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I wish… I wish I had a lot of things. I wish I had a new car. I wish I lived on a body of water… I wish, I wish. My wish list goes on and on – most of them will remain wishes, but in some instances I have found a way to get my wish or at least something that brings me a bit closer to seeing that wish realized. This is the case in my wish to have custom slipcovers made for the sofa and chair in my family room. I can’t afford to have custom ones made nor do I have the skill and patience to make them myself. One size fits all or loose fit slipcovers have been the answer for me. They are very affordable, come in a variety of styles and sizes, and once you know how to put them on – very easy to take care of, but there is always that love/hate relationship with them because they never stay in place and always look wrinkled, rumpled, or just plain askew.
I have changed that scenario by adding my own style to them. UglySofa.com has sent me two to review. I have had muslin ones on my sofa and chair from another company for the past year and I was happy with them until the UglySofa ones arrived on my doorstep. I was thrilled to see how much nicer they were- whiter and a much heavier twill fabric. If you are not familiar with UglySofa.com they are a site where they buy overstocks or discontinued items from brand name manufacturers. These slipcovers come from a very popular place that that has the initials PB and cost well over $100. UglySofa.com sells them for a fraction of the price.
Putting them on as a throw style cover is fine, but I knew I could make them look better with my easy or no sew way. The key is having separately covered seat cushions over top of the tie on slipcover.
How To Put a Tie Arm Loose Fit Slipcover on a Sofa and Make It Look Custom Made
This post is brought to you today not only by the people at UglySofa.com, but my cat, too. He loves when I work with fabric. You will see how much in a few of the following photos and why the thought went through my mind to add him to the giveaway!
Most throw over or one piece slipcovers are made to go over an entire sofa or chair. Some come with a separate cover for the cushions, but most don’t or the cover goes over both bottom cushions and can look a bit odd.
1. Wash your slipcovers before putting them on sofa/chair. Dry them until till they are damp. Don’t dry them all the way. This will help with keeping wrinkles to a minimum. Remove the bottom and back cushions from the sofa/chair. If your back cushions don’t come off – you can still cover it my way.
2. Place the slightly damp slipcover over your sofa/chair making sure the “Center front” tab is to the center front. Arrange the cover around your sofa/chair. At this point you may be saying to yourself – how will this ever fit? It is a little frustrating the first time you put one on. Just keep arranging, tucking, and smoothing until you like what you see. It does take some work.
3. Arrange the length of the cover all around the sofa/chair. I left mine about 1″ from the floor. I moved the furniture to work on it and Trax found one of his lost toys under the sofa. Of course he decided he had to play with it right where I was working.
4. Find the 4 ties that will tie around each corner and loosely tie around the front arms and back corners. Begin smoothing the fabric on the arms, back and seat. I was left with a lot of extra fabric. Push this into any crevices you can find.
The sofa is taking shape.
The Chair had a lot of excess fabric to tuck in. Since my chair is a very large, I needed to get the small sofa/loveseat size to cover it.
5. Once you have the sides, back and arms smooth. Push in as much excess fabric as you can into the crevices. It doesn’t have to be perfect, because it is all going to be covered with the cushions.
6. I am not a seamstress and don’t pretend to be one. I can sew a straight line on a machine and that is about it. All you seamstresses out there – Collect $200 and pass Go and make the cushions the traditional way with cord and piping and zippers. :)
I am all about easy and a believer in what you can’t see can easily be faked. I found white quilts on clearance at the store I used to work at. I used them to make cushion covers. I was just going to cover each bottom cushion using my pinning method that I did on my porch swing – How to Make a No-Sew Cushion Cover, but I did not have had enough quilt fabric to get all the cushions covered that way, so I opted for a fix that has worked perfectly. I sewed covers for the bottom cushions that are semi – boxed covers that are tied on with ribbon on the bottom.
