Terrycloth Slipcover

Materials:

measuring tape
large terry cloth towels - any color
straight pins
10 feet of grosgrain ribbon, or cording/fabric cut into two 24-inch lengths and 12 six-inchlengths*
3" wide quilt binding
sewing machine and thread
*Substitute 1 1/2"-wide cotton or cotton-poly blend fabric if desired. The 24-inch lengths will be used to secure the slipcover to the seat, and the six-inch lengths will be used to secure the cover to the back.

Chair back and seat:

1. To determine the length and width of terrycloth needed to cover the back of the chair, measure the length and width of the chair back. Double the length and add 1 1/2" to the width measurement. Cut a terrycloth towel to match these dimensions. Set the cloth aside.
2. To determine the dimensions of terrycloth needed to cover the chair seat, place a towel onto the chair with the rough side (tag side) up. For a decorative touch, position the patterned, seamed edge of the towel at the front of the chair seat. Allow finished towel edges to hang over the front and side edges of the chair at even lengths (one to four inches) pulling the excess towel fabric to the back of the chair. Cut the towel along the back edge of the chair seat.
3. On the wrong side of the towel, custom fit the seat cover by securing the corners of the terrycloth at the front edges of the chair. Working with one corner at a time, pinch the terrycloth together into a triangle shape. Secure the pinched fabric vertically with a straight pin.
4. Use two additional straight pins to mark the terrycloth at the back corners of the chair seat. These marks will be used when placing ties for securing the back of the seat cover to the chair. Take the fabric off of the chair.
5. Working on one pinned front corner at a time, stitch a vertical seam where the straight pin is securing the triangle pinch of fabric. Repeat on the second front corner and turn the fabric right side out to view the finished corners. Set aside.

Ties:

1. Optional: If using fabric for the ties, cut into 6" and 12" strips as indicated in the materials list. Turn stitched ties right side out using a crochet needle or thin wire loop turner (available from fabric and sewing shops).
2. Working with one tie at a time, fold the 24" ties in half. Keeping the center fold, pull the open ends of the tie away from each other, manipulating the tube into a "v" shape. Tuck the raw ends of the ties into the tube and press, keeping the "v" shape.
3. Using the straight pins that were placed at the back of seat cover in step 5 (above), secure each "v" shaped tie on the top of the fabric, with the fold of the "v" positioned on the back edge of the seat cover.

Binding:

1. Finish the back edge of the seat cover using 3"-wide binding. Cut the binding to the length of the back edge of the seat cover and fold in the cut ends. Fold the length of the binding in half horizontally, and position the open edges along the back of the seat cover. The folded edge of the binding should rest on top of the ("v" shaped) ties.
2. Stitch the open edges of the folded binding along the back edge of the seat cover.
3. Once the binding is attached to the terrycloth fabric, fold it over the back edge, and stitch "in the ditch" (along the binding stitch line). This completes the seat cover.

Completing the slipcover:

1. Place terrycloth cut in step 1 on a flat work surface, rough side up. Visually divide the fabric in half vertically. Working on only the upper half of the fabric, position three 6" ties (six ties in all) on either side of the upper length of terrycloth. The ties should be placed on top of the terry cloth with one end lined up on the terry cloth edge. Secure using straight pins and position pins to protrude from the edge of the fabric.
2. Fold the terrycloth in half vertically, placing the side with the secured ties directly on the work surface. The straight pins holding the ties in place should be visible.
3. Position and secure the remaining six ties to the top layer of fabric using the protruding pins as a guide for placement.
4. Unfold fabric. Cut two lengths of 3" wide binding to match the measurement of the fabric length. Repeat for the fabric width.
5. Finish all edges as directed in Binding steps 1 and 2.

Guests
Sally Cheney
Owner/Sewing Expert, AAA Sewing & Vacuum
1661 Gallatin Pike N.
Madison, TN 37115
Phone: 615-870-0044
Fax: 615-870-0134
Also in this Episode

Decorating With Style : Episode DWS-530
•	Terrycloth Slipcover
•	Faux Heirloom Tray
•	Sheer Beauty