Have you read the Magnolia Pearl book? Beth gave it to me for Christmas and I have been obsessed with the photos. Now, not all are to my taste exactly (I think old rugs on the walls in the kitchen is just gross and dusty and musty)but I love the idea of it all. But in MY colors. Still, just look at this sofa. I was inspired by the opulence of it all, and have always loved the crazy quilt layering of fabrics when I make slipcovers.
My sofa could use a bit of the embellishments I spied in the book. I have a good start with the mixed fabrics already. If I added a few velvets and trims, I'd be close. Well, close enough for my house. I have to consider that it is climbed on by two year olds and dorkies, plus we use the sofa for real life, not for display!!! All of my fabrics need to be washable.
One element I really enjoyed from the book was the use of old textiles. So, I cut up a tapestry I'd found at an antique mall years ago and added a section to the center pillow of the couch.
Another one, got cut up for ruffles on the chair that I decided to recover in a Magnolia Pearl-ISH way. This tapestry's design wasn't as pretty as the Grecian ladies on the other runner, this one was elephants and guys in turbans. But I loved the over all look of the fabric itself, it really shows its age.
The next step was to gather up piles of remnants and trims and doilies and whatever else I had lurking in the linen cabinet in my studio. I wasn't exactly sure how and where I'd use it all, and actually didn't end up usingmost of the bits and pieces. But it was good to have a pile to look through, hold up to the chair and pick from. Nothing was planned out, this chair just came together from the inspiration of what I'd seen in the Magnolia Pearl book and what was left over from other projects or laying around the studio.
If a furniture store ever sells you an insurance package for light colored fabrics, please read the fine print. I liked this oyster white velvet, but was worried about dirt showing. So, for an extra $35, I got a guarantee. Any stain or dirt that got on the chair would be cleaned off by the company or else I'd get the chair recovered free.
Sounded good. But it wasn't. The fine print says it covers everything in the world but normal dirt. So, the chair got a bit funky and no matter how I cleaned it, it always looked smudgy. The oyster white slowly became mucky gray. I daydreamed about recovering it.
A local seamstress was going to make a slipcover for me, but she decided not to, she said recliners are too hard to do.
So, of course, I figured I could do it myself. Even though, if you sat near me in the sewing segment of Silver Bella, you would know from the constant complaints I spouted, I HATE to sew. Hate it. And am a novice.
Since I was house bound, while babysitting new puppies and their poor little, over worked mommy, I thought a project that I could do in the newborn's nursery (my dining room) would keep me busy. I'd strained my back at the gym and was on muscle relaxers so wasn't quite in my right mind either.
You know, I kind of thought when I started working on the chair, that it would make a good How-To for the blog. Until I got going on it, then realized, it was just too hard to explain, since I was making it up as I went along.
But here are some helpful tips if you feel like making yourself bonkers by trying to make slipcovers for a recliner from a hodge podge of fabrics:
- gather up lots of materials to play with. What you think you are going to use, might not work, you need plenty of odds and ends to choose from
- lay out your fabrics right side up to judge where you want them, then flip them over inside out to pin. I pinned mine where I wanted it, then trimmed the fabric around the pins
- have all your pin heads face the same direction!
- don't sew over any pins, unless you really enjoy changing needles on the machine
- keep the sewing machine manual handy in case you need to change needles
- those pearl pins are easier than regular straight pins. Especially the bright colored ones, they show up better and you hit less of them with the sewing machine needle
- eye balling is easier than measuring. No one will be using a tape measure on your chair when they come to visit, so if you think it looks pretty good, you should trust yourself enough to go with that.
- it doesn't have to be perfect. A slouchy look has a lot of room for errors.
- throw in some unexpected textiles for fun
- fringes and trims can cover up crooked seams pretty good
- if you don't have any muscle relaxers, try a glass of wine before starting the project
The "sleeves" of my chair were terribly twisty. But the fringe saved them.
The back side should be interesting too! This is the side that faces the newborn's nursery (my dining room). I gathered up the ruffle with some old taupe velvet ribbon and roses that I pulled off an old hat (I have a few of those around).
If you decide to cover a recliner, you need to remember that it MOVES. The cover has to be done in pieces, not all one throw like a regular chair. I made the "'sleeves" first, then attached them with upholstery screws, to the inside of the arms. Then, the seat is simply a hemmed and trimmed piece of fabric that is tucked in around the sides, not attached to anything. The piece over the back, is made like a pillow case, that slips over it. And the foot rest cover is screwed down too. Buy extra upholstery screws, you will need more than you think!
Well, not exactly Magnolia Pearl, but it is at least Pearl-ish. Of course, the chair itself is the wrong style, not antique and not ornate. But it is comfy and I like a soft recliner for reading in. I call this my Grammy Gypsy Chair.