7. Here is the underside of the cushion. The cover is more like a gently fitted wrap around cover. You can see I had to really scrimp on the amount of quilt fabric I had. I was determined to make it work. It is uneven, but no one sees it. I used these same covers with the old slipcovers I had on this sofa/chair. I have washed them many times and the ribbons and uneven edges don’t matter one bit.
I first had to figure out how much quilt fabric I would need to cover each cushion. I laid the quilt fabric over the top of the cushion making sure I would have enough to wrap around to the back and then cut it. I laid this cut piece over the cushion with the wrong side facing up. Pinned the corners as shown below. Removed it and sewed a straight seam for each corner to resemble a box cushion. I removed the pins and trimmed the seam excess. Turned the fabric right side out and placed it over the cushion to make sure it fit and pinned the underside to connect each side. Removed the cover and sewed these seams along with 4 – 12″ pieces of ribbon to each side edge. It took me 15 minutes for each cushion once I had figured out how I was going do it. When I worked in display, I learned that there is always a way to get the job done – even if you can’t do it as you originally intended.
Here it is tied on the back. When I wash these cushion covers they are so easy to take on and off. No zippers to have to deal with. Another thing I like about having separate cushions is when something spills – you don’t have to remove the entire slipcover to deal with the spill, only the affected cushion cover.
8. Place the covered bottom cushions on.
Then the back pillows. I made the simple pillow covers following these directions – 10 Minute Pillow Cover.
See any little cat feet impressions on the sofa cushions?
I had to play a bit before I was happy with how the excess fabric on the front of the arms looked. Once you are happy -tighten all the ties front and back.
I added a few throw pillows.
I placed the ottoman back – it acts as a chaise when pushed up against the sofa. It is also Trax’s favorite spot.
May not be perfect, but it is a very budget friendly way to get my wish.
I have a few tips if you don’t want to make separate covers for your cushions. These tips will help keep the slipcover stay in place. Always wash it first and cover your sofa when the slipcover is still damp. This will help you get rid of any wrinkles.
To keep a one-piece slipcover from moving and getting un-tucked, push cardboard tubes into the crevices to hold the extra fabric down. Here I used a long tube that fabric came on and a tube from a roll of foil. Both are more rigid than a paper towel tube. You may have to use different size tubes depending on how big your crevices are.
Push the tubes back into the crevice as far as they will go.
P.S. Two readers shared their tricks on how they keep their slipcovers from sliding all around.
Heather wraps rubber bands around her tubes. The rubber helps the fabric from slipping. Brilliant!
Marie left a comment on my Facebook page that she uses PVC pipe that she got at the Home Depot. Great idea!
To hold pleats in place or any part of the slipcover that won’t stay the way you want it – use twist pins. You can find them at any sewing store or online. These are clear plastic, but they also come in decorative shapes and finishes that look like nail-heads.
You just screw it into the pleat or fabric you want to stay in place.
Pretty nice and comfy, too – Someone is liking these new slipcovers from Ugly Sofa.com as much as I do.
{ 90 comments… read them below or add one }
looove this!! i would get the Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover Small Sofa!! i need it sooo badly with a small dog that has taken over my couch!!
I would get the Loose Fit Square cushion for a small sofa – and then do your trick! I actually have purchased a heavy damask fabric to cover the cushions on my crappy sofa and in the past also covered them with antique damask tablecloths. I am a very good seamstress but when it comes to cushions, I fold the fabric like you would fold wrapping paper over a box and then use big safety pins to hold everything together.
I would choose a Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa. Love my large queen sized pulled out bed. Really have wanted something solid colored over the current green-red-gold plaid. We’ve tried a thrift store find, but it scrunched so much I resold it at a yard sale. Like the tacks!
The white twill box pleat. I am so ready to give our living room a make over!
I would choose the Loosefit square cushion, probably in natural twill. We have a hand-me-down couch that was left over from the 60′s and I can’t stand looking at it anymore but can’t afford a new one yet. :(
I would love a loosefit square cushion tailored slipcover for my hideous couch in my playroom.
