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How to Make Slipcovers: part 5 (beginning the frame)

Welcome to Slip Cover Week! It’s your step by little step guide to learn how to make slipcovers. If you’re just joining in, we’ve already talked about the tools and supplies you’ll need, learned how to make piping, started cutting fabric, and have covered our cushions. In this post we’re going to start covering the frame.

slipcover week: starting the frameback of couch slipcover template

For this portion in learning how to make slipcovers you’re going to cut three pieces: two for the very back of the sofa (one for each side of the zipper) and one of the portion on the other side where the cushions rest.

First you want to cut two pieces, using the salvage ends to go on each side of the zipper. You want to have a straight edge on each side that goes towards the floor, so if you need to straighten up your lines with a yard stick and trimming, this is the time.

Give yourself PLENTY of allowance all the way around, so you have mega-room left to get everything right. It’s better to have some scraps than to cut it short and have to re-cut an entire piece.

slipcover week: starting the frame

You’re going to install the zipper very similar to how you did the zippers on the cushions, but first you need to hem the bottom pieces.

easy hemming trick

Start by going all along the bottom of the fabric that lines up with the floor, using your yard stick to create a crease the width of the stick all the way down the piece.

slipcover week: starting the frame

Next fold it in, using the first crease as a guide and flipping the fabric under and in to create a hem. I didn’t pin it down (because I use this method a lot), but you can certainly use straight pins to help hold it all together.

slipcover week: starting the frame

Hem it all the way down, going from selvage end to the other end (which will end where the arms are on your couch.)

slipcover week: starting the frame

Then sew in your zipper and you’ll have one huge piece for the back of the couch. The zipper will allow you to remove the cover and put it back on easily for cleaning once complete.

slipcover week: starting the frame

See all that overhang? You’re going to want to trim it up a bit, giving yourself a couple of inches for overhang to help pin it all together.

slipcover week: starting the frame

Trim around the zipper so it will hang off until you get it stitched into place.

slipcover week: starting the frame

 

Once this part is all trimmed, cut another piece for the opposite side of the back, going from end to end so you can pin them together.

slipcover week: starting the frame

Then you want to pin all along the top part of the back of the couch, getting as close the the frame as you can. Be sure to keep an eye on the hem (and remember to do this inside out). You are lining up the hem with the floor here, so take your time to get it in the right place.
slipcover week: starting the frame

Sew right over the zipper, being sure to be careful around the zipper.

slipcover week: starting the frameThen stitch around the zipper a few times with a needle and button thread to keep it all secure and in place. Trim off the zipper with side cutters and you’ll be ready to work on the arms.

Want to see all the slipcover posts? Here ya go!

Part One: Tools & Supplies

Part Two: All About Piping

Part Three: Cutting Fabric

Part Four: Covering Cushions

Part Five: Beginning the Frame

Part Six: Working on the Arms

Part Seven: Finishing the Frame

Part Eight: Final Tips & Tricks

*Thanks to my friends at Online Fabric Store for providing with me supplies for this series*

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Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: how to make slipcovers

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

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Comments

  1. Lori Simon says

    July 10, 2015 at 1:12 am

    Hi Gina,
    Using your tutorial and your encouragement, I’ve just finished making a slipcover for my sofa. I could not be more proud of how it turned out and appreciative of your tutorial. I used 3 heavy duty canvas painters cloths, size 9′ x 12. I washed each cloth, dried part way in the dryer and hung on the line.’ Even though the cloth was heavy, I underlined most of the pieces to add body. The cushions on the sofa were a bit out of shape so I stuffed the insides of the original covers with tons of duck feathers, zipped them back up and pulled the new slipcover over each cushion. Puffy and huge…just what I wanted.
    Lori

    Reply
  2. Lonie Sharp says

    June 6, 2018 at 7:33 pm

    Been wanting to do a slipcover forever! Its so much thinking yikes! So many confusing crossroads of fabric. I wondered about a walking foot/zipper foot combo. I have some bunching while sewing piping to cushions with all the layers. Do you use any such foot? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      June 7, 2018 at 8:00 am

      Hi Lonie, no I don’t but I wish you luck and no bunching 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to make slipcovers: Part 3 (cutting fabric efficiently) says:
    May 10, 2014 at 9:28 am

    […] Part Five: Beginning the Frame […]

    Reply

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ARE YOU A FARMHOUSE FAN?
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