Circa 1997, I found a place in Mobile that would do a relatively inexpensive tune-up on Mamaw's machine. When I got it back I commenced to sewing. I'd never had a lesson. But I could read and figured anybody who could read and follow directions could probably sew. I was right. Ask my fingers.
Circa 1997, there was this couch we were handed-down. It was a long, low, tuxedo couch. Straight lines. It was green and had a floral-ish fabric on it that was in good shape but not our cup of tea. It came from my in-laws and it was free, that was our cup of tea.
Circa 1997, I discovered this fabric place that sold fabric...by the pound. It was, is, called Fabrics by the Pound. I found a fabric by Ralph Lauren that was a heavy linen floral. I forget what I paid for it but it wasn't much I can assure you. I brought it home and commenced to washing, drying, cutting, and sewing the fabric.
Circa 1997, I completed my first ever slipcover. It was a huge accomplishment for me. I knew it wasn't perfect but it worked and we liked it.
Circa 2011, I no longer have the sewing machine or the couch. However, I do have the same gumption and a little more know-how. In 2001, I bought a new sewing machine and with it came sewing lessons...a year's worth. I learned how to sew baby clothes for my little baby boy and in doing so I learned techniques that would carry over into sewing for our home. I do still think that any reasonably intelligent person can be self-taught a seamstress...sewer. (That can't be right, what do you call a guy seamstress?) If there had been the free tutorials out there on the www who knows what I could have accomplished in less time trying and erroring.
I just slipcovered a wing back chair that was handed down to us years ago, then handed back, then just recently handed back down to us. I'm so glad to have it back. I knew it would be great slipcovered and would give me a chance to try using a drop cloth for fabric as recommended by Miss Mustard Seed.
The first step in the process: I watched her video tutorial series on slipcovering a wing back chair.
Slipcover Video Tutorial Series Part 1 - Custom Piping from Miss MustardSeed on Vimeo.
Slipcover Series Part 2 - Cutting Fabric from Miss MustardSeed on Vimeo.
Slipcover Series Part 3 - Positioning Fabric and Pin Fitting Chair Back from Miss MustardSeed on Vimeo.
Video Slipcover Series Part 4 - Pin Fitting Wings, Arms and Back from Miss MustardSeed on Vimeo.
Video Slipcover Tutorial Series -Part 5 from Miss MustardSeed on Vimeo.
Video Slipcover Tutorial Series Part Six - Skirt, Cushion, Tips and Inspiration from Miss MustardSeed on Vimeo.
This series is a wonderful example of Miss Mustard Seed's talent and generosity. She offers many more tutorials free on her blog.
In addition to this series I used this information on making a boxed seat cushion with a zipper found at Sew, Mama, Sew!.
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| from Sew Mama Sew a close up of a neat-o piping tip |
- tips on how to insert a zipper ~ this was so easy! I will never fear zippers again
- how to handle joining up the ends of piping ~ this turned out great and looks like a pro did it
- how to make covered piping using fabric on the bias ~ I didn't need to use this for this project, but I will use it in the future. Making a bias strip doesn't take as much fabric as I thought it did. This tip is like a magic trick!
I'll share my chair and a few tips of my own next post!