I like you on fb!
I want the Separate T-Cushion Seat Slipcover for a Large Sofa in white or honey. I actually bought one of these from PB a year or so ago (for full price) but because I didn’t have your tips it was ill fitting and I took it back to the store. My son has ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome (autism) and hearing loss. He cut the cushions of my couch with scissors and pounced on them so much that the inside seams are all unraveled. Then a couple of weeks ago, I dropped hot pink nail polish on the sage green cushion! Imagine my displeasure :’(
I have been eyeing the Separate Seat T Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa in Sage Twill for months. What you did with your tie on slip cover is AMAZING! Thank you, Thank you for your tips!
I could really use one of these for our couch. It really needs a new cover. I would love a new couch but it won’t be happening any time soon. I am like you~I wish~I wish ~I wish. Someday some of them may come true.
Ruth
I follow you on facebook. I really need the slipcover. I have a couch I bought for $24 at Goodwill, 7 years ago. It was in perfect shape so I got one heck of a deal. The 7 years I have had it has subjected it to 3 cats, 1 bulldog and 2 little boys. The cushions are getting torn up and I managed to sit on a Junior Mint on Halloween. The poor thing needs a slip cover show I can show it how much I love it and appreciate it!
Thanks so much for this post!!! Not quite sure how you knew I was JUST looking into slip covers the other day for my couch… hmmm… you’re a seriously good mind reader!
I’m just LOVING this option from UglySofa.com! Your couch and chair look awesome, and the tips on how you got it to look like that are invaluable!!!
I am following you, of course – and heading over to UglySofa.com right now to check out what they’ve got!
Take care,
Christina
designingbynumbers.blogspot.com
wait, are you serious?! Slipcovers are that affordable?! i would love the loosefit T cushion boxpleat slipcover in flax for a sofa and an armchair! wow!
im a new follower!!!
I would get the T cushion Boxpleat slipcover!! (and boy do I have a couch that needs it!)
Took a good look at all the options, and I think I’m liking the separate seat square cushion slip cover – maybe in that lovely parchment twill.
Although I’m actually torn between that one and some of the other options! They are all so amazing looking!!!
Take care,
Christina
designingbynumbers.blogspot.com
I would love the t cushion slipcover for my UG-LY sofa!
Thanks so much!
Susan
Loved your tutorial!! Also loved the ugly sofa website….great prices. I really liked the box pleat slipcover for a small sofa!!
Thanks!
My birthday is the day after your drawing! All I would like for my birthday is to cover my ugly sofa with a separate t-cushion pleated beautiful large white slipcover … and your wonderful giveaway can make my birthday wishes come true!
I would get the loosefit square cushion box pleat sofa cover. I really like the way you did the cushions. I have cats which is why I have to use slipcovers. My couches are truly ugly…clawed to bits. I’m wondering if your cat ever tries to get those twist pins out? I have a cat that I’m afraid might show an interest in those.
Wonderful tutorial on the slips, Diane! Thank you! I would love the square cushion, Ivory linen chair slip for the tatty old overstuffed chair in my bedroom that the cats have been over-exuberant with! lol! Thanks for the generous giveaway!
xoxo laurie
I’m a happy follower of yours! ♥
xoxo laure
I have been looking and looking for 2 club chair slipcovers and an ottoman.
Thanks for these tips. I have always had a love/hate relationship with slipcovers….I don’t care much for wrinkles but I can get used to them.:))
Thanks so much for the chance to win one. I would choose the 2 piece, sq. cushion club chair cover in WHITE.
xo bj
I am a follower…and a happy one, at that. :)
i would love to win the Separate Seat T Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa! my dogs have RUINED my sofa.
This looks awesome! You’re giving me hope for my own sofa! LOVE your tips, they’re always something I would never have thought of.
Donna
I need a new sofa cover soooo bad. I’d chose the separate seat square cushion sofa cover. Then I’d make new pillows and change my curtains.
