Sewing Projects

Corset Chair Cover

Inspired by the flirty elegance of camisole details and corset lacing, a basic dining chair is transformed by this sexy slip cover. It is corseted at the back to reveal the chair’s spine and framework.

Delicate satin straps attach the slip cover to the top of the chair-like camisole straps. Slip some on your dining set and get your damask on! Designed to be shorter in length to expose more chair body, this slipcover shows some leg!

MATERIALS

Chair with square corners on the seat and back
1 m of 137 cm wide medium weight fabric (1 yd of 54”)
2.75 m of 6 mm wide double faced black satin ribbon (3 yd of ¼”)
3.75 m of 6 mm wide double faced ivory satin ribbon (4 yd of ¼”)
Matching thread
Vanishing marking pen

To make up

1. Refer to the schematic of measurements (right). For A, measure the width of the chair seat and add 33 cm (13”).

For B, measure the seat depth from the front to the back. To that measurement add the height of the chair back from the seat to the base of the top rail and add 21.5 cm (8 ½”) – which is 5 cm at top and 16.5 cm at the bottom (2 + 6 ½”).

2. Cut a piece of fabric equal to the measurements, centering the pattern of the fabric if applicable.

3. Draw the seat and back dimensions on the wrong side of the fabric, following the illustration. Draw the dashed line across the fabric as shown.

4. Still referring to the schematic, cut along the dashed line and overlock those raw edges. 

5. Fold the remaining raw edges (not those that are overlocked) 16.5 cm (6 ½”) to the wrong side and press. With right sides facing, fold one front cover of the seat on a 45 degree angle, matching the pressed creases as shown. Sew along the vertical pressed crease. Trim the seam allowance to 6 mm (1/4”). Press the seam open. Repeat for the other front corner. Turn right side out.

6. Fold the lower edge of the chair seat 6 cm (1/4”) to the wrong side and 6 cm (1/4”) again, and pin. Sew close to the outside fold, press.

7. Fold the side edges of the chair back 2.5 cm (1”) to the wrong side and 2.5 cm (1”) again, and pin. Sew close to the outside fold. Press.

8. Fold the top edge of the chair back 2.5 cm (1”) to the wrong side and 2.5 cm (1”) again and pin. Sew 2 cm (3/4) from the outside fold. Press.

9. Cut two 76 cm lengths (30”) of black ribbon for the lacing loops. With the wrong side of the chair back facing up, and starting at the top of one side edge, fold the ribbon into 2.5 cm (1”) long loops, spaced approximately 3 cm (1 1/8”) apart. Pin the bottom 6 mm (1/4”) of each loop onto the fabric. Make approximately twelve loops, ending at the bottom of the side edge. To secure, sew 3 mm (1/8”) from the outside fold of the side edge. Repeat for the other side edge, making the same number of loops.

10. For the top ties, cut the rest of the ribbon into two 61 cm lengths (21”). Fold each length in half and pin the fold to the wrong side of the top edge of the chair back, about 18 cm (7”) from the sides. Centre the chair cover on the chair. Adjust the position of the top ties as needed, so they fall between vertical chair spindles. Remove the chair cover and hand sew the ties to the cover.

11. Place the cover on the chair again. Tie the top ties to the top rail of the chair.

12. Thread the ivory ribbon through both top loops on the back of the chair cover. With the same amount of ribbon on each side, lace the ribbon through all the loops like lacing a shoe. Pull the laces tight and tie the ends into a bow.

HANDY HINT: If the ribbon you are using has a tendency to unravel, apply FrayCheck or clear nail polish to the ends.

Further information

This project has been reproduced from Material World, Home Décor Projects for the Fabric Obsessed by Cat Wei (ISBN 9781592533589). Reviewed in Book Reviews, this inspiring book takes you into the creative minds of 20 designers from all around the world to bring you unique home décor projects. They all use fabric but some projects are no-sew whilst others are low-sew. This handy title is published by Quarry Books and retails at £10.99 in paperback. For further details tel: 01273 727268.