After referring to many slipcover books and googling, I just starting pinning my fabric around and cutting. After a few days of muttering to myself, this was her new dress:
You may be thinking, wow how did she come up with that back? Well, let me assure you that it came out of necessity. As you can see, the back is nothing but a big curve. So, after sewing the slipcover, I had all of this fabric just hanging. As I scratched my head trying to figure out how in the world I was going to get it to hug the back of the chair, I just kind of thought of this. There are plenty of mistakes. For example, getting her dress back on after a washing reminds me of trying to suck in while zipping a pair a jeans after eating your way through the state fair.
The story doesn't quite end here. You see, this chair had a slight odor. I thought I could air it out. Then, I tried putting tons of fabric softener sheets inside the cushion but no luck. So, now here is what this once fetching chair looks like:
Yes, I stripped her down. Painted her toe nails. Now, I just need to dress her. This is where I need your help. From the first picture, you can see that she was dressed in diamond tufts. I would like to do this with a pretty fabric but am terrified of the tufting. Could any of you please, please give me advice on diamond tufting.
I'm linking up with
You continue to blow me away with your slipcover skillz! Sorry I can't help with the tufting, but it is a beautiful slip!
ReplyDeleteYour slipcover looks wonderful, girl. I can't help you with rebuilding it, but I can tell you that, when you have a chair or any upholstered piece of furniture that has a bad smell, the best thing to do with it is to put it somewhere out of doors where it can be very cold for a couple of months. Of course if you live in the South, that is likely to happen, I'm sure. I had three chairs that smelled BAD, one of body odor and oils and two of cigarette smoke, so bad it smelled up the back porch. But I gave the chairs two months in the cold and they had NO smell whatsoever! I know that doesn't help you now, but if you should rescue another old chair, maybe this could help you then.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your project, I'm sure it will look marvelous!
Hugs, Cindy S
There is an excellent tutorial on how to do diamond tufting, complete with instructions and lots of step-by-step pictures, at www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/how-to/how-to-diamond-tufting-101-069275 . Loved your little chair - saw it through Cindy's Show and Tell Friday blog at My Romantic Home. Good luck on remaking your little chair! --Joan in Texas.
ReplyDeleteI love your slipcover, beautiful! Sorry your chair had the odor and you had to take her all apart, but I'm sure she'll be stunning when she's all dressed again!
ReplyDeleteTania
Great job! I just finished my first chair slipcover, too and know what a sense of accomplishment it is to make one of these. Now, I'm addicted!
ReplyDelete~~Nancy~~
found you through Funky Junk
Very Awseome! I have a ocuple of chairs that need some help and after seeing this post I may try to do it --thanks Paula from Idaho
ReplyDeleteI liked the slip cover but I totally understand how you couldn't live with the smell. I have done tufting, it isn't too hard, a lot of finger strength, but I have never done it on a curved area. That tutorial on Apartment Therapy is good, but I can't say I follow each and every one of those steps. (I don't know about that round metal thingy...) But try it, I bet you can do it! And if it doesn't turn out, you can always slip cover over it! Can't wait to see how you do!
ReplyDeleteAnother idea for odor is to place charcoal briquettes in pantyhose "just for breathing and keeping things clean and together" and place them here and there...the charcoal is a natural deodorizer so it will take the stank out :) as for tufting...try you tubing how to re upholster or how to tuft something like that...you tube never fails for me :)
ReplyDeleteSo pretty (;
ReplyDeletegreat job! I am also tackeling my first slip cover. I'm doing a couch. I'm almost done. Maybe you could stop by and check it out (Hopfully done tomorrow!)
ReplyDeleteWow! So much better than the original.
ReplyDeleteso glad i stumbled across your blog! what a fabulous slip! you're quite talented.
ReplyDeleteI won't be much help on the tufting. I am starting my first upholstery project this week and am scared to death of it. Actually I have had it sitting in my garage for two years at least and haven't had the nerve to tackle it before now. Good luck with the tufting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job you did! I recovered a chair of mine (with tufts)if you go to my blog(vintagefrenchhen.blogspot.com) on older posts, June 30th, you can see a picture. I used a long needle and heavy thread. Tie a knot on the button end, pulled it through to the back, and then go to the next spot where you want the button(hard to explain, but once you start you will figure it out).make the thread really long so you don't have to keep re-threading, just keep pulling through. UGH! I'm probably making no sense! LOL
ReplyDeleteThe back of that slip cover is to die for! I LOVE it! What a creative solution!!! You did SUCH a great job!
ReplyDeleteI love that slipcover! BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't expect to see it stripped down at the end. Your slipcover looks great, I like the back detail. You might want to hit the books again on the tufting, I haven't done it, yet, but I think it's just a matter of folding the fabric after you attach the "tufts". Best of luck - I'm so glad you linked with FFT. I can't wait to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much help - I've never reupholstered a chair but you did a fantastic job on that slip cover! SO pretty and I really enjoyed reading this post ... you're too funny! :) Good luck! Thanks for linking up to the DIY Project Parade!
ReplyDeleteRoeshel