Make slipcovers to protect or revitalize dining room chairs.
If you have old chairs that need covering or new ones that you do not want to get dirty, make slipcovers for your dining room chairs to protect or hide the flaws. The slipcovers slide over the back of the chair like a pillowcase and drape around the legs to add an elegant look to a formal setting. Embellish finished slipcovers with buttons, beads or cording to dress up plain fabric and create a finished look to the slipcover.
Instructions
1. Measure the dimensions of the dining chair back, seat and around the legs. Use the dimensions to draft a pattern out of paper for the chair so the slipcover slides over the back of the chair, lays flat on the seat and drapes around the legs.
2. You will need three pattern pieces to complete the slipcover; front/back of the chair back, seat cover and leg shirt.
3. Use the pattern to cut out muslin fabric pieces as a test. This will ensure the slipcover is the correct size to fit the dining room chair.
4. Pin the chair back pieces together so the right sides are together. Sew a 1/2-inch seam around the three sides of the back pieces so the bottom remains open. Turn the fabric so the right sides face out.
5. Pin the piece of fabric that covers the seat to the front layer of the chair back pocket sewn in Step 3. Sew a 1/2-inch seam to attach the seat cover to the back cover.
6. Hem the two short ends of the leg skirt cover by folding the edge over 1/4 inch and again 1/4 inch. Use pins to hold the hem in place and sew the hem close to the inside fold to secure. Repeat the hem process around the bottom edge of the leg skirt and sew close to the second fold.
7. Pin the skirt cover to the seat and edges of the chair slipcover. Match the two hem edges in the center back of the seat cover. Sew the skirt cover to the seat and back cover with a 1/2-inch seam.
8. Turn the seat cover so the right sides face out and slip it over the chair to make sure it fits properly. Adjust the dimensions as needed and cut out the fabric pieces from the desired decorator fabric.
Tags: chair back, seat cover, 2-inch seam, around legs, back chair, back cover, back seat