Romancing The Slipcover!

Country Living Magazine

photo credit: Joseph De Leo

Romantique !

I’m currently having custom slipcovers for a client sewn up in a workroom I contract with. Slipcovers can be a great look, but they can be tricky at times. Along with having experience with various types of fabrics and trims that work best for slipcovers, I know my way around a sewing machine. So I thought it would be helpful to share a few tips and explain some of the intricacies of custom slipcovers.

Country Living Magazine

photo credit: Joseph De Leo

Custom and ready made slipcovers are two different animals completely, and their price reflects this. Fitted custom slipcovers are a high quality product, which are tailored to fit the piece of furniture like a glove. Semi-fitted or shabby-chic styles are looser and have a relaxed fit. Custom slipcovers are usually less expensive then a full upholstery job, but it is still an investment, so you want to get good value for your decorating dollar.

Country Living Magazine

photo credit: Joseph De Leo

Depending on who you are working with, the piece of furniture needing a cover, will either stay in your home or be brought into the workroom after it has been field measured. Sofas and chairs with straightforward lines usually can be left in the home. If the piece has an intricate silhouette it probably will need to be brought into the workroom so it can be fitted properly. One of the advantages of slipcovers is that it allows you to change out your look instantly without having to replace the furniture. Frequently, slipcovers are used on a seasonal basis with white and off-white being popular choices.

Country Living Magazine

photo credit: Joseph De Leo

When choosing fabrics it is important to pay attention to its weight and the type of fabric it is. If the fabrics are either heavy or have a rubber backing they may not be a suitable choice. If the slipcover has pleats you want them to lay flat and not flair out. 100% man-made fabrics tend to flair out, but there are exceptions. Also, if the fabric is too thick the seams will not lay flat on the furniture and will look bulky and ill fitting.

Southern Living Magazine

On the other end of the spectrum, if the fabric is thin and does not have “good body” the finished product will look limp and saggy. You can beef up a thin fabric by adding a liner, which in turn will bump up the material and labor costs considerably.

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You want to avoid selecting a fabric which unravels easily, because it will not hold up well to repeated washings or dry cleaning. Look for tightly woven fabric so the underlying color or background pattern will not telegraph through to the top.

If you want the ability to machine wash and dry your slipcovers you must make sure they have first been washed and dried prior to being sewn. If you plan on dry-cleaning your slipcovers this step can be eliminated.

Pottery Barn

I am including a good example of a ready made slipcover from Pottery Barn. It is a good value and the fabric is decent, but it will definitely fit looser then a custom product, unless your sofa is oversized.

Cottage Style Magazine

This sweet yellow check nightstand slipcover was to cute to pass up, so I threw it in for good measure!