Step by Step Instructions for Making Sofa Slip Covers

Remove sofa cushions and measure you sofa with a flexible tape measure to ensure an accurate fit. For the center piece, measure from the floor in front of the sofa, over the center of the back of the sofa and down to the floor behind the sofa. Threads magazine recommends adding in 12 inches for extra material to tuck under the sofa cushions and double the measurement for your hemlines. Typically a one inch hem will work, so after measuring your sofa add in the 12 inches for tucking and two inches for hemming on the top and bottom. Determine the width by measuring from the bottom of one sofa arm across to the other and add in two inches for hemming.

Measure the dimensions for each arm piece starting at the floor beside the arm. Measure over the arm and down to the bottom of the sofa seat. Add in 12 inches and two inches for the hemlines.

Cut out the center sofa piece and the two arm pieces. Lay them over the sofa and adjust as needed. Fold over and pin the hemlines along the edges, excluding where the arm pieces meet the sides of the center piece. Pin the arm pieces to the center sofa piece where they meet on the sofa seat. Work the pins underneath the fabric to create a one inch hem on the wrong side using the edges of the center and arm piece .

Remove the fabric and sew the arm pieces to the center piece. Sew all hemlines in place. Make sure to turn the fabric over and sew on the wrong side when attaching the arm pieces. This ensures the seam is hidden.

Place the slip cover back on the sofa. If you want fitted arms, fold the fabric along the curve of each arm and pin in place. Work a pleat on the right side of the fabric, where you pinned the fold, to hold it in place and create a nice fitted fold around the sofa arms.

For an easier method, fold the fabric to fit the arms and pin it in place with a decorative pin. Threads Magazine suggests sewing a decorative tassel or rope across the front of the arm to tighten the fabric. Leave the bottom looser to create a draping effect.