Remember the chair used to look like this:
Scuffed, torn, and needing help. I primed and painted the legs and there it sat for 2 weeks. Waiting....waiting for the ugly to be recovered...waiting for a new lease on life...
But now the wait is over and it is sporting a new slipcover, again useful and loved.
It only took me a day to make the slipcover - I used a canvas drop cloth...it's fairly cheap and a good sturdy fabric. A 9 x 12 size was $10. Not bad and it gave me lots of extra if I messed up.
I wanted to put some type of graphic on the fabric that would appeal to Mr. B since it will be mainly for his use but I also wanted something vintage so it would tie into our bedroom. I found these graphics from The Graphics Fairy - Vintage-Advertising-Clip-Art-Antique Bicycle and Vintage-clip-art-cute-bicycles.. We like to bike so these were perfect! I also used some others/ came up with my own that I put on the front.( Oops! I forgot to flip the words in the ones I made...oh well, the ink is so light it really doesn't show except for the one in the lower lefthand corner.)
I saved the graphics to my desktop, opened them in Photoshop Elements, and flipped the images horizontally. Voila! Backwards images ready to run through the printer.
Next, I cut a piece of freezer paper the size of a sheet of paper and using double stick tape, taped the two pieces of paper together with the dull side of the freezer paper facing the regular sheet of paper. (Very important that the shiny side is right side out!) I placed the paper/freezer paper combo in my printer, plain paper side up, which printed with the image on the freezer paper. ** Ink will be wet!
Laying it carefully down ( so ink won't smear) on my chair fabric, I ironed ( no steam ) it on. I carefully peeled the regular paper up - leaving the freezer paper stuck onto the fabric. Then I rubbed over the image with a smooth end of a paint brush. Next, I slowly peeled the freezer paper back. Image transfer complete!
My printer is getting low on ink so the image looks worn and faded. Perfect.
Repeat for other images.
Then I started sewing -
Seat bottom to sides and front apron. So far, so good.
Then I messed up...my chair has curved sides on the back and I just cut those pieces straight. Ugh, bad idea. It took a lot of adjusting, pinning, pulling off, putting back on, and resewing to finally get it right...and it still had a piece that was off. Sigh.
Being in a hurry to finish it, I tweaked it to work. I don't recommend doing that however. It threw off the bottom fit. So more tweaking. Double sigh. Finally got the slipcover sewn together and added a skirt. It turned out ok; just don't look too closely at the crooked places. LOL.
It now sits at the desk and Mr. B won't have to pull one of the bigger chairs over and mess up our sitting area. Not bad for a $6 chair and $10 drop cloth.
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Linking up at these great parties:
A Stroll Thru Life: 159th-table-top-inspire-me-tuesday
Kammys Korner trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party
DIY Showoff that-diy-party-11
PJH Designs One Of A Kind transformed-tuesday-33-features
The Dedicated House Make-it-pretty-monday-week-44
Scuffed, torn, and needing help. I primed and painted the legs and there it sat for 2 weeks. Waiting....waiting for the ugly to be recovered...waiting for a new lease on life...
But now the wait is over and it is sporting a new slipcover, again useful and loved.
It only took me a day to make the slipcover - I used a canvas drop cloth...it's fairly cheap and a good sturdy fabric. A 9 x 12 size was $10. Not bad and it gave me lots of extra if I messed up.
I wanted to put some type of graphic on the fabric that would appeal to Mr. B since it will be mainly for his use but I also wanted something vintage so it would tie into our bedroom. I found these graphics from The Graphics Fairy - Vintage-Advertising-Clip-Art-Antique Bicycle and Vintage-clip-art-cute-bicycles.. We like to bike so these were perfect! I also used some others/ came up with my own that I put on the front.( Oops! I forgot to flip the words in the ones I made...oh well, the ink is so light it really doesn't show except for the one in the lower lefthand corner.)
Next, I cut a piece of freezer paper the size of a sheet of paper and using double stick tape, taped the two pieces of paper together with the dull side of the freezer paper facing the regular sheet of paper. (Very important that the shiny side is right side out!) I placed the paper/freezer paper combo in my printer, plain paper side up, which printed with the image on the freezer paper. ** Ink will be wet!
