I. TAILORED CUSTOM SLIPCOVERS
Pattern-cut to your piece, not a one-size sleeve.
Tailored slipcovers fitted to your specific sofa, chair, or dining chair — we measure, draft a paper pattern, fit it on the frame, mark adjustments, then cut fabric. The result drapes to the corners, sits flat across the seat, and stays in place. Cotton duck, linen, and performance fabric (Sunbrella, Crypton, Perennials) for washable rooms. Silk, velvet, certain wools for dressier rooms (dry-clean only). Pre-shrunk before cutting so the cover comes out of the wash the same size it went in.
II. PATTERN-CUT, NOT ONE-SIZE
The hardest part is the pattern. We do it on-site.
Tailored means pattern-cut to your specific piece. We measure the sofa or chair, draft a paper pattern, fit it on the frame, mark every adjustment (the corner pull, the seat dart, the arm wrap), and only then cut fabric. The result drapes properly to the corners, sits flat across the seat under weight, and stays in place without bunching. One-size sleeves are stretchy fabric tubes — they look and stay wrong on any piece that is not their template shape.
III. FABRIC
Pre-shrunk, the difference between right and wrong.
We pre-shrink fabric before cutting so the cover comes out of the wash the same size it went in. Cotton duck (the workhorse — durable, washable, ages well), linen (lighter, dressier, slight wrinkle character), performance fabrics (Sunbrella, Crypton, Perennials — washable, stain-resistant, kid-and-pet friendly, the right answer for primary family-room slipcovers), silk and velvet (dressier rooms, dry-clean only). Yardage typically 8 to 14 for a sofa, 3 to 5 for a chair.
IV. CONSTRUCTION
Boxed cushion, piping, ties.
Boxed cushion construction (the cushion cover wraps the cushion in a clean box shape, matching the original cushion lines). Piping or welt along the seams (matching or contrast cord, cut on the bias for clean curves). Ties at the arms or hook-and-loop closures to keep the cover seated. Underskirt where the original piece has a skirt. The slipcover should read as if it were original to the piece, not as a thrown-on cover.
V. REVERSIBLE — KEEPS YOUR OPTIONS
If you reupholster later, the underlying piece is untouched.
The key advantage of tailored slipcovers: they are reversible. The underlying sofa or chair is untouched — its original cover and construction stay intact under the slipcover. If you decide later to reupholster, the underlying piece is ready. If you want to switch fabrics seasonally (lighter for summer, heavier for winter, holiday slipcovers for December), you can have multiple slipcovers for one piece. This is something reupholstery cannot offer.
Frequently asked
How is a tailored slipcover different from a stretchy sleeve?
Tailored means pattern-cut to your specific piece. We measure the sofa or chair, draft a paper pattern, fit it on the frame, mark every adjustment, then cut fabric. Drapes properly, sits flat, stays in place. Stretchy sleeves are fabric tubes that take a generic shape and look wrong on any piece that is not their exact template. The difference is visible immediately.
Can a slipcover go in the washing machine?
Cotton duck, linen, and performance-fabric slipcovers: yes — we pre-shrink before cutting so the cover comes out the same size. Silk, velvet, and certain wool slipcovers: dry-clean only. We will tell you up-front which fabrics wash and which do not.
How long does a slipcover take?
3 to 4 weeks from when fabric arrives. The pattern-fit step (on-site at your home or in our workshop with the piece present) is what gives the slipcover its tailored character; rushing that step is what makes a slipcover look wrong.
Slipcover vs reupholster — when should I choose which?
Slipcover when the frame is sound and the look needs to change but you want to preserve the option to revert. Reupholster when the structure underneath needs work (failed springs, broken webbing, frame separation, foam below the cover breaking down). The journal article 'Slipcover vs Reupholstery' walks through the decision with a checklist.
Seasonal slipcovers — multiple covers for one piece?
Yes. Many clients have a winter slipcover (heavier fabric, warmer tones) and a summer slipcover (lighter fabric, cooler tones), or holiday slipcovers for December. The pattern is drafted once; subsequent slipcovers use the same template, so the cost of the second and third covers is lower than the first.
Dining-chair slipcovers — they fall off, don't they?
Not when tailored. Dining-chair slipcovers are pattern-cut with a back skirt and seat-wrap, with ties or hook-and-loop at the back to hold the cover seated through dinner. The difference from generic dining-chair covers (the ones that bunch up after one meal) is the pattern-fit and the secure-back attachment. We do these regularly — sets of 6 to 12 chairs.
