How Much Material Is Needed to Make a Slipcover for a Sofa?

Choose a Slipcover Style

• The two most popular styles of slipcovers are fitted and loose. Determine which type suits your lifestyle and decor before purchasing the slipcover fabric. Fitted slipcovers typically require more fabric than loose slipcovers, because the sofa body and each cushion are given individual slipcovers. A loose slipcover is a semifitted, single piece of fabric draped loosely over the entire sofa. The excess fabric tucks between the cushions and seat pan.

Plan the Slipcover

• Use the original upholstery of your sofa as a guide. This gives the slipcover a professional appearance. Position slipcover seams consistently with those of the sofa cushions, too. A knife-edge slipcover over a box cushion looks sloppy. Slipcovers also provide the latitude to eliminate or redesign certain undesirable elements of your current sofa, so feel free to remove ruffled skirting or add a classic touch with decorative welting.

Measure the Sofa

• No two sofas are created equally, so take measurements of the actual sofa you plan to cover. There are many yardage calculation methods and charts designed to simplify the process. Try this easy technique to obtain fabric requirements: Using a cloth tailor's tape, begin by measuring from the base of the sofa body to the highest point on the sofa back. Multiply this number by two. Measure the width of sofa and multiply this number by four. Take the sum of these two numbers and divide by 36 for the total fabric yardage. Loose seat and back cushions require extra fabric. Double the yardage to accommodate loose cushions, throw pillows, seam allowances, hems, skirting and welt trim.

Select the Fabric

• Choose durable and easy-care fabric for a removable slipcover. A medium-weight cotton duck sews well and can be thrown in the washer for quick cleanup. Reduce wrinkles and minimize shrinkage by choosing a cotton-polyester blend fabric. Save money by selecting a solid color fabric, which will not require extra yardage for repeats and pattern matching. Save sewing time by "railroading" or running the slipcover fabric along the width (arm to arm) of the sofa instead of seaming narrower widths of fabric. Some home decorator fabrics are woven with a horizontal grain for this very purpose. Do keep in mind this technique will not work with napped and certain patterned fabrics.