Slipcover Pattern Reviews - Which slipcover patterns work, and how to make them even better.

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**** Butterick #6108… floorcloth, pillows and cushions for wicker furniture:

These instructions include a pattern and directions for making bias strip in a continuous loop .  This is a real time saver --we use a system like this in our slipcover workroom.

The pillow instructions are complete and just fine as they are.  If you want to fit the cushions on an existing piece, I suggest that you put the pattern on a piece of muslin and cut it out, then pin the muslin to your cushion and make sure it fits, or mark and trim off the excess muslin until you have an exact fit.

The boxing, or strip that goes around the sides of the cushion, should be cut no more than one inch wider than the finished width.

** Vogue "Patterns for Living" #2054, for a 3-cushion sofa and a T-cushion chair:

This is really instructions, with some nice pillow patterns in the envelope.  Nothing wrong with the instructions, except there is no allowance for a tuck-in underneath the seat cushions.  Therefore the covers will never stay in place if the furniture is used at all.

If you use these patterns, add about 4 or 5 inches to the bottom of the inside back and inside arm, as well as to the deck (part underneath the seat cushions) and cut these to flare out from the bottom of the existing pattern pieces about 5 inches ; this is shown on Pat Reese's "Advanced Cutting" video.

*** McCall's Home Decorating #8036:

Here are patterns for two styles for ladder-back chairs, two for round-back or "Windsor" chairs, one for a folding chair and one for a side chair with arms (a "Braeur" chair)  all very attractive. 

The instructions and patterns are very complete; the styles are detailed and some done in contrasting trim.  In spite of the fact that the pattern   is labelled "Easy" most are rather complex and some will only fit well if you make sure that your chair is the exact size that the pattern is made for.

It would be a good idea to measure each piece of the style you are making and compare it with the measurements of the chair you are planning to fit.  As with the other patterns, I suggest making a muslin pattern if there is much variation in size, particularly on the styles that involve curved pieces.

** Simplicity "Home" slipcovers #7565

This is the most complete set of styles, includes wing chair cover and ruffled skirted sofa with 3 seat cushions. 
Again, these are really instructions…….the only pattern pieces in the envelope are squares for cushions or pillows…..I cut these with a ruler and find no need for a pattern.!

This time tuck-ins are provided for but no illustration of how to fit them to the shape of the inside back or inside arm.

There are instructions for making a tube for continuous cutting of bias for welt cord. 

Seam allowances of 1 inch are intended to be cut down later.  This will make the cover difficult to fit; better to cut 1/2 inch seams to begin with. 

** Simplicity #8258……3 chair styles, a sofa and an ottoman.  Same thing…..one inch seam allowances.  But the drawings are good.  The tuck-ins are shown, although they are not shaped to stay in the form of the seat as well as they could to hold the cover in place.  After pinning them as the instructions show, add a flare out below the bottom of the inside back and inside arm.

**** Simplicity "Home" pattern #8261:  Says Sofa, Chair & Ottoman Cover on the envelope but the pictures and the patterns are for a parsons chair, a dining  chair with no skirt, a folding chair and ……very useful……a butterfly chair, the kind with a metal criss-cross frame that is often used outdoors.

This in the only pattern I have ever seen for a butterfly chair cover.  Again it is a good idea to compare the measurements of the pattern to your own frame or cut the pattern from muslin and see how it fits.  This can be made from outdoor fabric.

A general note:  Most of these sewing instructions sew the cording to the inside back rather than the outside back, etc. 

As a general rule I always apply the cording to the piece of the cover that will be flat on the chair, (outside back, outside arm) and then apply the part that will be eased or pleated onto the flat piece.  This is how I make the slipcover fit over puffy or curved parts.

For more detailed instructions, see "Order of Cutting" and "Order of Assembly" lessons posted elsewhere on this site.

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