Great tutorial!!!! I would choose the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover. My sofa could defintely use a makeover. Thanks for the chance!
I have a large sectional that needs help! Thanks for your tips! I think should works the dropcloth on a natural color. Will be a great solution for my living room!
Just this week I got an estimate to have a loveseat and chair reupholstered. Wow, so expensive. Now on to plan B, a nice crisp white slipcover. I would get the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover Small Sofa. Great giveaway!
Oh, you fooled me! I thought you were giving away an ugly sofa :o) A slipcover is SO much better! Especially since I already have an ugly sofa! It’s a lazy boy sofa so it has great bones but it’d be so much better with a loosefit boxpleat slipcover in ivory linen, yes sirree :o)
Thanks so much for this post. I’m in the midst of recovering a wingback recliner right now! My first! I’d love to just throw a slipcover on the big brown leather sofa. Obviously, I’d pick the tailored large white one!
Diane, once again you are my hero! I have a sofa from Rowe which is made to have slipcovers. When we bought it 8 or so years ago we purchased two sets of covers as well. Between one set being shrunk by the dry cleaners and the other literally falling to pieces I have resorted to 2 chenille bedspreads for covers. The sofa is just muslin and velcro under the covers so I can’t leave it as is but new custom covers aren’t in the budget. What a perfect option. I would go for the separate seat T cushion option in cream twill. Thanks for showing us a budget friendly solution!
I love slipcovers- and all of your wonderful ideas.
Would love to win a chair slip cover with the boxpleats.
Thanks for sharing! Kim
I follow you, you are my first go to on my.yahoo and like you on facebook.
Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat would work wonderfully on a couch we have right now! I had never heard of Ugly Sofa, so thanks!!! Will be a new customer!
I would love a T cushion slipcover for my armchair. I also have never heard of Ugly Sofa before – great prices!
First of all who doesn’t love that adorable baby of yours! Second of all there are three things in this post that I did not know: a)that there was such cheap alternatives to cover your sofa and love seat, b)that you should wash them BEFORE you attempt to put them on and c) that you can secure the pleats with those twist tie pins. Now I went to the site and I decided on the one that I wanted (and will be getting if I don’t win) is this Loosefit Square Cushion Everyday Tie Slipcover Large Sofa. It is not my color choice but I can work with it. I will have to try those cushion covers as well as they too are a thorn in my side when it comes to covering. I am so glad I have found your sight, thank you for your awesomeness! Teresa from Canada!
I so love your house and what you have done with it… and I so wish I could copy everything you have done…. but with 3 fur pups and 5 kitty kats… I must go with a darker color….. or should I? Thinking the white would be easier to get the muddy paw prints out of than the Cranberry Color.
Oh yeah, I would choose the “Separate Seat T Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa”.
I still can’t get over how clean you keep your house.. not a paw print, just and indentation from Traxx…. mine would be spotted muddy dirt and white color!
Also, many years ago as a kid we had a knit cover (hated it) and I used old magazines to tuck in the crevices and also used those clear plastic screw thingy’s to keep it in place.
I hope to copy your idea of covering the cushions separately also. I was thinking a mattress pad??? Oh yeah, forgot to say that your pillow coverings are GREAT, the way you made them…. is perfect. You can make your bed pillow shams this way as well. I used to sew all the time, but never want to again…… I love your way much better.
I would love to have the loose fit T cushion box pleat Slipcover for a small sofa in natural twill. Thanks so much for the great giveaway.
We definitely need this! My husband and I have a comfortable couch that was handed down to him in college. It is a burnt orange brownish color that is an eye sore when you walk in the house. We would love to have the Separate Seat T Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa in Parchment Twill! How fun! Thanks!
Whoops! I forgot to mention that I am a Google Friends follower!
I loooooove UglySofa, but as a college student I don’t really have the money for one of their slipcovers (even at the great prices!). I would choose the Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover for large sofa in Parchment or Walnut.
