Hello Friends,
Welcome to Week 5 of the One Room Challenge.
For the last two weeks, we’ve had a blast using paint to refresh wall art and other accessories.
Well, this week, we’re using the same concept, but switching over to fabric. Yep! This post is all about how to update and integrate outdated pieces with fabric. And the update doesn’t have to be a full-scale upholstery job. In some situations, slip covers or pillow covers will do just as well. It happened for me!
Yep! I was able to breath new life into an old sofa with simple pillow covers and am thrilled to bring you the super easy step-by-step tutorial.
How to Make Custom-Sized Pillow Covers |
ORC Week 5
The Decorating Train Wreck
Say hello to my 88-inch camelback sofa that is, by today’s standards, outdated in every possible way. The color, shape, size, style, fabric — all of it is one giant decorating train wreck. But even with this, it does still possess three good decorating attributes: Quality, comfort, and near perfect condition. None of these ever goes out of style. AmIright?
Back in the day, this sofa was custom ordered to fit in this area. But when styles begin to change, it was hidden away while the room waited for a replacement.
The only trouble is that none of the replacements actually fit. I tried everything from love seats to sectionals. But, in the end, nothing compared to this sofa in terms of quality or comfort without ringing a big ole’ cha-ching. So it was back to the drawing board.
How could this sofa be made “new” again?
The Ah-Ha Moment
If you’ve been following along, you have seen me use paint with specially chosen undertones to blend several outdated accessories. So I asked myself, “Why can’t the same be done with fabric?”
And that’s when the ah-ha moment of the ages finally hit me. OK, I’ll admit that it took about 10 years, but whatever. Thank goodness, it’s here now.
Time to Prep, Pack and Go
So I applied paint samples from the wall and accessories on some stirring sticks, grabbed an arm cover as a sofa fabric sample, piled all of the sofa pillows into the back of my car, and headed to the upholstery fabric store. My goal was to find a way to blend the solid, albeit gold-toned 🙁 , fabric of the sofa frame with new and current colors, fabrics, and finishes.
The Fabric Miracle
And what came together is nothing less than an upholstery fabric miracle. In one trip, I found a combination that works perfectly for this space. And because the pillows were in my car, I was also able to bring the pillows into the store and see the fabrics in real-time combinations and sizes. If you are not used to coordinating fabrics, this little exercise really does make a difference. Because once the fabrics are chosen, it is easy to incorporate fabric widths and repeats to determine exactly how much fabric is needed for each pillow cover.
Yes, I figured my basic math for each pillow size.
And yes, I went to the car and reviewed the math before having the fabric cut.
And, trust me, I only have a few inches of some fabric left over. This may be a discount upholstery fabric store, but the prices for my choices still ran $13-$20/yard. So I tried to only buy the exact amount needed.
In the end, the sofa pillows needed about 8 yards of fabric. But remember, there are six over-sized pillows to cover. And luckily, I did not have any waste due to repeats.
How to Make Custom-Sized Pillow Covers
Because cover sizes will vary widely based on:
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pillow size and puffiness,
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the cover style,
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the width of the fabric,
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and whether there is a repeat,
a generic step-by-step is included to help you walk through the process for two kinds of covers.
Basic Envelope and French Seam Pillow Covers
The process for both begins here.
When the C panel is placed over the B panel, it creates the “envelope.”
The C seam will overlap the B seam by about 5 inches.
Basic Envelope Pillow Cover
This is an envelope cover that can be made for any size or shape pillow.
The key to this cover is in creating a good fit by the exact measuring of the pillow and cutting of the fabric.
It’s not hard, just carefully think through the process. #youcandoit
And yes, most fabrics will also assemble using an iron-on bond. #nosewing
Just remember, if you use iron-on bond, the seams cannot be pressed again. (See end of Step 4)
Add the French Seam
But if you like a flat-edge fabric fringe, then one more step is needed.
This means allowing more fabric for the fabric fringe, too.
The width of the fringe is a personal preference.
For example, the sofa pillows shown in this post all have a 2-inch flat edge.
First, determine the amount of fabric needed for a basic envelope cover.
Now add 2 more inches all the way around.
After the basic cover is assembled, sew the French seam 2 inches in from the outer edge.
Sorry, this time the seam has to be sewn. #noirononbond
And that’s all there is to it.
Progress from Previous Weeks
Please feel free to click the links below to review earlier projects:
Click here for Week 1 – Eclectic Traditional Great Room Makeover Plans
Link here for Week 2 – How to Make a Discount Rug Work Like A Boss
Click here for Week 3 – 4 Easy Ways to Make Elegant Wall Art
Link here for Week 4 – Mirror Makeover in 3 Easy Steps
Week 5 – You are here
Click here for Week 6 – Great Room Reveal
50 Comments
This looks fabulous! From the glimpse you have shown I love the fabric choices you have made. I can’t wait to see the reveal.
Hi Debra and thanks! Looking forward to next week already!
love this fabric combo and am anxious to see it in the space!
Hi CAssie and thanks! I have to admit that I’m pretty smitten with the fabrics.
