I am so proud of my latest project that I will not sully the experience by babbling about it…
Oh OK then, I will. Cannot resist a little showing off, hehe… 😀
Remember this? Going back yonks ago I wrote about re-covering our lounge suite (way back here!), and mentioned that it needed doing again soon; well, I have finally got my act into gear and got it done. Took me from 8am Sunday morning and finished around 10.30pm Sunday evening, but it was done, and I am pretty jolly proud I kept it confined into a one-day project too… yippeee!
We bought this lounge suite twenty years ago, and I’ve recovered it approximately every five years. I’ve found the old covers are really on their last legs by this time… yup, we have three teenagers, three cats and a dog, so I guess we are pretty tough on our furniture! This is the fourth time I have re-covered this lounge suite and I think the outcome gets better and better each time. Nice to know practise really does make perfect, yes?!
This time I am nearly completely satisfied.
I took a few photos during to illustrate the process, but really it’s not a difficult thing to do, just, well, tiring. Tiring just because of the unwieldiness and bulkiness of it all… Struggling around with large swathes of upholstery weight fabric and draping and pinning, removing to carry over to the sewing machine, sewing, over to the overlocker, overlocking, carrying back to the lounge, re-fitting etc, is just a fairly draining exercise, full stop.
We chose this heavy hessian-like fabric which has a ecru warp, and a variegated weft of grey and sage green threads through it, resulting in a refreshingly light and bright sage-green/grey hue.
To make my covers, I’ve kept one each of the important pieces from my first re-cover of this suite to use as a template for each new cover and this helps massively each time…
I cut out the bigger pieces first and lay them in position, wrong sides out. Pin together, smoothing out any bubbles and aligning the grain to be as straight as possible, overlocking all the raw edges and sewing along the pinned lines.
I incorporated a fold, where the back of the seat meets the backrest, for some ease and to lessen strain on the back and seat areas of the cover when you are sitting on the couch. Yes, lounge suites need ease too!
Each cover and cushion cover was pinned and fitted together and basically finished inside out, and only turned right side out when it was ready for final fitting in place. Craig took off the old covers, and fixed a broken strap in the innards of one of the couches, which we only discovered was broken when we took the covers off! He also stapled the edges of the finished and fitted-into-place covers underneath to the wooden frame of the couch, and re-screwed the little wooden “feet” back into place over. Most importantly, he made dinner so I could continue working on the seat cushions undisturbed…. 🙂
Each of the four seat cushions has a zip on the back edge, so these can removed for individual laundering, if necessary.
I just love it. We all do. It’s not a new suite, but it feels like we have one now. Everybody is trying to be eco-conscious and green in all our choices, which means re-using and re-cycling as much as we can; but there is no denying the truth that something new, and especially something big like your lounge suite, is a very uplifting thing to have in your life. Agreed? So our lounge suite is not new, but it sure feels brand new all over again, and I feel good about achieving that newness buzz without having to go down the path of actually buying new furniture. And it gives the whole room a lift and makes everything feel so fresh and clean again…
And hopefully will last for at least another five years!!
(What will I do with the remains of the old covers?? Well to start with probably two new dog bed covers. We only have one dog, but she has two beds… go figure. Spoilt, or what?!)
Oh wow, I am completely in awe of your amazing work. I have never attempted any home dec – but seeing the fabulous results you have got here has tempted me to give it a try one day. I love the fabric you chose – the neutral shade is lovely – it looks very elegant and expensive and I really like the colours you have picked for the scatter cushions. Great job!
This is very impressive. I'd be feeling very happy and satisfied with myself if I'd done this. Looks all very professional. You have every right to 'show-off'.
I am in the process of slipcovering an old settee for the living room so I understand how difficult this is. I am in awe that you completed this in one day: mine has been a work in progress for well over a month. Love the color you choose for the new look.
BTW: hooray for being green and re-using and re-cycling!
That is fantastic. I love that you have covered it 4 times now. I think THIS is what being 'green' is all about.
You have done an amazing job and I applaud you!
Seriously, wow! That is amazing. I would never even consider attempting to do that. Those are some major skills!
Beautiful work, Carolyn. When I saw your first picture I thought you had bought a new suite. Well done!
Amazing work! Looks so professionally done. You should post at Pink and Polkadot about your experience:
http://www.pinkandpolkadot.net/
Wonderful, you did a super job on these! Can't believe you did them in a day. That is amazing.
