Shelley, Author at Slipcovers by Shelley

Giveaway and Plaid Chair

May 10, 2013 by Shelley

Janet at the Empty Nest is hosting a giveaway for my Slipcover DVD/ebook bundle. Head on over to her blog to enter!

This chair was for my clients sons room. Lucky boy….nothing more manly than plaid!

Chair–BEFORE

Chair–AFTER

Lots of matching with plaids!

Side Note—This chair is going to be part of my “Advanced Slipcovering Guide”—matching plaids!

Gray Linen Waterfall Skirt Couch

May 7, 2013 by Shelley

My client purchased her home last year and has been remodeling and has finally moved in! She got this couch, but wanted to protect it with a slipcover.

Couch–BEFORE– tan suede

Couch–AFTER– she got a great heavy weight gray linen from Restoration Hardware to match the chairs she ordered.

She wanted to to do a waterfall skirt to match the chairs (hadn’t arrived yet at time of photo).

I did a 1.5″ blind hem—Don’t mind the wrinkles, they’ll fall out (it was folded in bag for delivery)

I did piping down the inside arm instead of tuck in. This couch is going to get lots of use (TV room), and I didn’t want her to have to keep re tucking when they got pulled out.

Since the arms were straight and not a rolled arm, I didn’t need to do a zipper—which made it easier with the waterfall skirt.

Center pleat seam—did decking separate, to save fabric and so I could do a pleat.

She had also gotten these teak outdoor wing backs from Restoration Hardware. She had me order some down cushions for the seats and had me slipcover them in a rustic burlap looking ticking stripe.

She ended up having me slipcover her two benches that were in front of the fire place as well. Great striped linen with a gathered skirt.

I ironed the gathers down after the skirt was sewn on. Gives it more of a drapey look than a puffy look–if that makes sense.

SIDE NOTE—working on my “Advanced Slipcovering Guide”—I am going to show tips on how to do the following….

1. maximize fabric

2. finish options (piping, topstitching, french welt)

3.skirt options (gathered, basic, no skirt, waterfall, box pleat, knife pleat)

4.skirt finishes (self lined, rolled hem, blind hem)

5.arms (telephone arms, english rolled arms, arm pads)

6.pattern matching (stripe, plaid, large pattern)

7.attached back cushions

8.wing backs

9.lining a slipcover

10.ottomans (box top, round, pullover)

11.sectional &unsymmetrical items

12.hideabed couch

13.parson chairs

14.scrolled backs

15.velcro to main body

Anything else you are dying to learn about???

These were for a Designer client. He wanted the casual look of slipcovers for these chairs. At first, I was sad to cover up the beautiful wood and nailhead trim—but then when they were finished I saw his vision, like I always do.

Wingback–BEFORE

Wingback–AFTER- he never does piping, it’s almost always french welt (flat flange with pleats at corners) or topstitched. I loved the clean look of it.

Inside wing topstitched at base

I topstitched EVERY seam using my topstitching foot.

1.5″ blind hem on the skirt–it was a thicker beautiful weight fabric.

I loved the chairs with a skirt on them.

Here are some of his other rooms….

Chalk Garden co-op slipcovers with french welt

16 dining chairs post… This pair of pink wing backs are actually going in this house.

SIDE NOTE–

#1–I have been thinking about writing an “advanced slipcovering tips” guide for quite awhile. I wrote up the outline during spring break on our drive to Moab, and I started taking pics this week. I am finally feeling balanced and not CRAZY, so it’s a good time to start this HUGE project right?

I will go over wing backs, matching, skirt options, telephone arms, english rolled arms, waterfall skirt, and MUCH more.

#2—Sewing contest update—Click to see the results….Naptime Crafters Blog. Thanks everyone for your support and votes!

#3— I came across these old pics the other day of my old work room! I have never showed them before, because I was too embarrassed and thought they looked very UNPROFESSIONAL.

cramped, bad lighting, in the basement…need I say more?

I am SO Happy to be out of this space! Funny how excited I was moving into it 9 yrs ago. I definitely outgrew it! And yes, I had to haul all the furniture and cushions through the house and down the stairs into the basement.

MY NEW WORK STUDIO—100% worth the pain and $ of the remodel. (we converted our garage). Now I can load straight from the driveway through the french doors. Happy day— I like to save my workouts for running not carrying chairs!

#4– Went to the cabin last weekend to finish up the railroad tie stairs and get the water turned back on after the winter. Logan learned how to use the chainsaw for the first time! I was a proud mama tearing up, watching my boy become a man. Love to watch Heber teaching the boys man stuff, melts my heart and makes me fall in love with him even more! Love that man!