Sewing Tips on Making Your Own Wingback Chair Slipcover

Pattern

• If the chair's original fabric is not removable and you can't make a pattern from it, don't worry. Use the chair itself to make a pattern and work on one piece at a time. Take generous measurements of the different parts of the chair and then cut out the fabric in a square or rectangle. Make sure to cut extra fabric in the length so that the slipcover can be tucked down into the chair.

Chalk

• Put chalk to use while you are making the slipcover for your wingback chair. Use the chalk to draw a line for stitching, following the shape of the chair. This method works especially well along the odd-shaped wings. Pin two pieces of fabric together over top of the chair sections, use the chalk to mark, remove the fabric and then sew following the chalk line.

Back

• The back of the chair has to be put on last. Many times a slipcover can fit right over the top of the chair; however, with the wings that are larger at the top than at the bottom, this is not possible to do with wingback chairs. Slip the front of the cover on the chair working from front to back. Sew the top of the back to the top of the front using a sewing machine. Hand sew, using a curved upholstery needle, to close up the sides.

Welting

• Add welting at the seams of the slipcover to help make it hold its shape. Welting is cording wrapped in the upholstery fabric to form piping. Use piping along the seams on a cushion, along the front of the wings and around the front of the arms. The welting or piping also helps to know exactly where the slipcover should fit. To make welting, cut out 2-inch-wide strips of the upholstery fabric on the bias and sew them together. Insert the cording into a fold of the upholstery strip and stitch in place. Sew the welting to the pieces of fabric before sewing two pieces of fabric together.