The fabric upholstery of sofas and armchairs is under daily stress; it is worn, soiled and deformed. Removable covers for upholstered furniture will help to update the interior quickly and inexpensively. They will protect the sofas from the claws of animals and sticky hands of children. Such covers can be sewn on their own, spending a little time and effort on transforming your home. In the article, you will learn step-by-step instructions on how to sew a cover on a sofa, so that you can realize this tempting idea.
Materials and Tools
To sew a cover on a sofa with your own hands, you will need:
- suitable fabric;
- sewing machine;
- scissors;
- threads, needles and other sewing accessories ;
- measuring tape or tape measure;
- material for the pattern;
- a piece of chalk.
Armed with tools and the desire to transform your soft furniture, you can get to work.
Fabric selection
When choosing a fabric, first of all pay attention to the strength of the material, and then to the design and color. The fabric should be dense and durable. In the presence of animals, claw resistance is important. Fabrics with water-repellent impregnation are ideally suited, it is not afraid of moisture and dirt, it is easily washed.
The most suitable options for a cover are:
- Velor is an ideal option. It is soft (like velvet), but more affordable. There are varieties of velor with stretch fibers. Such material stretches perfectly.
- Flock is a very durable material and delicate. This fabric contains natural and synthetic fibers. Teflon flock is saturated with liquid Teflon, repels dirt, does not absorb liquid, does not absorb dust. This kind of flock is easy to wash and dries quickly. This is also ideal for a sofa cover.
- Jacquard - one of the most durable fabrics, strong, resistant to deformation. The jacquard contains natural and synthetic fibers, which makes it pleasant and durable in quality.
- Microfiber is considered by many as a substitute for suede. This fabric is also ideal for a case (due to its strength and durability). There is a variety of microfiber impregnated with Teflon.
- Cotton attracts with its naturalness, is environmentally friendly and “breathable”. Easy dyeing of this fabric allows you to get many color options. Cotton is very pleasant, but short-lived. The material wears out quickly and burns out. Cotton is the best option for a kids room because it is completely safe.
- Shinil looks very noble, it’s nice to sit on it, it’s very nice to touch it. The tire is dense, but at the same time quite light (thanks to acrylic fibers).
There are plenty of fabrics suitable for sewing a cover. The result largely depends on the fabric, so be careful in this matter. Choose a color and style to your taste and depending on the interior.
Measurement Methods
To cut the cover to the size of the sofa, you need to take measurements correctly. The final result of the work depends on the quality pattern. What and how to measure? It depends on the design of the cover and the model of the sofa, but it’s better to measure everything: the seat, armrests, sidewalls, pillows.
To make a quality pattern, you can use several options:
- Open the old case (if one is available) and cut out a new one exactly on it.
- Get a cheap fabric and carefully cut it to the size of the sofa, and then transfer the patterns to the fabric for the cover.
- Make a pattern of paper (tracing paper, newspapers), laying a sofa and cutting along the contours.
- Measure with a centimeter tape.
If you have chosen the last item, then measure the length at the longest part of the furniture, and the width at the widest. Measure the armrests and headboards for maximum protruding parts.
For any measurements, add 10 cm for allowances for seams and hem, and at the edges that will be brought in, 20 cm each.
Cut cover
When the pattern is ready, it can be transferred to the fabric. If you have little experience in sewing, then choose fabric without a pattern. Its presence only complicates the cutting and requires more material. Large parts of the pattern should be in the center of the details, and even the fabric may involve connecting the pattern to different parts.
Cut on a flat surface with chalk. The paper or fabric pattern should be secured with pins and carefully circled in chalk.
Remember the Russian proverb: "Measure seven times, cut once." If everything is correct, feel free to cut the details of the cover.
Sewing a cover
When you have cut out the details of the cover, you can start sewing. How to sew a cover on a sofa? Step-by-step instructions are presented below:
- First connect the parts with a gusset.
- Try the product on the sofa.