The fabric is so gorgeous! Nice tutorial too, Susie. I can’t wait to see the final reveal of this room! Good luck with the final touches!
Hi Tee and thanks! I find sewing tutorials tough to photograph so I tried this option. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
The fabrics are gorgeous! And how clever are you! Can’t wait to see the end result.
Hi Joann and thanks! Clever…..I wish. LOL… Desperate times call for desperate measures. See ya next week!!
Your fabric is so fun! Great tutorial!
Hi Ruthie and thanks!
Cute fabric choices! Excited to see the full reveal!
Hi Jessica and thanks! I can’t wait till next week either! All of the projects on every blog I’ve visited are so inspiring!
Great fabrics and i really can’t wait to see it all come together!
Hi Leslie and thanks! I’m so excited to finally be editing the reveal photos.
good tip on pillow sewing! i have never done it myself but maybe I will have to give it a try!
Hi Tim and thanks! Pillow covers really are super easy. Good luck with your project!
Hi Susie! This pillows and the fabric are fabulous. I can’t wait to see the entire room all put together. I am seriously on pins and needles!
Hi Michelle and thanks! This challenge was truly great for me. I was forced to completely finish the room –with all of the details –before moving on. I’m already looking forward to the October challenge. LOL… See ya next week!
Susie, I love this tutorial and even more, love the patterns you chose! They are some of my favs for sure. I am so in love with your space and how you are transforming it. Can’t wait to see what you cooked up next! xo
They look so great! I love the tutorial and your fabric choices are fabulous!
Nancy
Hi Nancy and thanks! The colors make me smile and the sturdiness of the fabric allows the fellas to use the pillows and be comfortable. These choices really are good choices for our needs.
I love those fabric choices! I can’t wait to see them on your sofa!
Hi Emy and thanks! We are lovin the new covers! I can’t wait till next week either! How’s that beautiful sunroom coming along?
Love the design scheme, Susie! Leopard is my favorite!
Hi Breanna and thanks! I’m so glad you love leopard! I have two different leopard prints. I made a throw for the ottoman, too. Can’t wait to share everything with you next week!
I love the fabric combinations that you chose! I can’t wait to see your reveal!
Hi Roxanne and thanks! I tried to go off the grid with the fabrics. Fingers crossed it all comes together.
You know you’re killing me, right with these little sneak peeks. I would never in a million years thought to combine those fabrics but ooh la la do they look stunning together. Love the tassels on the leopard print. Can’t wait to see the big reveal!
Hi Marie and thanks! You are good for my confidence. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Pinned it for later of course and I can’t wait to see how these colors work with the gold sofa- I am intrigued.
Okay the fabric is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love pillow covers too. What a great tutorial.. You are ah-mazing. Pinning this. Can’t wait for next week.
Hi DEb and thanks! I think I have found my niche. 🙂 I totally like the wild and crazy. LOL.
These pillow covers look amazing! I am a terrible seamstress so I would just have to purchase new pillows and am always so jealous of those that can just sew up some new ones!!
Hi Dawn and thanks! Oh how I wish we could get together and sew up some covers for you!
I love your fabric choices and color scheme, and I’m really excited to see your room reveal next week! I just know it’s all going to be amazing!
Hi Carol and thanks! I hope it all works out. Fingers crossed.
This guide is so awesome, Susie, thank you! This is going to be really handy to carry to the fabric store. I love all of the color combinations, texture and patterns you’ve chosen. I can’t wait to see how it all going to come together. It’s already so pretty. Hugs, CoCo
Hi Coco and thanks. Well, they’re no stencilled floor —but they’ll do. LOL!
Susie, so glad you found some fabrics to work with your couch!! They are gorgeous and I can’t wait to see all these elements you’ve shared through the weeks in the reveal next week!
Hi Lisa and thanks! I do feel so blessed to have found them! ANd I must admit, I’m looking forward to sharing my room and seeing all of the others, too! It will be a super fun week.
You have me believing I might actually be able to make a pillow cover for my own sofa cushions that could use a refresh! I absolutely love the fabrics you have chosen and I was so hoping when I got to the bottom I would have seen a full on shot of the sofa in all its’ new loveliness! Loved the sneak peek though 🙂 I really can’t wait until next week to see the final reveal!
Awww Maureen, what a blessing you are! Thanks for your kind and encouraging words. But I totally believe that if you have a sewing machine that sews rock solid and even straight stitches, then the rest is easy peasy. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
This is awesome. I took my first official sewing class a couple of weeks ago. I sewed as a brownie a million years ago, so it is like a distant haze in may mind. lol
Hi Pamela! I was a Brownie, too! Yay! Brownies. Well, I do believe that sewing is like riding a bicycle, it will come back to you. And, of course, the pillow covers are just a few straight seams, so it should really be quick to remmember. Please, get in touch if you have any questions.
My bed set is that colour scheme, so of course I love it 😉
Hi Ariel!! OMGee! Great minds! Is it on your blog? I’ll have to go see! Thanks for stopping by!
Great tutorial, pinning for later!
Hi Brittany and thanks! XO
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