THE HOUSEHOLD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12750, 4 January 1936, Page 10

THE HOUSEHOLD

LOOSE COVERS. DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING. WITH LATEST FRINGE FINISH (By Lydia Le Baron Walker.)

Loose covers or slip covers for armchairs, etc., are not difficult to make. The important matter is to have good patterns. As chairs differ so greatly tn size, shape, anrl style there are hut few of these covers that can be bought ready-made. And patterns are not available except for stock kinds. Directions are given today for making patterns nd slip covers for chairs with attached scats. If chair has cushion scat, cover it separately. Cut fiont-bnck and frontarm portions long enough to ext,end under cushion-seat.

Newspaper Pattern. Pin newspaper to the upholstery very carefully, fitting it smoothly over curves, and cut along contour edges. Start with the front-back. A rather ambiguous term, this until you understand the meaning, which is merely the front of the hack of the chair. If the upholstery is deep, lay a piece of paper along the top of it, and down the sides, if they protrude. Cut and fit these pieces. Pin paper over top of one arm. Fit and cut it. Pin paper to inside of arm portion, fit arid cut. Pin paper to chair seat, fit and cut it. This completes the frontinside pattern for the chair.'

Pattern for Back, For the back of the chair pattern, pin newspaper-to the upholstery shaping it around outside of arms. Cut the fitted paper following outline of chair. Allow an inch or two at bottom edge. The back pattern should meet the front, or the strip already fitted over upholstery where t)ie oyrstuffing' is cleep along the top and over the arm.

On- furniture wi th deep upholstery a strip of paper should’ be cist to fit over when making the ’ pattern.

Pattern Adjustments. Unpin the paper. Fold front-back through lengthwise centre and cut. it in half. Fold hack pattern down lengthwise centre having arm portions gome exactly together. Cut down fold. If there arc discrepancies along edge?, lav the folded half pattern, on newspaper, and cut another pattern-, from it, having the outline extended to include the larger contour of each side. Now the pattern• is ready to..use,for cutting the slip cover material.Loose Cover Material. When a homemaker makes her own loose ’.covers,’-it- is wise to - select>. a plain textile, as there is an art in centring designs, and unless • they are .correctly centred, the .work immediately bespeaks. • amateur crafts T manship. Plain textile does not-have to be centred.-•• Positioning Pattern. Lay centre front, and centre hack portions on lengthwise fold of .goods. Cut arm portions so that- the length of goods extends from top down, to seat portion.- Out goods .ample along edges- hut not on folds which.are centres for hack and front, • Baste portions together and fit over chair. Pin, fit cover, remove and baste n-new along line of pins. Refit cover ...on chair, and when it is right, out away extra goods along edges: allowing for French seams, or plain ones if edges fire bound with binding in contrast to material.’ • • ••: Zipper Fastenings. When removing cover from chair, it will be discovered where in sideback seams (which should follow the seam-line of the upholstery) must! be left open to get the cover off .and on. Zipper fastenings are now : used for closing this needed opening, although snaps may he used. .

Valance or N.ovejty FringeA ruffled valance is often put alpng bottom edge of .slip coyers. The very latest fancy is to use washable fringe, for this lower edge finish. Fringe trimmed covers are smart, —(Copyright, 193.6.)