Here is a scrappy little slipcover for a child's wingback that I made during the Furniture Festival demonstrations in Hickory. I am a sucker for using up stuff and piecing things together, and it is a great way to keep project costs down. A bold print here is mixed with solid cottons and a ticking stripe, and dolled up with grosgrain ribbon and ruffly skirt, all machine washable.
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Shout out to Bill's Sewing in Hildebran for loan of industrial walking foot and overlock sewing machines. These machines are so much quieter than my old reliables! Demonstrating the slipcover process at the Furniture Festival was so much fun. Carolina Slipcover Girls came together at the Hickory Furniture Mart. I enjoyed spending time with Emily of Emily Jane Creations, and Kristi of Pink and Polka Dot. They have a passion for all things slipcovered. Upholstery demonstrations took place outside of Southern Style Fine Interiors. This artisan in the far left corner of photo was covering club chairs in luxury leather that was the green "color of the year" we have been hearing so much about. The chairs were very vogue. Musicians were there too. It would be so nice to work with live music in the background all the time. I think this would be a great concept for the manufacturing environment and a great way to create jobs for musicians. Local Artisans showcased their talents in paint, wood, clay, and metals. Many drew inspiration from Nature. I was inspired by these works of art! I am often asked if I can make slipcovers on location, and the answer is, “Of course I can!”. Really the more exotic the location, the more likely I am to say yes. Just holler and I can pack my bags lickety-split. I promise you will be amazed and entertained by the art of slipcovery. Here’s what I would need to get started: weekly financial compensation, plus all travel expenses for me and a design assistant of choice, plus cost of all materials and supplies, plus lodging, plus boarding expenses for Crackers, our company mascot. Here are some places I would love to travel to: Ocracoke Island, Ireland, Paris, Belhaven, London, Bald Head Island, and maybe New York. And the moon. Would consider others. Now booking for 2013. One of the simplest slipcovers to make is the duvet slipcover. And since the whole purpose of the duvet is to uncomplicate the chore of bedmaking, when it comes to the cover, the simpler the better. Really this allows the duvet slipcover to be laundered as often as the sheets and pillow cases, and preserves the duvet insert , thus minimizing the cleaning of it. Shown here in a reversible solid white linen on one side, and a neutral graphic on the other, all inside seams are edge finished to prevent raveling when laundered. Strings are stitched to the inside corners to hold the duvet in place. Rings have been sewn into the corners so the duvet cover may be easily secured. Along with the tootsie neckroll featured in last week's post, I'll be offering simple washable linen duvet covers in my line of products to be launched in 2013! Here is an old photo of one of my first slipcovers. A bright print with contrast welt and banding at bottom continues to be one of my favorite styles to offer. This one covers an old Ethan Allen barrel wingback and is loosely fitted. The pleat down the center back allows the cover to open up and go over the wide wings. Covered buttons and fabric loops are the closure method. Because the original fabric was a dark plaid, as shown in photo below, a separate undergarment was fashioned of cotton interlining. Just took this cover off the chair so I can switch out to autumn colors. Now I'll need to get the slipcover washed up and ready to pull out next spring! Wingchairs are my favorite furniture so it follows suit that wingchair slipcovers are too. I loved that this project was in my favorite colorway, lime and turquoise. It was especially my pleasure to work on this little petite piece that had an attached back. Slipcover peeps out there will know that attached backs can present a challenge, and you have to decide whether to go over them or around them. For this furniture piece I tried to stick to the original lines. I have covered a good many attached back chairs, but not too many wingbacks, but am reminded of another chair with attached back and seat and thought you might like to see some photos of the process. This chair was for a very talented lady who lives in a beautiful country home filled with primitive antiques. She dug this chair out of the barn and wanted to use it in a bedroom. The fabric was from a vintage bolt of Hamilton Import's dressmaker's 100% linen, which was prewashed. The red and white check I sourced from GP&J Baker's Beachcomber collection, and was bias cut for the piping, band at bottom of skirt, and flat flange on pillow. The results were so sweet.
Sometimes life has a way of resetting our priority buttons for us, and I did not make it to the Art to Wear Design Showcase after all. But I am proud to have been able to sponsor this collaboration between talented students of the College of Design and College of Textiles. Check out the talent at ART TO WEAR ROCKS REYNOLDS. More photos at News & Observer.
But for some things there is a next time, and when the time comes, I will be ready. I've always known that slipcovers and dresses were kissing cousins. So I finally decided to give dress making a try, and stitched up an outfit to coordinate with my parson's chair slipcover. What I learned is I have a lot to learn about dressmaking. And it's pretty tricky to pin-fit to your own body. I can see why a dress form would be a good investment, and I now have a new appreciation for my mother, who for a very long time sewed all of her own wardrobe and looked just fabulous on Sunday mornings. I've sparked a new passion for sewing fashion and I have already worn my new dress in High Point, and on Easter Sunday, and I'll wear it to my neice's wedding this Saturday. Although my daughter has banned my teal tights. Next week I will show off my dress and slipcover at the Art to Wear Design Showcase in Reynolds Coliseum at North Carolina State Univeristy. Art to Wear is an educational event put on by the College of Design and College of Textiles students and attracts approximately 4000 attendees. The Design Showcase is an opportunity for students and alumni to showcase their work. For more information visit http://www.ncsu.edu/project/design-projects/art2wear/about/ |
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