A Zebra Slipcover

I bought this Hickory Chair Co. chair and ottoman at Goodwill for $35.

Shortly after that, I found 5 yards of $4/yard P. Kaufmann zebra fabric at Old Time Pottery.

Two years later...

I sewed a slipcover.

I'd say my to-do list is long, wouldn't you?

I have been sewing on a sewing machine since I was 13.

I am not fond of sewing clothes, but I love sewing curtains, pillows, and slipcovers!

Here's how I tackled this waiting-for-two-years project.

First, I had to wrestle (and almost popped off a fingernail! Ouch!) this skirt off, first.

The ottoman also had a flouncy skirt that needed to go bye-bye, 

and it took me about 1/2 hour to get them both off.

But, I did. I won the battle.

I used craft paper and pinned and then cut around 

every curve of 

every inch of 

every section of the chair.

Lay each piece as flat as you can get it and pin it and trim it.

I love using the paper because I can fold it and trim it on the folds

and it's more accurate.

I make the pattern as close to the dimensions as possible.

After I've pinned the pattern pieces to the fabric, I cut 1/2" out from the edge of the paper

to allow for the seams.

I laid the entire piece of yardage out on the cafe' floor,

and arranged and rearranged the pieces until they all fit,

making sure the zebra stripes were running horizontal.

Making the pattern and laying it out took two hours!

All the pieces are accounted for.

(Sorry if some of the pictures are fuzzy. I was not waiting another week for some

sunny days to finish this project so I could take better pictures. 

Two years was long enough. Wasn't it? Yep.)

After cutting out the pieces, I made cording with 3/8" cording.

I believe I ended up sewing 18 yards of it.

I cut millions of  2" strips out of the leftover fabric

and sewed all their short ends together.

I did this for a long while.

A really long while!

Then I sewed the cotton cording inside the strips for an even longer while.

I always start by pinning the piping at the top back part of the chair.

The front pattern side of the chair got pinned to one side of the piping,

and the back pattern side of the chair got  pinned the other side of the same piping.

Now it's right side out.

Now it's inside out.

And I pin the arm pieces to it, wrong side out.

And the arm pieces get gathered a tad so they curve the arm of the chair.

Take the slipcover off and sew the pinned area.

Turn it right side out, fit it back onto the chair.

Admire it.

Turn it inside out and pin another pattern piece to it.

Repeat until completed.

See? I don't have a fancy machine!

Just a simple, older, sturdy, portable Singer that was my grandmother's.

I used part of a painting tarp as the pattern for under the cushion.

No one sees it anyway.

I used velcro on my seat cushion flaps to hold them together.

I am also not fond of sewing zippers.

The ottoman gets its cover.

I trimmed off the selvage and added piping to the bottom.

I top-stitched all around the bottom, just 1/4" above the piping so it would lay flat.

So, Laura Ashley meet Ballard Designs.

BEFORE

I finished it at night and couldn't wait to get the long-awaited after picture.

It's now my cozy blogging and reading spot.

I am happy to have this project off my list!

The fabric is P. Kaufmann Sierra Skin.

I found it at Old Time Pottery for $4 a yard. I used 5 yards.

Ballard Designs also carries a similar design by the yard HERE.

(It's $38 a yard, though. I'd say I got a good deal!)

Do you sew?

If so, what?

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