Monday, March 17, 2014

a finished slipcover...in less than a year!





This is the morning after last weeks snowstorm--the 
sun beautifully shining on a new foot of snow.
Thanks to a warm up in between then and now,
much of the snow has melted, though the temps
are quite frigid today.
Thank goodness for some indoor blooms...







Also making me happy is a finally finished slipcover
for our sofa, which is a vintage mohair model and
solid as a rock.  I finished the cushion cover last
year and have lived with it all, half-finished
since then.  {Why is that when I had two little 
ones, I could complete a slipcover in a couple
weeks??}  









I would love to say it's a heavy, oatmeal-colored linen,
but due to budget and pet concerns, I instead chose to
use a very large canvas drop cloth...
I seem to have gotten lazy in my old age, and cut corners where possible.  No piping, which I've almost always added to my slipcovers in the past--I couldn't bear the thought of cutting and sewing the miles that would be required. So, rather, I just topstitched along all my seam lines to give it some strength.
The drop cloth, being very large, did come with some seams--I incorporated them into the slipcover as you can see below, at the end of the couch.  I also used the existing hemmed edges of the drop cloth for my hems--probably not proper, but probably no one else will ever notice.
 
 
 While at the machine, I also sewed some new pillow covers.  The large ones in the corners reverse to a solid blue linen that I found in the remnant bin at Joann Fabrics.  The red & aqua floral was also found at Joann's.


Marley decided he needed to be in the picture so you would all see how worried {and sometimes frantic} he feels when it's windy outside...poor guy, it's not always easy being a golden retreater!

 

29 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:27 PM

    It looks very lovely and it is done...I at least have the drop cloth. I thought maybe Marley was concerned you were not going to let him test out the new slipcover;-)
    blessings, jill

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jill! I used to have a no-dogs-on-the-furniture policy...then Marley came along. He's a peach and seems to have gained run of the house :)
      Hence, the cotton throw on the seat of the sofa,
      Deb

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  2. Anonymous1:47 PM

    what a great job you have done, your room looks lovely!!

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  3. I get stuck at the pinning phase ie I pin it on the lounge as you have and then what then? Do you remove it bit by bit as is and sew along those pins or do you mark it, turn it inside out and then sew?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lilian,
      I will try to post on these questions, in hopes of giving you a bit more information than I can here in the comments...........Deb

      Delete
  4. Super job! May I ask where you bought the drop cloth? I'm having a hard time finding a source of a soft enough one...most feel like sandpaper. :o/ We used to have a collie/golden retriever and he was always scared at the slightest weather change. :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this drop cloth was from Lowes--very soft after being washed. I've also used cloths from Home Depot, and those seem to be a little bit heavier, though still soft enough after washed.
      We used to have a collie/golden retriever mix also--she was the same way--so scared of thunder, wind, loud noise...you name it.

      Deb

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  5. So pretty.. I like it.

    Great questions in two previous comments - I can't wait to hear answers.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Bevy!
      I will try to answer questions in a future post.......Deb

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  6. I love your pillows and your slip cover. Sewing a slipcover is on my bucket list. I'm also interested to hear your replies to the questions asked.

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  7. Love your slipcover! But it's Marley's droopy jowls that have really captivated me! Beautiful dog!

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Anonymous10:26 PM

    Beautiful photos! Especially the second one....stoep/porch area?....i'm also interested in above questions' answers....new pillow covers are on my sewing list, too....Deb, what do you use for the inners - ready-made ones?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment! Here's a link to a post where I talk about how I make some of my pillow forms:
      http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-pillows.html

      Deb

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  10. It's a lovely job Deb (as always) and Marley is beautiful but I have to say I was puzzled at first. This post was about slip covers and the first thing I saw was the chair in the snow!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Rose!...................Deb

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  11. Beautiful job Deb! You are so skilled! Would also love more info on the process and canvas source. Love that golden retreater!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Chris! I find the canvas drop cloths at Home Depot or Lowes in the painting section. The canvas drop cloths seem to vary in color and texture, so I try to feel the fabric and check the fabric content before buying. I will try to answer questions on the process in a future post...........Deb

      Delete
  12. Beautiful job Deb! You are so skilled! Would also love more info on the process and canvas source. Love that golden retreater!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Deb --I was wondering along with others where your source for good soft sturdy drop cloths is? And just to tell you that yesterday my delightful prize, Where Women Create, arrived in my mailbox... thanks so much again for offering it to your readers!! Enjoy the beauty of the snow... we're snowless here in the land down under... 8-D

    Lori in Texas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lori,
      So glad you're enjoying the magazine!
      I find the canvas drop cloths at Home Depot or Lowes in the painting section. Canvas drop cloths seem to vary in color and texture, so I try to feel the fabric and check the fabric content before buying.....Deb

      Delete
  14. Wow, I think your slip cover looks just right. You did an excellent job.

    God bless.

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  15. Oh. My. Goodness. Just found your blog (how did live before Pinterest?!) and have just gotten started reading and studying the pictures. Just purchased an old linen sheet from eBay which I'm going to use for my sofa slipcover. It have a drop cloth slipcover now but did not hold up well with the repeated washings. Two spoiled dogs. So when the new cover is complete, the dogs will be banned from the room.
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful projects!

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    Replies
    1. Obviously spell check did not work for me this time! Wow!

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  16. I would LOVE to learn how to make a slip cover, I too live in a house of fur. I have a winged queen annes chair in desperate need of a new covering. Deb you make it look so easy! I know its not though....tricks of the trade needed!

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Thank you for taking time to leave a comment--I love reading each and every one! I will try to answer any questions you have in the comment section. Due to the amount of spam, I am sadly no longer able to accept Anonymous comments....Kindly, Deb

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