I’m also following you on FB now…thanks so much for the giveaway! :)
I would choose the square seat slipcover. I have 3 hand-me-down couches from my grandparents, that are great quality, but the khaki floral print isn’t exactly ‘me’. :)
I liked you on Facebook. I am enjoying checking out your other ideas! :)
I would love the Loosefit T Cushion Boxpleat slipcover. I also like you on facebook. Thank you for all the tips on how to cover a sofa. They were very helpful!
Love your tips for fitting the slipcovers. I would love to try the Two Piece
T Cushion large sofa in Honey. After two large dogs my sofa is very sad…
The Loose Fit Square Cushion Tailored Slipcover Small Sofa in stone twill would be PERFECT for my son’s sofa he took to University.
I would love to get the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for my ugly dated sofa.
I like the Corner Tie Square Cushion Slip Cover. Thanks for the giveaway and tips.
These are fresh and lovely…we would like the Loosefit T Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for our chair. We lost much of our furniture to…a pig. Yes, a pig. They broke into our house while we were are church and left snufflings of their “leavings” on our furniture…after much scrubbing, it was clear this was never going to stop smelling. A friend brought excess furniture from their home to share with us, but she loves browns and I love blues…it would be wonderful to lighten our room a bit!
I love the Loosefit Box Fit!
http://www.uglysofa.com/products/-Loosefit-Square-Cushion-Boxpleat-Slipcover-Large-Sofa.html
ellenr886@gmail.com
2nd chance – i follow you on FBook, Twitter, and GFC!
ellenr886@gmail.com
Our sof is showing some wear…we could use the Loose fit square cushion tie arm slipcover for a large sofa in white twill. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I follow you on facebook!
Diane,
A great tutorial. How clever you are to make no sew cushion covers! I would really like the t-square sofa cover in the honey or white. Trax is adorable…love that he is in almost all of the photos :)
I have followed your blog for sometime and now follow In My Own Style on twitter.
girlcyclist@twitter
too cute!!!!!! where do you get the cardboard tubes? I’m assuming they’re hard tubes and not like paper towel tubes. jillianleighsk@gmail.com
I love what you did with this slipcover. The green looks so fresh with it. My sofa and love seat are desperately crying out for slipcovers. They came with the house and I didn’t have money for new ones. I have scrubbed and scrubbed but I still can’t get off the grease/dirt/hair styling product where the previous owners rested their heads on the back of the sofa. Yuck! I would love the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I love the willowy draped look of the drop cloth covers but with kids, babies and pets in the house it’d never stay put! I would like to try the box pleat tailored T- cushion covers – not in white! I need something peanut butter and jelly colored;)
Your cat is too cute! Thanks for sharing his pics along with the tutorial and tips! Hope you’re having a grand day! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
What a beautiful, easy & fun way to redecorate on a budget!!!
Oh, what a wonderful shop, I SO would love to win the Loosefit Square Cushion Tailored Slipcover Large Sofa in STONE MATELLASE!! We have a dreadfully ugly sofa that my husband and his ex-wife bought off one of those trucks with furniture on the side of the road about 15-20 years ago, and we will eventually replace it, but higher up on our priority list is putting laminate floors in because of our “fur children”.
And I adore your idea to use quilted fabric to cover the cushions, I might just have to try something like that!
I’d also love the loose fit square cushion in stone matellase.
Thank you!
I would love to have a Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for a large sofa in White Twill! Thanks for the opportunity, love looking around your site! :)
Diane , I am already a follower :-)
I so want to win this ugly sofa give away! I would choose the cranberry box pleat square cushion slip cover -I love your tips on using the paper rolls to hold cushion down and the pins, Your little cat has the most adorable expressions -it’s almost like you can guess what he is thinking.
I so need a slipcover for a small sofa or loveseat. I like off white best.
I would get the Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover. I also love the box pleat cover…..Either would be fabulous!! I love how yours turned out too. :)
I am also a follower of your blog. (Crossing fingers, toes, and ankles!! I want one.)
