HOW TO MAKE A SOFA COVER?

Making your own sofa cover is an operation that has many advantages in terms of choosing the desired fabrics, colors and textures. It is also an excellent alternative that will perfectly suit your budget while maintaining a wide choice of product ranges.

Although this task may seem tedious at first glance, it is nonetheless accessible to everyone. We therefore propose to accompany you through this article step by step in order to make your own sofa cover and obtain the ideal sofa. You can also find on our online store all the sofa, chair and cushion covers that we make available to you, in very varied styles.

1. Why choose a sofa cover and what type of cover to choose?

A. The sofa cover: a durable solution to give new life to your furniture

Installing a sofa cover is above all a concrete response to a very real problem .

Indeed, we have all already had to deal with a worn sofa whose visual appearance left something to be desired. And very often, this has an impact on the aesthetics of your room, which is not insignificant. Putting a new cover on your old sofa therefore allows you to cover all the defects of your sofa , while giving it a new freshness . In addition, this allows you to completely transform the style of your room. Patterns, colors, textures... you are free to choose the new appearance of your interior.

B. A wide choice of covers, suitable for all types of sofas

Making a sofa cover takes about 1h30 to 2h depending on your skill in the field. Before tackling the steps of making a sofa cover, know that, if you are afraid of doing it wrong, or if you do not have time to devote to this activity, we provide you with dozens of models of sofa covers . This will save you time and allow you to discover very varied styles of covers.

Whether you have a single sofa, a corner sofa, a panoramic sofa or even a sofa with a chaise longue , you will easily find the ideal cover.

On our store, you will find hundreds of products that will help you guide you in your decision. As such, different criteria will help you to enlighten you. First of all, it is necessary to define whether the cover will have to fulfill a primarily aesthetic or protective function. Then, the choice of material will be decisive in the final rendering of your sofa. Whether it is cotton, linen, microfiber or velvet, all of these components have assets that define the primary utility of the sofa cover. This choice of material will also depend on the measurements and shape of your sofa, and this is why a custom-made sofa cover may be the best option for you.

2. Preparation before making the sofa cover

A. Taking measurements of your sofa

Continuing from the point discussed above, let's remember that the measurements of the sofa are a crucial step . They are, to a large extent, what will determine the ideal type of covering and the cut that should be chosen. We must also not forget to take into account the standards of fabric stores , which generally offer rolls with a pre-established width, generally between 80 and 150 cm . As for the length, this is most of the time in a range between 100 and 150 cm .

Finally, don't forget to determine in advance which parts you want to cover. Because in fact, the measurements may vary depending on your answer to this question. We therefore advise you to take complete measurements, which take into account:

• the width and depth of your sofa seats
• the height of the backrest and seats of your sofa
• the height and width of your sofa armrests

For your information, if the width of your fabric is 140cm then:

• For a 2 seater sofa with 2 cushions , you will need around 15m of fabric
• For a 3 seater sofa with 3 cushions , you will need approximately 17m of fabric.
• For a 4 seater sofa with 4 cushions , you will need approximately 19m of fabric.

B. Selecting and preparing your sofa cover fabric

Although the selection of fabric is a step that depends entirely on your tastes, we would like to remind you of a few points. First of all, we advise you to opt for a plain covering which will require much less work than if you choose a patterned fabric. Because very often, the latter will require more precision when cutting and installing, so that the patterns in question join and overlap neatly.

Also, once you have purchased the fabric, it is best to wash and dry it thoroughly . This will soften it and reduce the risk of shrinkage later on.

Caution : Always follow the specific usage instructions for your fabric when washing.

Finally, to ensure that the cover perfectly fits the shape of your sofa , it would be best to iron the fabric . It would be a shame to have made a sofa cover and end up with a result full of folds and imperfections.

3. How to make the pattern for your sofa cover?

A. Prepare your sofa cover pattern

First, you will need to cover the main part of your sofa . To do this, you can use different materials such as muslin or kraft paper . Place them over the entire area, except on the armrests. In fact, these will have to be done separately to avoid any complications.

Once this is done, you are free to push the muslin more or less in so as to obtain a cover that is stretched or on the contrary very close to the sofa. The advantage of creating your own sofa cover pattern is that you can adapt it perfectly to your requirements.

Next, you can look at the armrests. For a classic sofa with two identical armrests, a single pattern will suffice . So take the measurements you took beforehand, and place a corresponding piece of muslin on the armrest.

