The Great Coverup!

It's great because it's finished! I'm talking about my very first slipcover. Mama gave me this chair that she bought back in the early 80's. It's in great condition but needed to be brought up to date color-wise. So, I bought two painter's canvas drop cloths at Walmart for $10 each and got to work. First I washed and dried the canvases.

Then I took the old cushion cover apart and using that for a pattern made a new cover.  I was able to use the zipper from the old cushion.  I couldn't believe there was a white zipper in the old orange cushion!

I checked out several library books for help with making the slipcover.  They ended up confusing me more than helping.  I ended up just using the seam lines on the old chair as pattern guides.  I drew the patterns straight onto the fabric and added 1/2" seam allowances when cutting them out. I draped the pieces over the chair in their spot as I cut them out so that I wouldn't get confused when it was time to sew them together.

I pinned it all on about 100 times during the construction. I would pin two pieces together, take it off the chair, sew it, then put it back on the chair to check the fit and pin the next two pieces.

I had to pick out many seams after sewing them in wrong. Waaaaaaay too many! I dropped my bowl of 10,000 straight pins once. Well, it seemed like that many to me. I have pin-pricked fingers. I had to walk away from my project many times out of frustration. Okay, I'll quit whining now but I just wanted to let you know why it took me 1 1/2 weeks to make the slipcover.

But, in the end...I'm quite pleased with how the slipcover turned out.  Here's my proud chair in her new dress:

...and the back...

...and here she is in her new spot in the living room. She just fits right in like she's always been there.

Just one more peek at her in her new corner.

If you've never made a slipcover and are thinking about it, I have some advice for you.  Don't do it!  Take the $20 you would spend on the drop cloths, add $10 to it, go to Big Lots and buy one of their Sure-Fit slipcovers with it!  Yes, I found them AFTER I'd already started my project. And to top it off, they sent me a 20 % off coupon for all my purchases there until January 30.  I could have (and still could) get the ready-made slipcover for only $24!!! 

Moving on.... 

After doing my household chores for today AND tomorrow!!!! and finishing my huge slipcover project, I decided to reward my guys and myself with a little Southern comfort food; pinto beans, fried potatoes, and made-from-scratch biscuits!  Oh yes, comfort doesn't get much better than that.  I even made my biscuits the old fashioned way.  In case you care, here's how I make them:

Cut 1/4 cup coconut oil (or butter) into 2 cups self-rising flour.  Blend until mealy. 

Gradually stir in enough buttermilk (around 1 cup) to make a stiff dough.

Knead 2-3 times, just to make it all hold together pretty well.  Then pinch off pieces, roll them into balls and flatten into your pan or cast iron skillet.

Bake at 475 degrees about 25 minutes, until they are golden brown and making your kitchen smell heavenly.  Slather them with real butter and enjoy! 



Well, the kitchen's cleaned up, my chores are all done, and now I'm going to bed .  I plan to get up earrrrrrly in the morning and start a batch of soap.  I hope to make pictures of my process.  Be sure to come back soon! Oh, and don't forget to leave me a comment!  I get lonesome for girl talk living in this house with only guys.



I'm so excited to have my slipcover featured here:

 

This post is also linked to: Whatever you want Wednesday, Frugal Friday, Transformation Thursdays, Show and Tell Friday, Making the World Cuter Monday, DIY Show Off, Life Made Lovely Monday, Metamorphosis Monday, Take-a-Look Tuesday