier.

“…You might think that making your own slipcover is impossible. To be successful in this endeavor, you need a lot of patience, determination and hard work; and the end result will definitely take your breath away…” Added Romina Abrigo

Further information, resources and reviews of the best and cheap sewing machines for sale by clicking: http://www.SewingMachinesForSale.me