How to Make a Tailored Slipcover for a T-Cushioned Chair

Sew a Chair Slipcover

• 1

  Remove the cushion from the chair and set it aside for later. Vacuum the chair from top to bottom to remove dirt. Shampoo the chair and scrub stains. Vacuum the chair after the shampoo is finished. This is particularly important if the chair has odors or has been sitting in a garage or attic. Sometimes stored furniture becomes a home for rodents so make sure there are no openings where an animal could have entered. This will make your chair smell fresh when it is recovered.

• 2

  Trim off any damage with scissors. If the arms of the chair are damaged or if you would like more padding, this is a good time to add foam or batting over the arms. Use fabric glue and staples for the foam. Use staples for the batting. You can shape the foam with an electric carving knife.

• 3

  Place muslin over the seat back. The fabric should be level and 1-inch longer than the front seat base. The fabric should drape over the top of the chair to the floor. Add 3-inches for a future hem. Pin the fabric around the sides for a close fit to the chair.

• 4

  Position a second piece of muslin across the seat and down the front to the floor. The fabric should touch the seat back plus 1-inch. Where the fabric touches the floor, add 3-inches for a future hem. Pin the first and second muslin pieces together at the seat back and bottom, creating a 1/2 to 1-inch seam allowance. Pin a seam around the front corners of the seat base, where the base touches the arms.

• 5

  Trim the muslin around the seat base, allowing for a 1-inch seam allowance, where the seat touches the arms. These cuts will conform to the T-shape of the cushion. Drape the muslin from the inside side of the seat, up over the arm, and down to the floor. Allow 1-inch seam allowance at the seat and 3-inches for the outside hem. Repeat the instructions for the other arm. Pin the outside arm to the seat back muslin on both sides and where the arm and seat back meet on the front of the chair. Trim excess fabric.

• 6

  Pin muslin to the front of the arm from the seat bottom around the face of the arm. Repeat for both arms. Leave a 1/2 to 1-inch seam allowance. Adjust the fit of your pins for a tight, smooth fit. Label each piece of muslin with a marker. Note any darts, easing or other features. Remove the muslin and sew the seams with a basting stitch. Turn the slipcover right side out and fit it over the chair. Make any adjustments for fit. Rip the seams.

• 7

  Pin the pieces of your slipcover muslin pattern to your laundered and ironed decorator fabric. Match patterns and repeats, if you are using patterned fabric. Cut out your pieces. Sew your slipcover with face sides together. Sew your darts first, ease your curves and clip your corners. Turn the slipcover right side out and fit it onto the chair. Pin the hem evenly on all sides. Remove the cover.

Sew a Fitted T-cushion Cover

• 8

  Unzip the cover on the cushion. Remove the cushion by reaching inside, and grabbing the T-ends, pulling them toward the center and back. If the cushion is robust with good loft, you can reuse it. If the cushion is flat or lumpy, cut a new cushion, using the first cushion as a pattern. Cut the foam, using an electric carving knife. Wrap the cushion in batting, and hand sew the batting along the sides to create a tight, smooth fit.

• 9

  Rip the seams on the cushion cover. It is likely that the seams have piping. Set your piping aside. Iron the cover pieces. Match your fabric patterns and repeats. Pin your old cover to the new fabric, and cut out the pieces. If the zipper is in good shape, reuse the zipper in the new fabric. Sew the zipper into the two back pieces, following the pattern of the original cover.

• 10

  Cut long, narrow strips of fabric long enough to wrap around the piping with 1/2-inch of fabric on each side. Cut the fabric to the length of each piece of piping. Wrap the piping in the fabric. Insert the piping into the sewing machine so that the stitches will fall as close to the cording as possible. Sew the new casing onto the piping.

• 11

  Sew the sides of the cover together. Often there will be a seam at each corner. This will form a large circle. Position the top of the cover face up on the worktable. Find the center of the back. Place the piping with the cording toward the center. The edge of the piping should line up with the edge of the cover fabric. Pin through the two fabrics. Place the center of the zipper back panel face down over the piping so that the edges of the fabrics line up. Pin all three pieces of fabric, as close to the piping as possible. The piping pinned distance should be 1/2-inch from the edge. Pin all the way around the cushion. Sew the fabrics together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Repeat for the other cover. Ease your curves. Clip your corners and trim off excess fabric.

• 12

  Turn the cushion cover right side out. Fold the cushion in half, and insert the cushion into the cover. Move the T-ends of the cushion into the T-ends of the cover. Be sure to pull each corner into place, as they will tend to bunch. Smooth the cover over the rest of the cushion and zip it closed in the back. Place the tailored cushion on the chair. Check the pinned hem on the slipcover. Adjust the length, if necessary, and sew the hem.