3 Steps for Choosing the Best Slipcover Fabric

Collage of natural fiber fabrics for slipcovers.

Denim, canvas and linen fabrics are ideal for making casual, washable slipcovers when you choose the right weight, hand-feel and coverage.

The same holds true for cotton matelassé, hemp herringbone, polyester velvet and many other types of home decor fabric.

With so many fabrics to consider, how do you choose the best one for your slipcover project?

Here is my 3-step process for narrowing down fabric options and picking a winner.

1. Choose a look & feel you love.

Do you want your slipcover to look everyday casual like Pottery Barn? Relaxed crumpled like Shabby Chic? Contemporary sleek like Bemz urban living? Or tailored upholstered-like Ethan Allen?

How do you want the fabric to feel? Casual and comfy, crisp, brushed-soft, plush, or textured?

Do you have a preferred color in mind? Natural, white, a lively bright color, or rich dark hue?

Are you leaning towards solid fabric or a pattern such as a floral, check, or stripe?

2. Determine the right weight & durability.

Make sure the fabric you love for its look and feel also holds up well to wash and wear. Tightly woven, stable and supple fabrics work best for washable slipcovers as long as they are compatible with your sewing machine.

Make sure to match the fabric weight to the function of your slipcover:

  • Occasional use and wash, mostly decorative = light to medium weight fabric.
  • Daily use, moderate traffic, occasional wash = medium to heavy weight fabric.
  • Daily use, heavy traffic, kid & pet friendly, frequent wash = heavy weight fabric.

To learn more about fabric weight for specific fabrics, check out my this simple guide to match fabric weight with your slipcover use.

3. Do a wash test.

Buy a yard of each fabric you like, do a wash & dry test and throw the samples over your furniture. You will instantly know which fabric is best for your project. Why?

Because a laundered yard of fabric reveals a great deal about how it will look, feel, cover, wash and wear in a slipcover.

A wash test allows you to:

  • Discover how the color looks in your space.
  • See how much the fabric wrinkles and how much it shrinks.
  • Check the coverage on your upholstery.
  • Feel the after-washed hand.
  • Find out if the fabric pills, crocks, puckers or fades.

Even today, after many years of sourcing and working with textiles, I still use this 3-step process to figure out if a fabric is slipcover worthy. It works!

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