How to Sew Chair Covers

Sew fabric panels that imitate the shape of chair backs to minimize the amount of wood in a room or for special occasions. Follow these step-by-step instructions.

rxr2113_4_chaircovers

Materials and Tools:

drop cloth
newspaper
marker
scissors
fabric
ribbon
sewing machine
thread

Steps:

1. Put newspaper on top of a flat drop cloth, and then lay the back of the chair as flat as possible over the paper. Use a marker to trace along the outside of the back of the chair, and then cut out the pattern.

2. Fold the fabric in half with right sides together to get two pieces at once and pin the pattern in place. Cut around it, making sure to leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance all the way around.

3. Cut 14 ribbons per chair to about 10 inches for the ties. Pin and lay them to the right side (not outside) of the fabric on one panel in seven places. Pin the other half of the panel over the top with right sides together, and sew all the way around the panel, leaving about six to eight inches along the bottom edge open. Trim the seam allowances to about 1/4 inch and around the curves, and then turn the panel right side out. Iron it flat.

4. Hand-stitch the opening closed and sew a second panel exactly the same way to complete the covering for one chair back. Tie them in place with bows.

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