Sofa Slipcover Progress

With the pattern I made from the first cushion in hand, it was a fairly straight-forward process to assemble the cover for my living room sofa's second seat cushion.

Dorothy approves.

Next step, fitting and figuring out how to do the arms of this thing.  I hope to work on this on Sunday, while the temperature outside is frigid and some predicted frozen precipitation is falling from the sky .. that is, if the storm doesn't knock out our power.  (I am hoping that the Weather Gods keep the ice accumulation to a minimum for us ... or skip it all together.)

Stay warm, Everyone!

Project Helpers

On Sunday, I decided to start a new project ... one that has been on my mind for a while ... one that seems like a perfect thing to do during the time spent indoors while the weather is cold this winter.  I am planning to slipcover the sofa in our living room.

This sofa is identical to the red one in our family room.  We bought them for our living room at a former house, which was huge and could easily handle the visual weight of two very large red sofas.  Neither the living room or family room in this house can do that, so we have one sofa in each room. 

The cotton damask upholstery on both of them is showing its age ... splitting and shattering in a couple of spots on the now-underside of the cushions and snagged and torn on the corners from Maggie's habit of sharpening her claws on them.  The shape of the sofas is perfect for slipcovering and everything except the fabric is in great condition, which the main reason that I have held onto them for so long.  Another reason is that I cannot in all good conscience spend $$$ on furniture to have it become another victim of Maggie and her claws.  (I know that you are about to suggest ways to train Maggie or to encourage her to scratch elsewhere.  Take my word for it, I've tried it all.  She is now 12 years old, and I accept that there are things about her that I cannot change.  Her scratching is one of them.)

Anyway, back to the slipcover plan ...

Sunday morning, bright and early, I broke out my supplies and got started.  For the rest of the day, while watching football games on TV, I pinned and snipped and sewed.  I had help while I worked.  Ruby used her head to hold down the fabric, while I was pin-fitting the box-edge of the cushion.

Dorothy is always involved in any sort of crafty project.  She gets right into the middle of things ... very serious about her job as Quality Control Supervisor.

At the end of the day, I had finished exactly ONE cushion.  It took a while for me to cut and sew all the cording that I needed, and to figure out the pattern to accurately fit the cushion's odd shape.  I am extremely pleased with how this turned out.  I tried it onto the family room sofa to step back and admire my handiwork, and because the light in there was better for taking a picture of it.

Do you see all the cat scratching on the arm of the sofa?

I am resigned to the fact that finishing the rest of the slipcover is going to be a slow process.  I learned to sew when I was 12, and I have made just about everything you can think of in that time ... except for a slipcover.  I'm learning and figuring this out as I go, which takes a lot longer.  I will work on it whenever I'm stuck inside, and I will be pleased to show the finished result to you when it finally happens.  In the meantime, don't hold your breath.

Back in the Saddle

It's been a while since I scored a thrift store bargain ... haven't had the time or inclination (or the space) to do much shopping recently.  While I was out and about earlier today, I decided to make a quick cruise past my favorite thrift store ... and struck gold.

Two chairs, perfect size, AND with matching ottomans on casters!

I flipped these babies upside down and inspected each of them thoroughly.  There's no brand label that I could find, but they're sturdy and comfortable and in really good condition.  I also sniffed them all over to see if there was any tell-tale stinkiness.  Finding none, I practically skipped all the way to the cashier to pay for them.

I have been looking for a matched pair of club chairs for a while now.  I figured I'd come up with ottomans later, as I thought that any chairs I found at a decent price CERTAINLY wouldn't come with ottomans.  Patience pays off, and this set is perfect!!! 

Next ... I have to clear my sewing room out enough so I have room to work on the slipcovers.