Sewing Instructions for a Slipcover

Cutting the Fabric

• 1

  Choose your slipcover pattern. You can purchase a variety of slipcover patterns that will work for different types of chairs. Choose the style that best suits your needs, as well as one that is tailored to your sewing experience. Wash the fabric you are going to use beforehand. Check the care instructions to properly wash and dry your fabric. This step is important to ensure that your slipcover does not fade or shrink after you have sewn it.

• 2

  Lay the fabric on a flat surface with the "wrong" side facing upward. The wrong side of the fabric is the side without the primary pattern or surface material. If you are unsure which side is the wrong side, ask the salesperson at the fabric store to mark it for you when you make your purchase. Place the fabric on a work surface that gives you enough room to lay out all of your pattern pieces at one time. If you do not have a large enough work desk, use your dining table or a clean, hard floor. Smooth out the fabric so there are no creases or folds.

• 3

  Lay out the pattern pieces so that grain markings on the pattern pieces (usually lengthwise) line up with the grain of the fabric. Arrange the pieces as close together as possible to avoid wasting fabric. If your fabric has a design, make sure to center it on all large pieces. Arrange the smaller pieces so that the design of the fabric will match up with the larger pieces.

• 4

  Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric to make sure they do not move around.

• 5

  Cut the fabric along the edges of the pattern pieces using fabric scissors. Label the fabric cutouts with numbers corresponding to those on the pattern pieces. You can also label the sides of each piece (top, bottom, sides). Use a fabric-safe marking pen and mark only on the wrong side of the fabric.

Assembling

• 6

  Sew together the back sections of the slipcover, including the side, outside and inside back sections. Leave at least 15 inches open where the inside and outside back pieces meet. Use a 1-inch seam allowance at all seams.

• 7

  Sew together all of the arm pieces to make individual arm covers. Sew together the seat and front panels. Sew together each arm section to the sewn together back sections according to the instructions for your slipcover pattern. Use a 1-inch seam allowance at all seams.

• 8

  Sew the seat section to one arm section, and then to the other arm sections. Then sew the seat section to the back panel. Always sew the arm sections to the seat sections first before sewing onto the back sections. Use a 1-inch seam allowance at all seams. Notch the seams at corners and curves in the pattern so the fabric will not bunch up when you turn it inside out.

• 9

  Turn the slipcover inside out by pushing the fabric through the 15-inch opening that you left open on the back panel. Push the fabric through gently, so as to not tear apart the seams. Push out the fabric in the corners of the slipcover so it does not bunch up.

• 10

  Sew the zipper onto the opening on the back panel. Finish attaching the top 2 inches of the zipper to the back panel by hand stitching the opening shut. This will make the seam stronger and tighter than if you sewed it together on a machine. Use small, evenly spaced stitches.