Hopefully, the busy fabrics won't show dirt the way the original one did. And, I can always take it apart and wash any section that gets dirty, if needed.
While cleaning up the room, I was ready for some more changes, and added this iron piece to the wall. (I'd had it up in the guest room, but now that Sugarwing's Daddy lives up there, he prefers his Hippy Tie Dye to my antique decor, so I took it down). Notice that I still have Christmas lights in the urn in the corner? I am calling it a winter decoration, instead of a Christmas one and keeping them there for a while. I enjoy the glow. And the vintage photo of the WhiteWitch that I had up for Halloween is back as a pretty lady dressed for Mardi Gras instead. That sounds better than "the Clash of the Holidays"!
January always makes me want to redo a bit. I guess it is being cooped up indoors, and staring at the same stuff over and over and getting tired of it. Also, taking down all the glitz of the Christmas decorations, makes the home seem dull with out them.
Or maybe it is just the muscle relaxers.
Oh Karla it is just wonderful! I do sew and have recovered furniture and really, I love it! I have never tried a recliner and I love your tips. Especially the upholstery screws. I think I will try those with my regular slipcovers. My kids always work them loose. Hope your back feels better the crazy muscle relaxers really paid off this time!
I have never commented on a blog before, but I absolutely love the slipcover. You did an outstanding job? Way to go!
This slip cover is just gorgeous – I would LOVE to have one like it!
Holy heck, Karla, I’m so impressed!! Your gypsy chair is gorgeous and I can’t believe you did all that without a pattern. I love the lace trim in the front and the fringe on the arms. You should be pretty proud of yourself!
I just got Robin’s book yesterday and am absolutely mesmerized…!!! Great job for someone who does not like to sew! Looks gorgeous!!
Isabel
That chair turned out fabulous !! I know I have been wanting to do one for my couch but don’t even have a clue about slipcovering even though I do know how to sew,Maybe some day I’ll try it though, you are just so crafty Karla!!I have been keeping my eye out for a lady bust, I thought yours was just so pretty on your past post and today I went out thrift shopping did fianlly find one , come by and see!
Wheeee, that was fun!!! I love your tips!! Your chair turned out great!!! I’ve been wanting to do my couch for soooo long, maybe I’ll give it a shot now…so, glass of wine, lots of fabric, trims and a glass wine…is that how it goes.lol. Laurie
It turned out great! It really works with the sofa too!!!!
Hi Karla
Wow!! I’m amazed at how using a few random materials can transform something “ordinary” into EXTRAORDINARY! It looks gorgeous and gives me hope to slipcover a chair in my sunroom I’ve been wanting to do with vintage fabrics. Anything is possible!
Rochelle
Hi Karla! I adore your grammy gypsy chair and it is very “pearl-y”! I have the magnolia pearl book too, I love her eccentricity. My favorite part of the whole book was how she had partially grown up on an estate with hundreds of peacocks and how she used to get in trouble for letting them in the house. Now that she is all grown up, she can keep her peacocks where she wants! How inspirational to be surround by beautiful birds! or puppies in the dining room?
xoxo, Tiffany
There’s NOTHING you can’t do! I’m gonna come over so we can cover up the silver in my hair!!! I’m serious. I’ve seen you work in person. With hot and scary tools that could burn people or set hotels on fire and you’re smooth as liquid gold. And that recliner rocks. So Ms. Pearl. She’s from my neck of the woods and ya done her proud!
Looks beautiful! And your chair does look quite cozy!
Karla, if you hate sewing you sure can’t tell it. That is gorgeous…you did good. You’ll have all kind of friends you didn’t know you had asking if you can make one for them.
Thanks for all the helpful hints,
Bonnie
It’s the coolest Karla. You should be proud of yourself!
This all works great together! I guess your back hurts way less when you see the results, chapeau Madam! I love the helpfull tips especially the last one, do you think it helps preventing back pain too ;-)?
Oh my goodness, I just about wet myself laughing at your how to….I think not sewing much is in your favour, you don’t have to follow rules and panic about how expensive the fabric is when it is from your stash of goodies. I love your result and it looks oh so perfect!!! Thanks for the best read I have had today, kiss noises Linda Lilly Cottage
ROFLOL!!! I loved your tutorial…especially the helpful hints. You are TOO funny!!
Your chair turned out really pretty! I can’t believe you are so brave to try a recliner.
Enjoy those cute puppies!
Debi
Karla, that chair looks just amazing!!! i am truly inspired…i have been dying to try to slipcover my couch and chair for such a long time…but i have been afraid to even start…i think you may know, i DO NOT like sewing either…but that tip about the wine, that may be the ticket…LOL…i love the mix of pattern that you used…the crochet trim on the seat front and the way you pulled the ends up in the back…GORGEOUS!!!