I would love the Seperate Seat for a small sofa – either parchment or cream – my sofa is starting to show it’s age :-)
I would need the tailored fit for a LARGE sofa! Thanks!
Hi there! I like the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for large sofa. Thanks for the opportunity to win an ugly sofa cover! Lovely blog.
Martha B.
maradydu@hotmail.com
I’d love to win the Separate Seat T Cushion Slipcover for a Small Sofa :)
I’m also following you on facebook. I really love your tips to get a slipcover to stay in place too. Right now I just have blankets thrown over some of our furniture, I can see these ideas working well for me!
Just found this website and loved how u improvised on getting these sofa covers on.I have some sofa covers and know just how hard it is to get them on.My choice for a cover from ugly sofa.com is
Dropcloth Sofa Slipcover – 112″ x 170 in natural twill.
I’d love to have the T-cushion cover. My leather sofa isn’t faring so well with a dog, two cats and two birds! LOL! This kind of cover just might work well for me! I’d love to win one!!!
I would love a square cushion loose fit cover.
I love your blog and how you show fun decorating tricks that don’t have to be expensive or perfect! I wanted to share a little extra tip for keeping those fabric bits in the crevices, try wrapping extra rubber bands in several places around your tube (or rolled up newspaper is what we use), they add extra grip to discourage your tube from being dislodged.
Anyway, in sprucing up for the holidays I would LOVE to win an UglySofa slip cover. I have had my eye on the Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover Small Sofa in Cream Twill.. thanks for the tips!!
Hi Heather-
You are brilliant! What a great idea. I will add it to the post, in case readers don’t read this comment. Another reader on my facebook page told me she used PVC pipes to hold her covers down instead of cardboard tubes Thank you so much for sharing your trick with us.
Hi again Heather-
I added your trick to the post – Thanks again
Thank you for this tutorial..great ideas, all of them!
OMG!!!!!! I am in LOVE with your tutorial. This is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for. I have an awkward sectional and 6 kids who spill alot! I do have a machine but, like you, can pretty much sew a straight line. This will save me money and allow me to wash as needed for cushion spills as well as to mix fabric and get that shabby chic look I want. YOU, miss, are a lifesaver! Pinning this post as I type! Will be back shortly to check out the rest of your blog!!!
What a great tutorial you have provided everyone.
You should check out all the different Couch Covers over at mysofaslipcovers.com. They have an awesome selection and they all come with easy to follow instructions on how to fit them.
Thank you for this! :D It’s beautiful, and I hope mine will look as good as yours does!
I had a very disappointing experience with Ugly soffa and wouln’t recommended to anybody. I bought two slipcovers fom them and was really excited until I’ve got the packages and attemp to put them on my sofas. I bought a slipcovef for my small sofa and one for my large sofa with separate slipcovers for the sofas’ T cushions. The separate slipcover fo the cushions of my large sofa is the wrong size, it just don’t fit. I cmoarec it with the one I’ve got for my small sofa and thy are the same size so clearly I had the wrong size for my large sofa. I have contacted several times about it and they never responded. So be aware, if you ever have a problem with your order and you are passed the 2 days ( yes, you only have 2 days!!) for returning merchandise, they will just ignore you. Their customer service is the worst!! Never ever order from here.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I think your method may be just what I need. I have a huge, fluffy couch that needs a new cover. I love the fluffiness and don’t want to lose it under a stretch cover or have a cover that doesn’t fit. With covering the seat cushions your way, it should work. Fingers crossed.
I also had a horrible experience with uglysofa and do not recommend ordering from them. They have horrible customer service and a F rating by the BBB. I waited over three weeks for my order and when it arrived, it came damaged. I emailed the company through their website three times and never received a response. I finally made contact with them through facebook and they basically told me that I knowingly ordered a damaged product and were really rude. They are a HORRIBLE company.
Love your cat! And your couch ;-)