Make Your Own Chair Slipcover In An Afternoon

My old house was smaller, so I didn't need such a thing as an accent or occasional chair. My new house has lots of places for chairs.

This is what happened to two matching chairs I found on ebay. (I searched furniture/chairs and sorted by distance.) They were close enough by that Artsy Chick, Fun-Size chick and I picked them up in the minivan. Field trip!

--Sexy Whistle here --
Hollywood Regency

I totally ripped off, well, got inspiration, from this chair in an Ethan Allen add:

(This is the Martha Washington chair.)

To get started, I measured the chair seat width and depth.

The front of the back.

And the back of the back. It needs to be measured side to side, too. It is approx. 19".

I used about 1 3/4 yards each of show fabric and lining for this slipcover.
I then cut the fabric to the measurements. (I always add 1 inch to allow for 1/2 inch seam allowances.) Next, I laid the lining fabric on the seat and pinned the corners to fit. The seat is rounded, so I need to add two darts on the front and one on each side.

Seam on right, dart on left--almost impossible to see!

Dart to the left of the arm.

Then I cut out "U" shapes where the wooden arms go. On my first go-round with this white chair, I did not cut enough fabric for the back tie to meet the back. I pieced in a triangle shape. On the second, brown slipcover, I corrected it. If you make the same mistake, trust me, there is no way anyone will notice.
With the back of my chair, the top has a slight curve to it. I just pinned and sewed it in.

This is the pieced triangle.

This is the corrected slipcover.

Ties:
For step by step instructions on making ties check out additional post.

I then sewed the top to the lining, leaving a place open to turn (shown below.)
Then I turned it, put it on the chair and tied the ties! I then stitched the opening closed.

Great makeover for not a ton of money!

I love this idea because --
No! re-upholstery,
You can get different looks for your chairs,
It takes very little fabric!

Participating in DIY Show Off Show & Tell Surprise Party


Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage.
and

and Frugilicious Friday at: