Taught in Home Economics classes – basics of sewing, so the future homemaker might figure out something like this:
Not perfect, but better than it was. To be honest, I really do not like slipcovers. I’d much rather, very simply, have a pretty, comfy, chair with nothing on it but me, and possible a throw pillow, cat, or perhaps child. BUT, I hate the furniture and the upholstery we have, even more than awkward looking covers. After dusty Cairo, I have also learned to appreciate the wash-ability of covers. Unfortunately, no store on earth sells covers to fit a wing chair shaped like this. I’m pretty sure the State Dept had these monsters custom-created to a) either ensure local upholsters and seamstresses received a lot of business or b) drive people like me batty or c) all of the above.
Anyway, I looked at a couple of books for ideas, then grabbed pins, fabric, and scissors. For just winging it, I think it turned out ok. Gotta start learning somewhere, and I have two more chairs to go. I might have to re-do these with better fabric once I feel like I know what I’m doing.
Next lesson…
NOT taught in Home Economics class. How to REMOVE kitty butts from works in progress:
What do you mean, my tail is in your way?
I was actively sewing, moving (trying to at any rate) this pin-filled fabric around, and Pixie jumped up, purred at me, then lay down and went to sleep… what was I supposed to do?
Well, obviously, I got the camera and took a picture… before removing her sweet snoozing little self elsewhere so I could finish!
10 comments:
Wow, I am so impressed with your skillz! Looking at FS furniture pictures at post, I am sure knowing how to cover the hideous furniture will come very handy. They really need to start teaching a slipcover making class at FSI. Or, maybe you can teach it, once you perfect it.
Thanks Daniela!. If the next two covers turn out better, I'll share what I did. I took a 9wk filler class of Home Ec in high school, but didn't learn much. I already knew the basics of using a sewing machine, etc. There was far too much stress on following patterns and being 100% precise. I mean, that's very good and important, once you're good at it! Otherwise it's scary! Sometimes it's important to simply grab stuff and go for it.
LOL! Loved the cat. You did a great job. You're right, sometimes you just have to jump in and do it.
When I say that our cats know how to help with everything, I'm not kidding! Thanks Becky!
Oh Connie - how I wish we were closer! I LOVE to sew (can't seem to find the time right now ...). Your slipcovers look amazing! I could totally use a tutorial...
Hope all is great with you!
You are so talented! I went the slip cover route in China, not because the furniture fabric was hideous...just that white chairs and little fingers and feet don't live well together. Being in China, we were able to walk our chair through the fabric markets (that was a sight in itself) and have it measured and custom fitted for covers at a very low cost (less than $5 a chair with fabric and labor). Lots of families went this route. Ended up having sofas done too -- all in micro suede, which has held up beautifully! So far all our furniture has been the same in each post so it has worked. When you are done, give an update. Would love to see the final products... including cat approval! Well done, Connie!
Jill, that would be so much fun! One day, maybe! I am not sure how good of a 'tutor' I might be, as I tend to make stuff up as I go so often. But I could do peer support pretty well, and am a long-time craft enabler! (ooh! yes you DO want to buy that fabric/wool/set of hooks/etc.)
Nomads by Nature - We have a white formal dining set... same as we had in Cairo. I mean, seriously, WHITE? For families?? I wish I knew where to buy fabric locally. This doesn't seem to be the place for it. I bought some slipcovers (from the US) for use in Cairo, microsuede, and it was great for function, but ours were washed quite often (it was so dusty!) and the fabric faded because our apartment was in full sun. I saved some of the better bits, but they were done for. I don't think I could manage doing all the sofas and everything myself, but fortunately, slipcovers.com has versatile pre-made pieces that work well (not for $5 a chair rates though! That's great!) They also had throws in matching colors, which is what I bought to cut up & fit the wing chairs.
Must. Learn. To. Sew. Thank you for the continued inspiration...I am thinking I will try to make it my spring goal!
Jen - You're welcome :) Getting back into crafting (I got behind when the kids were small) has been one of my more recent goals and it's been so much fun!
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