Simply Slipcovers

Give your furniture a fresh new face with simply slipcovers.whether you love the cozy, rumpled look or a more tailored approach, this book offers a wealth of exciting design ideas. Twenty step-by-step projects for sofas, chairs, futons, and ottomans are fully illustrated to help you sew and modify slipcovers to fit your furniture and your style. Detailed instructions cover everything from estimating yardage and selecting fabric to cutting, sewing and fitting techniques. For the beginner, simply slipcovers offers no--sew options, while more advanced seamstresses will find new and creative design options in Designer details. Refurbish your furniture wardrobe with confidence using simply slipcovers!

"Slipcovers are to furniture what clothing is to the body," declares this creative, common-sense guide. "They camouflage, dress up or down, give character, and convey style." They can transform an ordinary item into something exciting that helps make a room work. Less pricey than new furniture or reupholstery, they can nevertheless be somewhat costly when custom-made--unless you learn to make them yourself. Simply Slipcovers is an excellent choice for this purpose. In keeping with Sunset's winning how-to series format (see also Simply Window Treatments and Simply Upholstery), the book offers a common-sense approach to choosing style, fabric, and trim, supplementing its extensive step-by-step instructions with good, clear photos and diagrams. In addition to actual construction information, the 20 projects explain measuring and cutting (with measuring diagrams and cutting layouts) and include loads of great tips on achieving a professional appearance. Besides cover-ups for futon, daybed, and ottoman, and both simple tailored and elaborately swagged sofa designs, projects feature various chair styles, from easy folding- and dining-chair disguises to skirted armchair and welted wing chair covers. Several projects also feature "designer details," ideas for finishing touches like contrasting borders, decorative bows and binding, or pleated swags. The "basics" section explains yardage calculations for many types of soft furnishings, cutting and fitting directions, general construction techniques, and an overview of essential equipment. Although some pieces require advanced sewing skills, many can be handled by the novice. --Amy Handy

I know the very basics of sewing--how to thread the sewing machine and where to put your foot to make the needle go up and down. I bought 2 books on slipcovers and this one is my favorite. It covers all of the basics for beginners like me, yet it includes beautiful, detailed covers for the advanced. I hope I'll be making slipcovers with the best of you in the near future. I'm really happy that I bought Simply Slipcovers.

This book is full of ideas,encouragement,and inspiration. It's directions are clear and easy to understand. While promoting creativity and personalization of your project, it gives you the basics needed for selecting fabric and style, measuring, cutting and sewing. I am not terribly skilled at my sewing machine, but with the help of this book, slipcovers are now in my repertoire.