Laying it carefully down ( so ink won't smear) on my chair fabric, I ironed ( no steam ) it on. I carefully peeled the regular paper up - leaving the freezer paper stuck onto the fabric. Then I rubbed over the image with a smooth end of a paint brush. Next, I slowly peeled the freezer paper back. Image transfer complete!
My printer is getting low on ink so the image looks worn and faded. Perfect.
 |
| Back Graphic |
Repeat for other images.
 |
| Front Graphics - I made it look kind of like an ad page |
Then I started sewing -
Then I messed up...my chair has curved sides on the back and I just cut those pieces straight. Ugh, bad idea. It took a lot of adjusting, pinning, pulling off, putting back on, and resewing to finally get it right...and it still had a piece that was off. Sigh.
Being in a hurry to finish it, I tweaked it to work. I don't recommend doing that however. It threw off the bottom fit. So more tweaking. Double sigh. Finally got the slipcover sewn together and added a skirt. It turned out ok; just don't look too closely at the crooked places. LOL.
 |
| Cats kept trying to sit in it while I was working on it/taking pictures |
 |
| back of chair |
 |
| Missy and Pippin like it! |
It now sits at the desk and Mr. B won't have to pull one of the bigger chairs over and mess up our sitting area. Not bad for a $6 chair and $10 drop cloth.
 |
Linking up at these great parties:
A Stroll Thru Life: 159th-table-top-inspire-me-tuesday
Kammys Korner trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party
DIY Showoff that-diy-party-11
PJH Designs One Of A Kind transformed-tuesday-33-features
The Dedicated House Make-it-pretty-monday-week-44
That turned out really great. I love the graphics. Sorry you had to do all the "tweaking"...that's the worst part, isn't it? xo Diana
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes. I hate ripping out seams worse though so the tweaking worked for me. Probably would have been straighter if I had ripped and resewn. ;) Bruce likes it so that makes it ok!
Deleteyou did great! I have made a few slipcovers in the past...and those are a pain to make. Looks wonderful and the graphics turned out great too! well done
ReplyDeletethank you Daniela! It was somewhat of a challenge but I'm happy with it.
DeleteI so agree that slipcovers are a huge pain! You did a great job though, and one of these days I'm gonna have to get with it and check out graphic fairys stuff!
ReplyDeleteHey Doreen! Yes you should...she has all sorts of amazing graphics. And thanks for saying I did a great job. :)
DeleteI've only done one slipcover and it was on a settee. That was last November and I haven't been in a hurry to do another. Your chair has a whole new life now!
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen. Yikes, a settee. I wouldn't be in a hurry to do any more either - the chair was bad enough. :)
DeleteOh I think it turned out fabulous. Such a great job and slipcovers are definitely so hard. Love it with your beautiful desk. Thanks for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteThank you Marty! Hugs back!
DeleteIt looks great! Thanks so much for your kind comment on my hope deferred post. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat a fabulous job Cecilia - even with all the tweaking you had to do - I could NEVER do this!!!
ReplyDeleteCome to Montreal?
I have a sofa and chair that desperately need slipcovers!
XOX
No, no. I never want to do another slipcover again...but ah, Montreal. Maybe for that! ;)
DeleteThis is a great makeover. I think it's lovely and I like the chair better than before even when it was new.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carlene! I think it definitely has more character in it's new slipcover. I'm still pinching myself for the $6 price. And to think I almost bought a new one for lots more.
DeleteWhat a great deal! I love your slipcover and that is one transfer method I haven't tried. Thanks so much for joining us at Transformed Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs
Thanks Peggy! It is pretty easy and gives a nice worn transfer.
DeleteWow, good for you for even attempting this project! I wouldn't have had the patience. Last time I tried to sew a box cushion for a bench cushion it ended up in a pile on my sewing room floor. Unfinished. Pins still in it. For months. Finally threw it away. Oh well, maybe one day my skills (and patience) will improve:) Great job!
ReplyDeleteKrista @thehappyhousie
I feel your pain, Krista! I don't know that I will ever attempt to do another one...and it's darn lucky it didn't end up in the trash can. Fortunately, I did manage to finish it and even like it. ha! Glad you came by!
DeleteSmiles,
Cecilia