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Video Slipcover Tutorial Series – Part Four

If you’ve been following the video slipcover tutorial series, welcome to the next installment.  I received a semi-frantic e-mail today from a sweet woman named Maureen, informing me that she is in the middle of a slipcover and needs the next installment.  Believe it or not, I have received several e-mails like this and I love it!  I love that many of you are engaged and playing along.  This is part four of six and the final two installments will be posted this week.  In this “episode”, I’m showing how to pin fit the wings, back and arms of the chair.

Check out the first installments if you’re just joining us:

Part One – Sewing Custom Piping
Part Two – Cutting the Fabric
Part Three – Positioning Fabric and Pin Fitting Back
Part Four (this post) – Pin Fitting Back, Wings and Arms
Part Five – Pin Fitting Arms, Seat and Apron
Part Six – Skirt and Cushion

This video has the poorest lighting and I apologize for that.  The next two videos show close-ups of the pinning and are filmed in better light, so just hang with me.  I am my own film crew and I stink at being a film crew!

Happy sewing!

 Here’s a full transcript of this video – MMS-Slipcover-Part4

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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25 Responses

  1. I'm going to have to watch this after I put the little ones in bed. We're running on autumn time still. But I wanted to ask you about the quilt on the photo. I love it did you make it yourself?

  2. Yipee! I've been waiting for the next installment, too, not because I'm actually doing a project yet, but I'm going to!!!
    I, too, love that quilt and would like to know if you made it!!
    Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put together such an awesome series!!! xoxo Beth

  3. Thank you so much for these videos. Between these and some other tutorials and descriptions I've found I managed to finish my first sip cover last night. I am very pleased and I have found it a great learning curve. A few people thought I was mad saying I was just going to make a slipcover, as though it was real easy. I didn't find it easy but thanks to your great instructions, a difficult task was doable. One thing I did find invaluable was to sew the binding on to one piece of material exactly where I wanted it and then to sew the other piece to it. It made the cushions and the binding across the back of the chair look so good! I picked that up from a cushion tutorial somewhere and it works well. Thanks for all your help in the restoration process!

  4. Thanks for the fourth tutorial. I've been anxious waiting for it. When I can see all the videos then I plan to make some slipcovers. It's wonderful that you are willing to share this information with us! I really appreciate it.

  5. Your voice and mannerisms are exactly like my best friend, Colleen's. I can't get over it! I didn't make the connection until this video. Thank you for tutorial #4. I tend to be a perfectionist so I will try to channel my inner Marian and not worry about puckers and things. Have a happy week!

    Jami

  6. Marian,
    thanks so much for installation number 4. I am intimidated to tackle my wing chair because of the wings. I have always thought that was the hardest part to do. You make it look so easy.
    Love how you just talk as you are pinning. It's like we are actually there with a cup of sweet tea watching you put it all together.

  7. i'm feeling braver with every video you post! i have an ottoman just waiting for 'new life' … once you complete your series, i'm goin' for it!!! 🙂 thanks SO much!

  8. Your relaxed and easy manner is so wonderful while you go about the process! Thank you for #4. I'm getting my dropcloths ready to slip some dining room chairs that sort of have wings – anyway, I'll use the same principles.

  9. I know other people have asked this but I am so curious: have you ever used Rit dye on slipcovers? I am wanting to do my couches but w/ 3 children under 5, I am nervous about the oatmeal dropcloth color. Any advice?

  10. You slipcovers are beautiful. I am currently working on a wing chair with an attached seat cushion. It presents a challenge. How would you do this? I can do tuck-ins around the sides and back, but I am not sure what to do around the front. My e-mail is:
    pauletteburton@yahoo.com

    If you have a little free time, could you give me some advice? thanks.

  11. I want to thank you for taking the time to make these videos. You are easy to follow and understand. I am so excited to get my furniture covered I can hardly stand it. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

  12. I have not actually made a slip cover for a piece of furniture that is not symmetrical but I have used a technique for my couch that works when you don’t want to use the ‘inside-out’ method. You pin just like you are pinning here. And you trim but when you trim you have to make sure you trim to a 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch seam allowance everywhere. and you work with the right side facing OUT. Then once it is trimmed you put right sides together and sew. It takes a bit more thought and thinking it through but it does work and you still eliminate the measuring and pattern.
    Great tutorial! The chair I have waiting on me is going to be my best job yet. And it’s a good thing because it is custom work. She’s not picky and loved my couch so hopefully she is ok with the job I do! I’m with you – the custom work is stressful.

  13. Thank you for taking the time to do your tutorial. I’ve been umming and arrrrrrghing over covering my three seater sofa and you’ve given me the incentive. Unless you’re a sew-er nobody understands that gut-wrenching feeling of “I’m outta my depth here!” feeling just before you start a project. My husband always has more faith in my projects before I start than I have in myself. You’ve given us lots of tips so hopefully I won’t go to far wrong. ;os

  14. I have a wingback chair that is crying out for a slipcover. I thought about buying one, but they are awful. Luckily, I found your blog ~ yay!
    This will be my first slipcover, and I’m going to ignore your wise advice to start with something alittle easier and forge ahead with the wing chair!
    One question so far: when sewing the seams that have piping, do you use a zipper foot to get up close to the piping? It seems like you would, just like when you were making the piping….yes?
    Thanks for much for this series ~ it’s awesome and I love your blog!

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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