Category Archives: armchair slipcovers

Old Ticking Stripe for New Slipcover

Back in 2014 I posted Ticking Stripe Fabric Reviews. At that time I tested a variety of ticking stripes all of which turned out to be too light weight, too limp or too narrow for slipcovers.

My search continues for the classic, old school stuff — a cotton woven ticking (not printed) in a heavy weight twill or herringbone weave without fire retardant.

In the meantime, I leave you with a little ticking inspiration. For this simple tie-back slipcover, I used my stash of vintage ticks from the 1960’s — tightly woven, weighty and durable.

Indigo Ticking Stripe Chair Slipcover

Slipcover Fabric Favorite: Oatmeal Linen Cotton

Many of you have asked for an oatmeal linen cotton that’s slipcover worthy. Good news! I found one I think you’re going to love. It’s called LATIN and it’s a beauty!

When I first sampled this fabric from InstaLinen I was immediately drawn to the simple rustic texture and two-tone natural color. Think hemp grain sacks and homespun linen sheets. I especially like the look & feel of this cloth for making cottage and farmhouse style slipcovers.

Washable and tightly woven, this 12 oz linen cotton blend is a good choice for casual slipcovers that get moderate use. Here’s what you can expect:

High shrinkage during pre-shrink (5″ on a one yard length and 3″ on the width).
Grainy, soft crumpled texture after wash. Be sure to follow my wash instructions to avoid deep set wrinkles.
Subtle stretch up the roll (on the straight of grain).
Easy to sew on a home sewing machine.
Versatile design appeal. Will make up nicely in any style of slipcover.

Replacement Slipcovers in White Denim

This was a fun project for a customer in Northern California. Thomas requested replacement slipcovers for his armchair, ottoman and a couple of big, beautiful speakers.

I copied his worn out slipcovers in 12 oz. washable white cotton denim. For the speakers, I deconstructed one of the black dust covers and used it as a template to create protective covers in the same white denim.

Nothing like a few new slipcovers to make a living space feel refreshed. Looking good, Thomas!

Beautiful Buffalo Check Slipcover

Bold and beautiful! Black and white buffalo check slipcover custom made for a classic English rolled arm chair. I wanted to keep this one 🙂

Fabric: Naples Shade, a heavy weight and durable poly cotton blend. Machine washable even though the label says dry clean only. Very little shrinkage. Excellent coverage. The check is a directional pattern.

Easy To Make Washed Linen Slipcover

I recently got hooked on 12 oz. Brazil linen while making a very detailed, traditional sofa slipcover for a customer.

As I was working with this beautiful linen I wondered how it would look in a very simple, easy to make slipcover. Something with a loose fit and no details at all. I put it to the test and love the results! Here are a few tips for making your own:

1. Use a heavy weight linen for best results. For my chair slipcover, I used 12 oz. Brazil Linen in color Off-White from InstaLinen. Read my review on my Fabric page.

2. Pre-shrink your yardage. The natural beauty of Brazil linen comes through after it’s washed and dried. It takes on a soft crumple and floppy drape. No hard wrinkles, no pressing necessary. Here’s how I pre-shrink slipcover yardage.

3. Pin a loose fit. I loosely pinned muslin on one half of my chair to create a pattern and then cut it out in the linen. Learn the half pattern method from Paul A. Carter’s videos.

4. Forget about the details. No need to add welt cord, ties and zipper openings. A slipcover void of detail puts the focus on the lovely linen.

I stitched my simple slipcover on my home sewing machine using a no. 12 size needle. Linen ravels so be sure to overlock or zigzag the seams.