They look fantastic. You did a great job and in one day only? Wow. If only you could fly over to the Uk – I have a chair needs doing! x
Amazing! You did such a wonderful job. My father was an upholsterer, which meant that I never had to think beyond the purchasing of fabric for furniture. Now, I'll be taking inspiration from you in tackling such projects – just not right now.
how, How, HOW HOW HOW could you accomplish this in ONE DAY?!?!
Are Australian days 60 hours long?
Do you have the ability to slow time?
Do you have magical kangaroo helpers? (It can't be the sloths.)
Are you Superwoman?
(I think it's the last.)
Freaking un-be-liev-able.
Once again I am left impressed and astounded. I know you have skills, from seeing previous work, but to bang this out in one day….speechless. You look like your in great shape and now I know there is more to you then meets the eye, this job took some stamina!
thanks for sharing.
oh, lovely work. I've recovered a chair or two, but never taken on a BIG project like this—and to know that you've recovered them 4(!) times already! They look great.
Wow! That is amazing! You did an awesome job. What kind of sewing machine did you use to do it? Was the thick, heavy fabric a problem?
Thanks for finding my new blog. It really cheered me up! I am rebuilding my blog roll. Of course you are on it!
Inspirational! Now I have to recover my sofa cushions.
Your lounge suite looks fantastic and certainly not 20 years old.
I have a nanaish pink draylong chair that I have on my to do list that is currently haunting me every time I walk past it. My biggest problem is nailing down hubby to do the stapling as I find my hands are not big or strong enough to work the stapler addequately. The other thing I don't like is the mess upholstery fabric makes. You seem to have threads from one end of the house to the other.
I like your dedication to recycling especially reusing the original cover for the dogs bed…great stuff!
That's a fantastic job, any chance you'll come around Denmark and make new covers for my couch as well?
Oh, you put me to shame Carolyn! I have no excuse now but to get my butt in gear and start my sofa. Though I doubt I can do it in one day (!) Your couches look so awesome. I am totally amazed at your skills. I think you really are superwoman 🙂
Wow. Looks fantastic and so comfy. After that effort one of the couches should be for you and the other one for your husband , three children , the dog and three cats ( that was on some ad on TV ) . And thanks as always for your kind comments.
Carolyn, you have been a true inspiration to me for over a year now. I come here everyday (yep, a lurker!) and you manage to amaze me each and every single day. But today you just blew me away! I admire your talent, patience, hard work and especially your attention to detail and ultimate care in everything you do. Congratulations! Thank you so much for sharing this bit of your life with us!
Erica
What a great looking lounge suite- love the fabric that you have chosen.
Must remember to wear my glasses when reading – i read the title of your post and couldn't work out why there was a lounge suite – when i was epecting to see you in a very trendy sage green lounge (track) suit!!
Wow, that looks like a *huge* project, I'm totally amazed that you managed to do it all in one day! Your "new" lounge suite looks wonderful!
That is ridiculously impressive. If I had tried something similar we'd have bare sofas all year – I can't believe this was a day's work! Maybe the dodgy commenter was just jealous? (I didn't see the comment though)
It looks absolutely fabulous! You should be justifiably proud of yourself. I'm with Sham in thinking that you have 60 hours in your day. Dont let those naughty cats get at it though.
Thank you all for your kind comments!
Just saying; recovering the suite took me one day… THIS time. Having done it a few times before I'm kind of quicker and more efficient than the first time.. which took me several days! Having the pattern pieces, which are the first cover that I made, kept for this reason, makes the process HEAPS quicker. If you are ever into recovering your furniture, I highly recommend you keep your old cover to use for pattern pieces next time.
Wow, wow, wow! Your couches look AMAZING. What a transformation.
Thank you so much for posting this! I have a sofa that *desperately* needs to be recovered, but I've put off beginning it because I've no idea where to start. I'm going to bookmark your post so I can refer back to it when I (sooner rather than later) get around to recovering mine.
Can you do mine too? Just kidding, but it's impressive work. So professional. I reckon not even a professional upholster would do it as quickly as you did.
I have seen a lot of sofas. And these designs are really one of a kind. I love it. I love it to have in my house.
Sofas Perth
I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog lounge suites perth.
I am so impressed. COuld you please say how many metres x fabric width that you used and also the cost. Thank you