Add style as well as comfort to your dining chairs by making padded slipcovers. These slipcovers are made with upholstery foam to hold their shape. Each slipcover has a ruffled apron that hangs down several inches in the front and around the sides of the chair. The covers are attached to the back of the chair with ribbon.
Instructions
1. Measure the width and length of the chair seat. Cut a piece of 1/2-inch thick upholstery foam to this size. Set aside.
2. To make the seat cover portion, cut two pieces of fabric to match the upholstery foam, adding 1 inch all around.
3. For the apron, cut a 5-inch wide strip of fabric equal to twice the total length of the front and two sides of the chair. Hem the long edge by folding under 1/4-inch twice and stitching down. Repeat on two end edges. Gather this strip until the length of the newly ruffled piece fits around the front and sides of the chair.
4. With right sides together, match raw edge of ruffle to raw front and side edges of one fabric seat piece, starting and ending 1 inch from the back. (At this point, the finished edge of the ruffle will be positioned toward the center of the seat piece.) Pin and then baste in place.
5. Place right sides of seat portions together and sew the front and sides, stitching through both layers of two main pieces as well as the raw edge of the ruffle. When sewing together, the ruffle lies between the two main pieces. Turn right side out. The ruffle now hangs down along the outside edge.
6. Cut two 24-inch lengths of ribbon. Stitch the center of each ribbon to the point where the back and sides of the seat cover meet.
7. Insert the foam between the two fabric pieces through the back opening. Fold edges under and hand sew closed.
8. Place slipcover on chair and tie ribbons to the back of the chair.
Tags: edge ruffle, front sides, , , upholstery foam