Simple White Denim Slipcover for French Chair

This simple slipcover updates an antique French chair with contemporary style. No fussy details or fancy fabric. Just an easy design in washable white denim for everyday use.

Less is more was my customer’s vision for her French chair slipcover. So, I created a simple two-piece design using casual cotton denim and hidden Velcro closures.

I left the pretty wood arms and legs partially exposed. And instead of using multiple ties or button straps to connect the inner and outer back pieces, I covered the wood top rail with a narrow boxing to keep the design clean.

This slipcover may look basic, but it’s got a bunch of functional features. Let’s take a look!

Relaxed Fit

Design and fit not only influence the look of a slipcover but also affect the function.

For example, if I wanted to create a formal slipcover for this French chair, I would pin an upholstered-like fit in a high-end home decor fabric and include tailored details. It’s intended for light to medium use and dry clean only.

Or, if I was going for a rustic shabby chic look, I would pin an oversized fit using grainy hemp canvas and add soft ties to help shape the fullness. It’s meant for daily use and frequent washes.

Since my customer wanted a washable slipcover with contemporary style, I pinned the 10 oz white denim to follow the chair’s contours, but with added ease in the seams.

I call this a relaxed fit. Not too tight, not too loose. The fit is comfortable, and there’s room for residual shrinkage. Good to have for white slipcovers!

Lined Seat, Back & Armrests

Even though the old ticking upholstery was faded, the dark stripe still showed through the medium weight white denim. I hardly ever line slipcovers, but it was a must for this project.

Seat, inner back, outer back, and armrests. Those were the sections that needed lining. I used white cotton-poly sheeting to enhance the denim’s coverage without adding bulk to the slipcover.

Lining the seat also made it easy to stitch and turn the cut out shapes for the arms and corner posts. No facings needed.

Double Layer Skirt Panels

Instead of hemming the slipcover to follow the chair’s ornate curvy bottom, I made rectangle skirt panels with a straight hem. This simplified the skirt construction and created clean overlaps for the Velcro closures.

I also folded the skirt panels in half to create a double-layer of denim instead of using lining. This added a little weight and helped them hang straight.

Hidden Velcro Closures

Hook and loop fasteners, like Velcro, are ideal for slipcovers that need hidden closures. It functions best when cut in short lengths and sewn on flat sections.

For this two-piece design (plus armrests) I created 8 closures total. That’s the norm for a French chair with arms and a separate back.

Here’s where I placed the 3/4 inch wide hook and loop fasteners (Velcro):

• Skirt: one at each arm post and one at each back corner post.
• Back cover: one at each corner post below the arm.
• Armrests: one per arm.

Above is a closeup of the right back closure. The opening starts at the top of the arm and the Velcro starts under the arm.

For the seat cover, I placed closures on the skirt panels. The back and front skirts overlap the side skirts at the posts. I hid the Velcro on the overlap.

Believe it or not, I made this French armchair slipcover 10 years ago! I published the original post at the same time with only two photos and a couple of sentences. Yep, that’s when my blogging journey began along with learning how to use my handy-dandy point-and-shoot camera. Haha!

Anyway, today’s post (July 21, 2024) is an update to the original. I added more photos and lots of tips to share with you. And, it’s fun to see how this simple slipcover design remains a timeless classic today!