My son is moving into a new apartment, the first one he's ever had all by himself and he needs furniture.
As luck would have it, for him, we having been talking about replacing our 20 year old sofa for a while now. So, two days ago we bought a new one and he will get the old one. BUT, it is really worn out, actually thread bare in places.
As luck would have it, for him, we having been talking about replacing our 20 year old sofa for a while now. So, two days ago we bought a new one and he will get the old one. BUT, it is really worn out, actually thread bare in places.
I want to fix it up some for him and I thought perhaps I could just patch the worn spots. But, that IS pretty tacky. So, a slipcover maybe ... but they can take a long time to make ...
Back, many years ago, when I was working for McCall's, I did a lot of their home dec patterns and one of them included a fairly quick slipcover for a couch, but it is kind of too frilly for a young man getting his first apartment!
Back, many years ago, when I was working for McCall's, I did a lot of their home dec patterns and one of them included a fairly quick slipcover for a couch, but it is kind of too frilly for a young man getting his first apartment!
Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, I thought I would see what I could find on line about making a quick and easy slip cover. But the instructions I found were laughably short and incomplete.
They remind me of a Monty Python skit which was supposed to be a TV show that teaches you how to do things. So, to teach you how to play the flute the host of the show says, "well, you put your fingers on these keys and blow in this end ... and that's how to play the flute" or something close to that.
OH ... I found the skit ... I almost got it right.
They remind me of a Monty Python skit which was supposed to be a TV show that teaches you how to do things. So, to teach you how to play the flute the host of the show says, "well, you put your fingers on these keys and blow in this end ... and that's how to play the flute" or something close to that.
OH ... I found the skit ... I almost got it right.
But, reading these skimpy instructions, made me realize that I should make him a slip cover. Not a super complicated one, but not just a huge sheet thrown over and tied, either. His birthday is coming up soon and this can be his gift. We will choose fabric today.
But first I need to figure out how much fabric to buy. Here is my old couch.
But first I need to figure out how much fabric to buy. Here is my old couch.
And these are the measurements I took.
| 
Wow, you can see I used both side of the paper for my sketches! And you can see what a stupid and difficult shape the seat cushions are. |
I plan to cover the seat cushions separately. That way he can flip them over because the seat cushions get the most wear and having separately covered seat cushions will help keep the rest of the slip cover from sliding around too much, I hope ... it should.
So, you can see how I added up all the surfaces that need covering, rounding up for seams and hems and possible shrinkage. I plan to buy 9 yards.
Off to Joann's with my 40% off coupon. Never go shopping without a coupon, or a least a VIP discount card, which you can get by being a member of the American Sewing Guild for something like $40 or $45 a year ... well worth it!
Fabric is not too expensive, if you play all the games right.
PHEW!!! ------ BACK FROM THE STORE!!
We looked at various bottom weight fabrics and some suede cloth, but ended up buying solid black denim, just black twill actually. It has black threads on the warp and weft, not with white going one way like most denim.
But it is 100% cotton so I need to wash it first to shrink it. Nine yards it too much to throw in the washer all in one piece, so I figure out 6 different basic lengths I can cut it into according to my measurements and serge the ends so it won't ravel.
So, you can see how I added up all the surfaces that need covering, rounding up for seams and hems and possible shrinkage. I plan to buy 9 yards.
Off to Joann's with my 40% off coupon. Never go shopping without a coupon, or a least a VIP discount card, which you can get by being a member of the American Sewing Guild for something like $40 or $45 a year ... well worth it!
Fabric is not too expensive, if you play all the games right.
PHEW!!! ------ BACK FROM THE STORE!!
We looked at various bottom weight fabrics and some suede cloth, but ended up buying solid black denim, just black twill actually. It has black threads on the warp and weft, not with white going one way like most denim.
But it is 100% cotton so I need to wash it first to shrink it. Nine yards it too much to throw in the washer all in one piece, so I figure out 6 different basic lengths I can cut it into according to my measurements and serge the ends so it won't ravel.
Here are all the pieces ready to go into the washer. I actually just ran the rinse/spin cycle and dried it in the dryer.
A good thing, too. Because a 66" length I cut ended up to be 62".
I'm cutting the pieces today. Our new couch comes tomorrow and I would love to get the old one out of the living room and into the garage as soon as possible. My son doesn't move into his new apartment until the first week of December.
So, with luck, photos and explanation of the cutting tomorrow.
A good thing, too. Because a 66" length I cut ended up to be 62".
I'm cutting the pieces today. Our new couch comes tomorrow and I would love to get the old one out of the living room and into the garage as soon as possible. My son doesn't move into his new apartment until the first week of December.
So, with luck, photos and explanation of the cutting tomorrow.
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