B. Trace the outline of your sofa cover pattern

When this step is complete, you can take a pencil or chalk and trace the outlines of your sofa cover pattern . That is, the sections that will need to be cut out. Among them, you should have:

• The back of the file
• The seating area
• The armrests

C. Cut out the pattern for your sofa cover

Third and final step in designing the pattern: cutting . This is probably the easiest to do. All you have to do is follow the outlines you have just traced using a pair of scissors. However, be careful to obtain a linear outline so that the cover is perfectly proportioned.

Let's also remember that some sofas, such as sofas with chaise longue, have specific features that make the task slightly more complex . Therefore, we advise you to rely on the measurements of certain brand models. If you own a 3-seater sofa VIMLE, EKTORP , FRIHETEN, KIVIK or SODERHAMN from IKEA , for example, you will find all the information you need to design your pattern on the internet. The same goes for corner sofas, which, like the BATTITO sofa from ALI and the CARASCO sofa from Poltronèsofa , can present some complications. So don't be discouraged, and consider the measurements of these sofa models on the websites of the corresponding brands in order to make your sofa cover.

4. How to sew a sofa cover?

A. Cut and position the sections of the sofa cover

When you make a sofa cover, the sewing part is probably one of the most delicate steps . So be careful, and take all the necessary precautions. Start by laying your fabric on a completely flat surface , so as to have an overall view and reduce the risk of errors. Then come and superimpose the sections of your pattern on it, and repeat the marking operation. But this time, do it on the final product, that is to say on the future cover of your sofa .

Once you have traced your fabric, you can grab your scissors again and cut out the fabric.

Please note : it is essential to keep an extra margin of about 2.5cm. This excess fabric will be essential when sewing the different sections together.

Also, consider that if the front of your sofa armrests is asymmetrical , you will need to turn the section of the pattern corresponding to the armrest over before transferring this shape onto the fabric of your future cover.

You now have the final parts of your sofa cover. Assemble them on your sofa, taking care to attach each adjacent section with straight pins . These should be placed inside the visible outlines (those you traced with chalk or pencil). The sections, for their part, should be deliberately placed upside down (pattern or color side against the sofa) so that the general shape is clearly visible.

B. Sew the armrests and the central part of the sofa cover

If you have reached this final step, it is because you can now get your sewing machine. Start with the armrests, and sew them directly to the corresponding sections . You will of course have previously removed the pins that attached this section to the others. Still meticulously following the outline you made, you can sew while keeping the fabric part facing outwards.

Then, repeat this action with the main part of the sofa while taking care to apply the same precautions. Assemble the different sections following the line, then remove the pins that held the fabric. Once all the parts are assembled, all that remains is to put the sheet back in the right direction and make sure that everything is perfect. Examine the seams, the exterior appearance as well as the interior measurements. Concretely, the cover must conform to the shapes of the sofa . If all this is good, then you have done an excellent job.

C. Hemming and finishing your sofa cover

In order to obtain an impeccable finish and a professional rendering, you have the possibility of making a hem for your sofa cover . To do this, take a tape measure to draw the line as straight as possible. This should be done on the lower part of the cover, with a margin of 1 to 3 cm from the edge .

The next step is to fold the cover over itself, at the point of your line . When this is done, hold the corner in place using pins or thumbtacks. Your hem is now ready to be sewn. But before that, ironing is necessary . Indeed, by ironing the entire part of the fabric dedicated to the hem, you will obtain a neater result, which will make your task much easier. Finally, you can take your sewing machine in hand again and proceed to the last step of the operation . Take your time, and regularly check the regularity of your attachment points.

Tips from our team for making your sofa cover

That's it, you know how to make a sofa cover! Now all you have to do is get to work. But before that, our team has gathered together some tips for you that will help you make your sofa cover :

Conclusion

Making a sofa cover requires following certain steps and being rigorous in your work. Whether in the preparation of your cover, in the design of the pattern or during the sewing stages of your sofa cover, be meticulous and focused. However, if you have carefully followed the different steps that we have just presented to you, then your sofa cover is now ready to be used and the final result should live up to your expectations.

This is a first approach, which will familiarize you with the making of your different covers for the house. As part of your future projects, do not hesitate to consult all the advice and tools that we share with you on our blog. Also know that we offer hundreds of models of sofa covers, chair covers and cushion covers on our online store.

We hope you enjoyed this article and find it helpful in designing your sofa cover.

If you have any questions or if you simply wish to share your achievements with us, Please feel free to leave a comment in the space below. We would love to hear your thoughts and how you transformed your home decor by making your sofa cover!

See you soon !

The Housses-Tendances.com ™ Team.