Clever girl! To be one who hates sewing you are very talented!! The couch is great and your I prefer your colourscheme much more then the sofa from your book. I always use washable covers to my furnitures because of two children and one cat, well I can be messy myself as well.. Hugs /linnea-maria
Karla, you’re funny, and sometimes I think we are kindred souls…why choose something EASY to start making slipcovers? If a “real” seamstress won’t do it because it’s too hard, that doesn’t mean we can’t do it if we try! And you were right, your chair cover absolutely ROCKS!!! I have actually re-upholstered horrid old furniture (using the term “reupholstered” VERY loosely!) with a glue gun, and it works! Wouldn’t stand up to much use…more like the chair in the guest room type of use…but it really works, and you can put on trims to your hearts content. My favorite stuff is the MacKenzie Childs look, lots of color and print, and I did my version of that. What fun! And yes, a little libation helps! Your Friend, Bobbi
I don’t think its January that makes you want to redo a bit, I think its just waking up in the morning.
The chair turned out great- almost makes me want to redo my dirty reading chair, but then if it wasn’t dirty, it wouldn’t match the rest of my house.
Karla, well done. It is just beautiful !!!! Clarice
Oh Karla, you have NO idea how much I needed a laugh this morning and you did not disappoint!! I do love the chair but the comments WITH it are absolutely hilarious! I tackled slip-covering a loveseat once. I ended up making it look quite lovely but finished with a staple gun and a BOAT LOAD of staples. Of course by then it was no longer a slipcover and couldn’t be removed – ever!
Thank you for the good chuckles and grins. You have NO idea how much it was needed. You are a riot, a real jewel and a pretty good seamstress and doggone it, people like you! (blatantly stolen from vintage Saturday Night Live) – Kathy in Chicago
Wait…Beth has a “dirty reading chair”? Does she save it for “Valley of the Dolls” and the like?
FABULOUS! I love the chair redo, you did a geat job! I want to do something similar to one of my chairs, it’s not a recliner, so should be easier?! You’ve given me inspiration… now I just need the glass of wine and a kick in the pants!
I love the chair makeover…what a fabulous job you did!
Love that you included a glass of wine or muscle relaxers in your tips! ;o)
Even on painkillers you are the energizer bunny!!! Or maybe we should call you the energizer gypsy fairy grammy????
I love the re-do..for a non-sewer you did a wonderful job….gives hope to other non sewers like me!
hugs and hope your back feels better soon! karen…
It is absolutely gorgeous! You are truly amazing!! It gives me hope that maybe one day I can do something like that too!
Good Lord girl… is there ANYTHING you cant do?????? lol Beautiful!!!
Congrats on your chair…still flying high from the muscle relaxers? Or feeling like goo?
I feel like goo on those things. Ugh, but I too have a rotten back, too many areas damaged to name, so I feel for you sister.
Lovely puppies.
Hugs for your poor back,
Pam
I love the new life you have given to your velvet chair. It looks so romantic. I recovered a serpentine sofa when I was in high school. It looked beautiful, but when you sat on it, the cushion “smiled”. It was like you were sitting on a huge “C”. I have no idea what became of it.
Teresa
gorgeous! Love it!!
Karla, the slipcover is fabulous! I love how you’ve taken different fabrics and crafted such a beautiful cover – and for a recliner?
Who would have thought? You’ve inspired me.
I’m just impressed that you tried the slip cover in the first place! That is quite the undertaking! You did a good job with it! It’s neat! I love the different textures!
Hi Karla,
First time commenting, but I just had to tell you how much I love your slipcover. Honestly, is there anything you can’t do? So much talent wrapped up in one lady! I’d love to see what you could do if you liked to sew!!! I love all the different textures and the crocheted piece. Love Magnolia Pearl’s book, but some of her things are just too heavy and dark. Yours, on the other hand, is the perfect shabby chic look.
I’ve been thinking about a slipcover for my recliner for about a year now…maybe after seeing yours, I’ll get brave enough to give it a try.
Give all the beautiful projects coming
Hugs,
Sandra B
It’s perfect! Absolutely stunning!! I see baby yorkies “below”… I want a yorkie so bad! This is soooo adorable!! A feast for my eyes!!!! Thanks for sharing the chair and the babies!!!!!
The chair is great! It looks like the essence of Magnolia Pearl, to me.
~elaine~
The slipcover is lovely and fits into your decor better than the original. Congratulations!
WOw!!! I can’t believe how gorgeous that turned out!!! Absolutely beautiful. Oh how I wish I could do that. I thought I was an intermediate sewer but I would have no idea how to go about that. you have the most beautiful home I’ve ever seen a blogger show.
Sincerely,
angela Harris
YourAngil.Blogspot.com
OMG Karla, only you would take on that huge project with a bad back and high as a kite, LOL!!!
It’s SOOOO gorgeous, it turned out fantastic, I’m pea green with jealousy!
