Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Just Plain Sewing





Some weeks ago one of my girls asked me to make fresh loose covers for her verandah chairs [folding directors' chairs].  She simply could not buy anything suitable.  I managed to cut an old one apart, then promptly forgot how it all went together.......  Thankfully, I was allowed to have one chair to use as a 'model', and that certainly helped make the jigsaw a little easier to put together.  I purchased the fabric from Spotlight while we were away shopping a few weeks ago.  It is heavy cotton duck/canvas, so I hope it wears well.  The chairs are on the north eastern corner, and get sun almost all year round.  There were some interesting colours to choose from, but I often find really bright colours fade much quicker than neutrals.  So, whatever you care to call this, be it, donkey, camel or ecru, I just call it good old common garden variety BEIGE!!!  

I did try to find a pattern for this type of loose cover, ie via Google, but everything that was available seemed to be frilly, or tied with a bow at the back - just the thing for catching dust and attracting spiders to make webs!  This more sober styling is much easier to care for in the long run.


I decided to cut the pattern pieces from some spare calico, with written measurements on them.  I can now store these in a safe place, and have them to hand when this set bites the dust [yeah, sure.........].  As these were copied from a manufactured cover, there were no instructions on how or where to stitch first, and so on.  There are some interesting 'extensions' for accommodating the armrests, but it all goes together properly, and easily.  There are only three pieces - the long centre piece, from the floor at the back to the floor in the front, and two sides pieces, quite nifty in my opinion, but then, I'm not an expert where soft furnishings are involved.

Thank you as always for your responses to my last post.  It is heartwarming to know people take an interest in each other.

10 comments:

DIAN said...

Linda, these are really well made and I am sure they will be appreciated. Were you even a little bit tempted to paint some flowers or add some bling?

You have given these chairs a new lease of life.

Penny said...

Love the header, looks lovely. Clever you, I gave up making anything useful years ago.

WandarArt.Stitch said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vicki Miller said...

Thanks for stopping by my post, much appreciated.
I just happened to see your post on my blogger dashboard as I was posting, so I thought I'd have a look. This is something I have tried to do several times, but I am obviously not as patient as you. Mine always buckle in the corners and look awful. I suppose a bit of bling is out of the question for a verandah chair, lol

Frances Leate said...

Great covers Linda and if you have a spare moment pop by my house and run up some for my new chairs!!!!!!! Actually in the tropics I just use towels to mop up all the perspiration. You are certainly right about fading colours and I gave up on nice furnishing a long time ago and the red mud does wonderful things to the carpet! Take care.

Sandy said...

Plain sewing needs to be done too. Thanks for commenting on my blog.

Karyn said...

Linda i have thought about doing these before for our chairs but never got psat the initial idea! Yours are great, sit well and will be perfectly functional. I do understand about the spiders; they seem to find spots for webs everywhere on our outdoor chairs. YUK! I do love the ones with bows but agree with your assesment of spider habitats.

shirley said...

These are very professional Linda, but then all you work is. The look like they fit better than the ones you buy with the frilly bits too.

fabriquefantastique said...

very chic, Linda. I am pleased to see the billabong back (have I said this before?) To me, it is 'Australia'

Anonymous said...

Great covers Linda. I dropped into Spotlight today while in Bendigo because I wanted some fabric to make a new fitted slip cover for our couch and some to re uphoster a chair. Must have been my lucky day because I picked up 15 mtrs for $85. It was marked at $8 but went to the register and got it for $5 something. Maybe that is what I will do on Saturday lol and then put it away until the carpet has been laid.