University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Historical Materials from University of Nebraska- Extension Lincoln Extension 11-1957 EC57-1125 How to Make Slip Covers Magdalene Pfister Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist Pfister, Magdalene, "EC57-1125 How to Make Slip Covers" (1957). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 3388. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/3388 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. s 85 E7 '"II~S' (!_ _j b Novem er 1957 E.C. 57-1125 EXTENSION SERVICE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COllEGE OF AGRICUlTURE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUlTURE COOPERATING W. V. lAMBERT, DIRECTOR CONTENTS Page Basic steps . 2 Make cover in sections 3 BASIC STEPS Cut or tear blocks . 3 Slip cover making is not a com­ Cover cord ..... 3 Make and cut continuous plicated process, but does require bias .... 3 careful work organization, proce­ Sew cording . dure and construction methods. 4 These are the usual steps: Pin fit carefully . 4 Anchor~ pinning 4 1. Raise the chair on saw hor­ Perpen-dicular pinning . 4 ses or boxes for easier fitting. Complete one section at a time ..... 4 2. Measure length and widthof each part of the chair, allowing 1 Back section 5 inch for seams, 6 inches for tuck­ Fit inside back 5 in and 2 inches to turn under at bot­ For channel back chairs 6 tom of chair. (See E. C. 57-1124) Add boxing or wing 6 ~pply outside back 6 3. Make scaled blocks of each Front section . 7 part and layout to determine accur­ For chairs with separate t ately the amount of material needed cushion ..... 7 and as a cutting guide. For chairs with "Tt.r cushion ....... 7 . 4. Tear or cut rectangles from For chair without c'Ushi.an 8 ~ kb.ric for each part. Pin labels on For chair with open arfP..s 8 each for future identification. Arm section .• ~:~; . .. ·;... 8 ' l 5-. Cut continuous bias and Make front ,piece . • .. 8 cove~ allcordjngatone time. Fit inside arJU piece. • ; 8 Add outside.arm ...• !3 6. Anchor ~a piece right side Fit outside and inside arm' out as it is fitted on the chair so to front . ...•.. 9 that length;vis.&.and crosswise thr­ Make closure to join arm eads are stf'aight. sections to back section . 9 For chairs with open arms 9 7. Pin fit, placing pins perpen­ Cushion ...... 10 dicular t o chair on stitching line Fit the cord to the of cord or on folded edge such as cushion .... 10 dart. It may be preferable some­ Join cord ends . 10 times to chalk the shape and then Fit the boxing. 10 stitch cording on chalked llne. 1. To apply zipper 10 2. To apply snap tape . 11 8. Stitchandtrimseamsto 5/8 3. Join front and back inch. boxing ... 11 Complete cushion . 11 9. Complete the construction 11 of each piece before going on to Flounce ..... another section. Attach slipcover . 12 10. P lace the sections on the You have done a good j ob if 12 chair. 2 HOW turn under at bottom of chair. Pin name and dimensio:ts on each. Be TO MAKE SLIP COVERS sure the length measurements go lengthwise on the material. ·cover cord by MAGDALENE PFISTER Cording is used on all seams to Extension Specialist in Home add strength, insure a tight fit and Furnishings give a tailored effect. It usually looks best when made of the same fabric as the cover. Slip covers can give a new look Cut a continous bias and cover to furniture as well as offer protec­ all cord at one time. It will take tion from dust and wear. about 1 /2 yard of 48" material to cover the 15 yards of cord that an Most upholstered pieces can be average chair will require. A cord­ successfully slip covered. How­ ing or zipper foot i.s necessary for ever, a chair with much wood trim stitching. around the back or one in which the padding and springs are badly out of Make and Cut Continuous Bias place may better be re - upholstered. Start with any square or rec­ tangular piece of material -- cut Make cover in sections straight with lengthwise or cross­ You can make a slip cover with wise threads on all four sides . the smooth fit of upholstery. This can be most easily done by making Fold up corner C to get bias the cover in s e c t ions which are edge BE. (Fig. 1) tacked to chair. The