Do it Yourself Tips on Slipcovering a Wingback Chair

Fabric and Thread Tips

• Man-made fiber fabrics are the best for slipcovers. They conform to curves well, stretch a small amount and may be machine washable. Natural fibers do not slip when sewn, press well and tend to be easier to work with than man-made fiber fabrics. Regular sewing thread is recommended because the seam, not the fabric, will give way under excess pressure, avoiding a tear. Launder the fabric in the same way prior to construction as the cover will be washed after completion.

Pattern Method Tips

• Novice sewers may prefer to make a fabric pattern first. The pattern is sewn together to test the fit, then taken apart and used as a pattern for the final fabric. There are many pieces -- and odd shapes -- in a wing-back slipcover, and carefully marking the pattern pieces is essential to the successful completion of the cover. It is helpful to make the pattern from fabric that is similar to the final fabric in fiber content and weight. This is the most time-consuming method.

Reverse Pinfit Tips

• Intermediate sewers may prefer the quicker pinfitting method. The fabric, placed wrong side out on the chair, is pinned together following the seam lines of the upholstery. The cover is removed from the chair with the pins in place and sewn. Non-patterned fabric is most suitable for this method; pattern matching is difficult because the fabric is inside out. Very thick fabric should be avoided, at some places on the cover there may be four or more layers of fabric. This method produces a very close-fitting cover but is not suitable for asymmetrical furniture.

General Tips

• Long glass head quilting straight pins are useful when pinning several layers of fabric together.

  Most upholstery fabric is not suitable for slipcovers because the sticky backing prevents movement, a must-have in slipcovers.

  To keep the cover in place on unskirted chairs, sew the loop side of hook and loop tape to the wrong side of the slipcover, around the bottom edge, and staple the the hook side to the underside of the chair. Also leave at least 4 inches of extra fabric around the inside of the chair where the seat meets the inside arm and back and tuck this extra into the crevasse around the chair seat.