the little details....

after i posted about my first attempt at sewing a slipcover for my craigslist sofa, it took a few days

to finish off the back.  i needed a way to fasten the two back flaps together.

since i was too afraid to attempt buttonholes, even though my sewing machine can make buttonholes, 

i went the easy safe route and used ribbon.

i am kind of a girly girl...

 (well, most of the time, except when i swear like a sailor or burp really loud)

...so i like ruffles and bows.  

it took a few tries to place the ribbon where it would allow the back flaps to close with a slight overlap.  

i used grosgrain ribbon because i figured it would be pretty tough and easy to sew on.  i folded each piece of ribbon in about an inch and pinned it on to check for placement.

i sewed it in a square around that fold and sewed an "x" in the middle of each box for 

extra reinforcement.  that sucker is not going anywhere. 

i used fray check on the ends of the ribbon so that when i washed the slipcover, they wouldn't fray.  hopefully it will prevent the fraying.....but i guess that remains to be seen.

(i think i said "fray" too much.  sounds weird.)

oh, and see how the bottom ruffle was uneven? 

 it must have something to do with my photographic eye, but things have to be visually balanced and appealing to me.  i knew this was going to bug me every time i looked at it.

so, because i am kind of anal when it comes to things like that, 

i got that darn old seam ripper out and re-sewed it the right way...

aahhhhh!! visually appealing.....and cute!

don liked it too.  which is all that really matters, right?

bwahahahaha...yeah, right!!!!

life should always be cute, don't you think?

my first attempt at a slipcover.....

was interesting to say the least.....

i have a couple of pieces of furniture that need to be recovered or reupholstered.  the thought of doing it by myself freaked me out.  i would read blogs about people that do this seemingly effortlessly.  

reupholstery is scary.  

the fabric on this small sofa is scarier.

and don't even get me started on this one...

can we just pretend that this chair is not dressed like a ghost?

this chair is actually a really nice chair whose fabric no longer fits our decor. 

the decor that i changed about 18 months ago.  being the intelligent man that my wonderful husband is, he started (18 months ago) ripping said fabric from the chair.  i was able to stop him before he got all of the fabric off but not quick enough to rip the fabric from the ottoman that i have already recovered.

but that only took a staple gun and a glue gun.

now, it looks goofy if we leave the chair uncovered. 

hence, the hillbilly slipcover, aka the paint drop cloth. 

don hates it and is convinced that i am a master upholsterer and for the life of him, cannot figure out why i haven't reupholstered this chair in a nice home decor fabric.

well, this is why...

 detail....

 detail....

and more detail, aka, piping......

like i said,  reupholstery is scary.

  

slipcovers seemed a little more doable for me. 

even though i have no real sewing skills to speak of.  

so i researched. and researched. and researched some more.  

i found and followed the video tutorial series that marian from miss mustard seed was generous enough to provide for everyone.

and i am proud to announce that after only 4 days, three broken sewing machine needles 

and two canvas drop cloths from lowes

and heavy duty thread that never did work in my sewing machine (hence one of the broken needles)

this...

became this...

no piping on the arms because piping scares me...

 and a little grey paint on the pretty legs,

it beats the white sheet i had on it before to cover it up.....

i still need to sew some ribbons on the back to keep it tied up

 but is so much prettier now than that green fabric.

 it's not perfect, there are lots of mistakes (try not to notice that the ruffle is uneven) and it tugs, pulls and buckles in places that it is not supposed to, and my seam ripper was really given a workout.

but overall, i think it turned out okay and i am glad that i finally took the plunge. 

 this one is next, and i am using the drop cloth that is part of it's ghost costume.  maybe i'll wait until after halloween......it's kinda cute!