s e c tiona l A B cover is easier to make and launder than a one-piece cover, but it takes c more time to put on and r em o v e from the chair. The sections you will have: Back - consisting of the inside ~---~-- _ __ _! back, outside back and 0 E FOLD FICJ .I wing or boxing, if any Cut through fold BE. J oin Arm - shaped front piece, in­ straight e dge s B C and A D. P ress s ide and outside a r m seam open. (Fig. 2) Front or apron BA B Cus hion Flounce i f desired. I Cut or tear blocks ---'I Cut or tear fabric blocks for c each part of the ch air, allowing 1 " FIG.2. for s e ams , 6" for tuck- ins and 2" 3 Turn fabric wrong side up. Lay With ruler and tailor's chalk, one edge of square on bias edge of draw lines connecting marks you fabric. Now mark entire piece the have just made. Now join the two width bias should be cut. straight edges. Begin by bringing B to join A. (Fig. 4) This allows To de t e r mine width the bias a width of the bias to extend on both should be cut, roll bias edge of fab­ sides of a cylinder piece. (Fig. 5) ric over cord with a 5 I 8" extension Stitch and press seam open. Cut of raw edge on each side of the cord­ bias -:>n lines drawn. ing. Now measure width you will need to cut bias. This will be a Sew Cording 1ittle more or less than 2 inches. (Fig. 3) Fold the bias strip, right side out over cord, and stitch cord in center of bias strip using cording foot on machine. Pin fit carefully To assure a smooth, perfectly fitted slip cover, the pieces cut and labeled should be fitted and pin­ ned directly on the chair with the right side of the fabric out. See FJC:. 3 that the fabric lies snugly against chair without wrinkles. A good slip cover does not slip. Check carefully to keep length­ wise thread grain perpendicular to the floor and crosswise grain par­ allel to floor. Part of the ease in fitting and making the slip cover depends on the method of pinning. These .meth­ are helpful: Anchor Pinning is done with "T" FIG·4 pins or corsage pins to hold the mat­ erial on grain as snugly as you wish the slip cover to fit when finished. Perpendicular Pinning is done with heavy pins wh!Ch are jabbed perpendicular or at right angles into upholstery on the stitching line of the cord, or on the folded edges of darts. This enables one to lift the fitted piece from the chair with pins remaining so that it can be basted or machine stitched. Complete one section FIG.S at a time 4 Com p 1 e t e the construction of one section before going on to an­ other. Seams are stitched securely close to cording and trimmed to 5/ 8". Bias extension or tuck- in tabs are attached after cording is stitched to _seam line. All edges oftuck-ins are turned up and stitch­ ed. Back stitching at the endof every row of machine stitching will help make the seams rip-proof. FIG.& Back section Remove cushion from chair. Mark center on both inside and out­ side back of chair with chalk. Fit Inside Back Fold the rectangle of fabric for inside back piece lengthwise to lo­ cate center and cut a notch at top and bottom to indicate center. FIG. 7 Place piece on chair, right side out with center marks matching and 1 11 allowed at top for seam . (Fig. 6) Smooth so lengthwise and cross­ wise threads are straight. Anchor pin securely. (Fig. 7) To fit around curve of arm rest the first finger of the left hand on arm against chair. Start clip­ ping near middle of arm curve. Use scissors with sharp point. Clip to first joint of left finger. Move 11 left finger down toward seat 1 • Always keep this finger on arm and against back· of chair when clipping to prevent cutting too close to the pins on the edge of the fold. Both chair body. Now at point where sides of the chair should be fitted clipping began, cut toward seat or alike. (Fig. 9A) 11 parallel to left finger 1 • Then cut perpendicular to finger joint 1" Apply cord to snipped curved again. This forms a 1 11 tab. (Fig. 8) edge. Bringcordtochairseat. Let Continue cutting as many tabs as cord rest against inside back Qf the necessary to make material lie flat. chair with the seam forward. Place pins straight down through the cord­ At top of chair ease fullness or ing and chair, pulling the tabs slight­ pin a dart on each corner.