DIY Armchair Slipcover. So excited to share with you, the armchair slipcover I finished this weekend. It’s been awhile since I’ve applied my sewing skills. After setting up my old sewing machine, I had to pause. How do I refill the bobbin? I’m really much better at painting.
Below are before and after photos of an armchair that belonged to my grandparents. This armchair has been around for three generations. It’s well made and comfortable, so I think we will keep it in the family for a good while.
Someday I’ll have the upholstery updated, but until then we can use the chair with a casual slipcover that blends in with our decor.
How To Make An Armchair Slipcover
I used two 6’x9′ canvas drop cloths purchased from the Home Depot. Drop cloths are a great option because they are thick enough to hide the fabric underneath, and soft enough to be comfortable. To prepare the drop cloths, I washed them a couple of times in hot water with a cup of bleach and an extra rinse.
The slipcover for the armchair has six sections. I started with the seat and inside arm piece and attached that to the seat back. From there I attached the back piece and the outside arms. That was when I ran into trouble.
I had planned on exposing a small portion of the carved wood on the arms, but the slipcover was too fitted and I couldn’t get it off. Instead I ended up making the cutouts larger, which allowed for more wiggle room. The upside is that the exposed wood is pretty and gives the slipcover a unique look.
I usually try to iron the seams flat as I go, which helps when joining the different sections. Ironing the seams also allows the slipcover to lay flat and look smooth when reversed.
Find Your Style
If you have a piece of furniture that does not have a special feature or a shape to highlight, then you might want to add decorative buttons up the back, ties or a ruffled skirt depending on your style. My style is plain and simple.
Sometimes drop cloths have little flaws such as colored threads woven into fabric. To me this adds interest and texture, so I just roll with it. Half of one of the drop cloth had stripes. I started to buy another one but decided to use it on the back panel to add interest. It works!
The off-white color of the canvas goes with everything, so switching out pillows is easy.
For more slip cover ideas, click on DIY Slipcovers and Why I Love Making them. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Cheers!
©2017 Armchair Slipcover was first published on Thistle Key Lane.
Great job on your slipcover, it looks really nice……
and I am so getting into neutrals myself, they are so soothing and so much easier to decorate with……….
You are right, neutrals are the way to go for easier decorating. Thank you so much for stopping by!
I’ve always admired those of you that have the patience and talent to sew. It seems to me that it’s a wonderfully useful talent to have. I think this chair makeover is pure perfection! Thank you for sharing it with us on The Creative Circle Link Party!
Thank you Iris for your sweet comment. The best part for me is being able to enjoy an unused and outdated chair again. I also want to thank you for the awesome link party. Have a great week!
I had never seen this post! So glad I saw it on Style Showcase! 😉 (I wanna see this on HG! hehe!)
Thank you Julie, I need to get the old sewing machine out again and work on some more projects. 🙂