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| I have been wanting to do this forever, but was intimidated because I'm not an experienced sewer - just some throw pillows and occassionally curtain panels. With some serious internet research, and a few you-tube videos, I decided to just do it. I made 4 side chair covers and 2 armchair covers.
Keep in mind, please, I am NOT a sewer, and I subscribe to The Nester's philosophy that something doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. They still need some ironing and clipping, but I wanted to see them together. Please ignore the seweing paraphernalia. I'm going to make a couple of pillows in a mustard print for 2 of the chairs to match the ones in the kitchen.
I love the botanical series The Temple of Flora by Dr. Thornton and was thinking these two prints side by side on the long wall. What do you think?
Dee |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| OMG I'm so impressed! They look fabulous! Pleated and everything - you are one brave wo-man!!! I'm in the same sewing category as you - not a complete novice but never venturing into anything complicated. I've had slip covers for my dining chairs on my agenda for YEARS. You are my new hero! |
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| They look great! I'm with dlm, you are one brave woman. Pleats are hard. |
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| WOW! Those look great. |
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| WHAT. Those are adorable. They remind me of lace-up ballet slippers. How classy! Great job with these...you should start a business :) |
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| Beautiful job! They are gorgeous! |
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| They look fun, in a pretty and tasteful way (not tacky or kitschy). I hope you have some absolutely delightful meals while sitting on them!!! |
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- Posted by flowerchild (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 14:34
| Very nice, great job. I can imagine the struggle with those pleats. That was a hard project for a beginner. They look terrific. I love the botanical art. |
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- Posted by ghostlyvision (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 14:56
| Good work, they look terrific, and I love the botanical prints. |
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- Posted by stinky-gardener (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 15:09
| So pretty! Great job! |
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- Posted by allison0704 (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 15:13
| You did a great job - so pretty! |
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- Posted by always1stepbehind (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 15:14
| Those are awesome...But I'd be afraid to let anyone sit on them ;-) |
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| Great job, I am impressed! |
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| I looked at the photo and thought what a shame it would be to slipcover those gorgeous chairs...and then noticed it was the "after" picture. They're perfect! Love the strappy ties in the back. I think the prints will be great in there too. |
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| You did a beautiful job! No one would know that they weren�t professionally done. You aced this! |
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- Posted by AnnieDeighnaugh (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 20:15
| Well done! |
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| Great job! Isn't it fantastic to use something you've created! |
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- Posted by cooperbailey (My Page) on Thu, Nov 8, 12 at 21:08
| Awesome job! very inspiring for the rest of us! |
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| Dee, hate to disagree with you, but you are indeed a sewer! I do agree with what everyone else said-wonderful and impressive! |
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| Thank you all so much for your kind words. dlm: Deb, you SO can do this. Believe me. If I did it, anyone can do it. If you decide to take it on, I'll share what I learned (Translation: Keep you from making my mistakes). marti8a, gmp3, bestyears, cat_mom, ghostlyvision, stinky-gardener, allison, kswl, fori, anniedeighnaugh, bethohio3, cooperbailey, cyn427: Thank you all for taking the time to make such wonderful comments. cathy.d: My inspiration was Lauren Ross' slipcovers, and she used ballet ties; mine could have been a little shorter, though. And I laughed out loud at your going into business comment! flowerchild: I did the pleats with a SW paint stick with a slot in it, while sitting in front of the television. Time-consuming, but easy. I know a professional would use some kind of pleater mechanism, but I didn't have one. nanny2a: I know you're a wonderful seamstress, so I appreciate your remarks. You (and annie and any other seamstresses) will appreciate that only a novice like me would take on a project with denim fabric, self-lined knife pleats (6 layers) sown in a length (so sometimes an extra layer or two) and self-lined seat (2 layers) and use a cheapie Kenmore to sew the suckers together. Sewing through the thickness was the worst part of the project, and I really feared I wouldn't make it. And, thanks to those who commented on the botanicals. I'm going to order them. Dee |
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| How pretty-both the covers and the prints! Three of those prints might look nice - unless they are each really (really) large. |
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| Kudos!! They are gorgeous! |
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| Wow, they're gorgeous! I love the way the slipcovers tone down the formality of the chair. So glad you posted this, as I have been wanting to do the same thing to a new CL dining set I just purchased but have felt a little intimidated due to my basic sewing skills. You have inspired me! |
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| Thanks, javachik. I can order those prints in several sizes, so I think I'm going rather large, though the idea of 3.... Thanks, loribee and WMA89. And WMA, do it! Feel fere to email me if you need any help. As I said earlier, I learned a lot because I made many mistakes. Dee |
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| Great job! Those are wonderful. I keep seeing them all over blogland. Almost makes me want to get out my sewing machine and go for it.... I said "almost"! |
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- Posted by tuesday_2008 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 9, 12 at 16:34
| Good job Dee! Am I remembering correctly that you recently retired (maybe a couple of years ago)? I bet you love having time and energy to take on little projects like this. Keep paving the way for me. I have a couple of years left. I see all these little projects that I would love to try and my thoughts are "oh..gee...one of these days...when I need to fill up the 24/7 hours I will : paint something or refinish a piece or sew some drapes or make a quilt or watch movies all day. Enjoy your lovely chairs. Tuesday |
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- Posted by daisychain01 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 9, 12 at 18:00
| OMG, they look just like something off of cote de texas. Love the whole European-chic vibe you have going on with the rug and the prints will be perfect. Post another finished pic when the prints are up. |
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- Posted by tinker_2006 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 9, 12 at 21:46
| I LOVE them!!!! I'm just starting to sew and this is perfect for my breakfast room chairs!!! |
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| Thanks, Tuesday. You have a great memory! It will be 4 years this December I've been retired. I still wake up in the morning ecstatic my time is my own. I do, however, work a seasonal job about 5 months a year, some of it from home, to stash up some decorating funds. Thank you, too, daisy and tinker. I know you've done larger projects, daisy; and tinker, I know you're willing to try anything! Make sure to share yours when you get them done. Dee |
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- Posted by tinker_2006 (My Page) on Sat, Nov 10, 12 at 7:30
| Dee, I've only done square pillows and a window seat, but it gave me enough confidence to try more things! Did you buy a pattern or make a pattern? Are they stuffed with fiberfill or a cushion? |
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| Tinker, they're not stuffed at all; the chairs are upholstered. I self lined the seat to make sure you couldn't see through it. I (well, DH) took off one of the chair cushions, traced around it onto muslin, added about 3 inches, then folded it in half, and used that as a pattern, putting it on a fold so both sides looked alike. As I mentioned earlier, I used a slotted paint stick to make the folds. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions. Dee |
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- Posted by lavender_lass (My Page) on Sat, Nov 10, 12 at 14:16
| Dee- Congrats! Very well done...and such a great feeling, isn't it? :) I like the prints, especially the one on the left. It looks great with the rug!
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- Posted by kathie738p (My Page) on Sat, Nov 10, 12 at 17:06
| When you start selling these I'll need 6...absolutely divine! |
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