- Check the dimensions of the cover, and if necessary, reduce or increase the allowances for the seams. Repeat this procedure until the cover ideally "sits" on the furniture.
- Stitch parts on a sewing machine.
- Work the internal seams of the product on an overlock or zigzag.
- Hide and sew the lining part (if available) according to the size of the product, sew to the finished cover.
- Work on the fasteners and the edges of the product.
- Decorate the cover with decor (if necessary).
When all the work is behind, and the cover is ready, rejoice at your result!
Easy way to stitch a sofa cover
The task of sewing a cover can be simplified and sew a new thing for a sofa from one piece of fabric. To do this, you need a piece of material of a sufficiently large size that can completely envelop the furniture, enveloping all protruding parts. The hanging parts with this method are cut or pulled under the sofa, and the excess volume is draped and secured with neat folds.
For this method, use a well-stretched cloth. This will help to accurately repeat all the details without a complicated cut.
To prevent the fabric from deforming and not moving, wooden slats or cuts of a metal-plastic pipe are laid in the recesses between the parts of the sofa over the cover.
See an example in the photo. How to sew a cover on the sofa with your own hands without patterns and a sewing machine? It is very easy!
Corner sofa cover
Covers for sofas are much cheaper than hauling furniture. And if you intend to sew a cover with your own hands, the costs are required only for the material. Many housewives wonder about how to sew a cover on a corner sofa, which is necessary for this.
This will require the same procedure as when sewing on a straight sofa. Only the number of parts will increase.
An angular sofa can be considered as two straight lines, the covers of which should be connected. You can simplify the task by stitching two separate elements. This case is easier to care for, the parts can be washed separately. Sewing a cover on a corner sofa with your own hands is as simple as on a straight sofa.
Secrets of quality tailoring
How to sew a cover on the sofa with your own hands, so that it turns out beautiful and comfortable? Tell the secrets of experienced hostesses:
- Choose a dense, but not very stiff (not upholstery) fabric.
- Make a pattern slightly larger than the required size so that in the process of work it can be adjusted to the size of the sofa.
- Decorate unsuccessful places with decor - bows, ribbons, lacing, etc.
- So that the cover is not afraid of animal claws, tighten the fabric with 10-15 mm foam.
- If the pattern is very dense, then sew the seams twice so that they can withstand the load.
- Carefully make a pattern, draw it on paper, carefully plan sewing and joining parts.
- A looser case will last longer because it will not be under tension.
- For the first sewing, take an inexpensive fabric. The features of each sofa are individual, so there is no 100% advice. The second time your cover will turn out exactly better, so it can be sewn from more expensive fabric.
Original ideas
Such an inexpensive and easy-to-care way to update the interior, such as sewing covers on sofas with your own hands, is in demand. You are limited only by your own imagination in choosing the fabric and style of the new look of upholstered furniture. To be truly original, get acquainted with the ideas of DIY covers:
- A cover from a combination of several fabrics looks original, one can hang from under the other, contrast or complement.
- The quilted cover looks more voluminous and richer, it can be made of one piece of fabric or a combination of several stitched along predetermined lines (cell, strip).
- The patchwork technique when the fabric is sewn from small pieces of different fabrics, and then the product is cut.
- Do-it-yourself cover can not only be sewn, but also tied. You can still connect the parts and then sew them together. Hand-knitted covers are a highlight of the interior, which hardly anyone can repeat.
To knit and stitch the covers on the sofa, the photos of which you see, is quite simple. The main thing here is desire!
A cover for a sofa increases the period of its service and makes it possible to update furniture and interior simply and inexpensively. Such a task as stitching a cover on a sofa is within the power of any housewife. To make sure of this, finally watch the video.
Many dream of a removable cover for the sofa, to easily maintain order and cleanliness in the house. The cover perfectly protects the upholstery of furniture from pollution, from the claws of animals. It is easy to remove, and after each washing the sofa is as good as new.