How-To Create a Fitted Slipcover for a Cushy Curvy Chair
A rounded back, curved inner back, puffy rolled top and deep tufts. These cozy features on Roxanne’s well-loved arm chair have stood the test time.
Her old chair is still sturdy and very comfortable. Never mind the faded, outdated upholstery. When a chair has good bones, comfy support and classic design the sky’s the limit on updating the look.
Roxanne’s vision for her chair: clean, bright and versatile. She went with a fitted slipcover in natural denim.
Fitted? How in the world do you get fabric to snug smoothly over all of those cushy curves?
Create shaping seams, of course! And, add a couple of tucks, too.
For this project I used 12 oz cotton bull denim in natural. This beefy, densely woven fabric did a good job at covering the textured upholstery and tufts without grin through.
To control fullness in the curvy areas I pin fit the body with shaping seams. This chair needed 5 seams on the inner back and 2 on the outer back.
Think of a shaping seam like a princess seam used to contour a piece of clothing through the bodice.
I like making shaping seams barely noticeable. I stitch the seam, press it open and then edge stitch on both sides of the seam to make it strong, flat and smooth. Works like a charm every time.
Below is an upper back view of Roxanne’s slipcover to give you an idea of what the stitched shaping seam looks like.
I love following your posts! You are an excellent seamstress and you inspire me to do more sewing! Thank you for all the info and tips. I am hesitant to make slipcovers for other people because I just have the traditional 30+ year old Kenmore sewing machine. The machine works great but the seams on the slipcovers I make for myself always end up fraying. Do I need to invest in a better machine? Thanks
Hi Karen,
If you like how your home sewing machine sews seams I wouldn’t replace it. It sounds like you need a serger to finish the raw edges of your seams so they don’t ravel or fray. I use an industrial straight stitch machine and an industrial serger because I sew everyday for a living and work with heavy weight fabrics that need powerful machines to stitch through the layers. Take a look here https://slipcovermaker.com/start-a-slipcover-business/shop-my-workroom/industrial-machines/
If you decide to make slipcovers for a living I would invest in the industrial machines. If you want to sew just for yourself with fabrics your home sewing can handle than I would just keep going with that and buy a home serger.
Karen