Karla, great job on the couch and chair. Those pillows with the tapestry are fantastic.
Karen
Karla, I am really, really impressed. Love the gypsy chair. It doesn’t look like a ordinary recliner now. You did great and I loved reading your “How to or how not to”, it made me smile a lot!
Have a great day.
Jean in Virginia
I think you did a great job! I love Magnolia Pearl too but her style isn’t very practical for my house that always has an assortment of boys and young men lurking around. Maybe when I’m an old lady….
Wow, I need some of those bravery inducing musle relaxers!!! I can barely thread a needle, much less make a whole slip cover!!!
The slipcover looks, shall I say, awesome! I love it.
You are a very funny lady also, I loved the line, if not on muscle relaxers, drink a glass of wine.
Have a great day!
Karla, I love it!! The slipcover looks amazing. You did a wonderful job. The fabrics don’t compete against one another, but blend together very well. The chair flows so well with the rest of your decor.
I’m hoping to teach myself to sew this year. It’s on my list of things to do in 2009.
Happy Thursday
Kris
You pulled of a miracle on that chair – although I think Mom is rolling in her grave on the way you accomplished the transformation. Tell Twinks how beautiful I think her little girls are.
The chair is absolutely wonderful! I love Magnolia Pearl but the colors you did fit my styles much better. I will have to look for the book. I hope your back is feeling better soon.
~Shari
WOW! You ARE amazing!!! I have Robin’s book and I also have plans to slipcover a wing chair (not nearly as tought as a recliner). I guess I need to get busy and start on it since you have set the example.I like to sew but don’t know if I can do half as good a job. You are truly an artist! I bet you will just love that chair more and more! Again, WOW!!
OK, Karla, after all your apologizing and lack of experience, I was expecting some disastrous picture as I scrolled down. And when I got to the chair I literally let out a small gasp. Be-u-ti-ful!!!!
Love it. You did an amazing job. Absolutely amazing.
Dawn
I love that chair!!! I would love to attempt slip covering my sofa. How about a tutorial on the lamp shade on the table next to the sofa? I love it too!!!
Dawn
GREAT JOB!!! It is beautiful. (And the muscle relaxer / broken sewing machine needle comments had me cracking up.)
I’m really impressed! I think you did much better not knowing or showing all the rules and just having a go at it…you were able to work it out quite well.
Fab work with the slipcover! And leave the lights in the urn year around. It’s light, air and magic; not a clash of the holidays!
It turned out gorgeous! I have an old chair that needs a new slipcover, I’m going to have to try your technique. I also like the tip about having a glass of wine before starting, good advice. LOL
Tracy M.
Wow…your chair turned out fabulous…gorgeous…fantastic…are you seeing a pattern here..I love it!
I cannot believe that there is someone else out there that does crazy things like me! LOL You did a fantastic job! I mean REALLY! I so need to cover my recliner but never gave it so much as a passing thought because it would be too hard. And . . . I’m considered a good seamstress! I am so impressed by your ability that I’m going to try and do like Laurie said: gather some stuff, drink some wine, snip here and there, drink some wine, pin and sew, drink some wine, then stand back and smile my butt off at the results!
great job!!!! oh when we got that insurance for our sofa…our fine print didn’t cover anything RED…so red koolaid popsicles etc…were BANNED from the living room…well thinking we were covered…on everything else…a piece of carbon paper…ended up on the sofa and one of the nieces…jumped up on there and of course stood on the paper and nice big cobalt blue carbon stain…and of course..it wasn’t covered…as it was negligence…wouldn’t come out…so a toss pillow was placed just sooo…
Very cool….I need to give this a try sometime. I had my sofa’s slip covered. I made new cushions out of feathers. I let someone else make the slips.
I love your puppies and decor…I have decorate like you a little…hope you come look through my blog to see. I put home photo’s mixed in with my art..dolls…illustrations…etc.
I have the ugly chair from Hell in my living room. Right now, it’s equally as ugly but more interesting with a quilt badly stuffed between cushions and wings. I can learn something from this post!
How talented you are. That is really beautiful
Julie
It’s absolutely lovely! Blessings.. Polly
I love the makeover. What colour are your walls? I love that textured look. Could you give a tutorial on doing the walls and also on lamps. Thank you for your inspiration.
Lovely lovely lovely! I feel inspired to think about taking on such a project!…maybe!
I just stumbled across your site here and I just loved it. I absolutely LOVE the look you were going for, and you did a TERRIFIC job!!! The gypsy in me predicts that I will be back here alot LOL. Thanks for sharing this wonderful project.
Beautiful job….I say the more “off” it is the better!!! I wonder if I’ll have the guts to do this…..
I have another chair I would like to redo, and cant quite myself do it. I need to get up the guts to face it too, Courtney!
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com