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Slip Covers for Furniture

Pamphlet with an image of an armchair and side table with flowers, reading “Slip Covers for Furniture,” stamped “From Your Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, 10th District, Texas”/tiles/collection/1/19454.xml
Page spread, with text and two photographs of an arm chair with fabric for a slipcover, with dotted lines, captioned, “Figure 7. -Making a slip-cover pattern. (Above) Darts remove fullness at top of the back. Fitting the pattern for the wings. (Below) Dotted lines indicate the direction of warp and filling yarns.” The pamphlet text reads, “Pattern for wing chair. The most satisfactory pattern is modeled right on the piece of furniture to be covered, and the seeps are precisely the same as though the slip-cover material were being used. Any firm, inexpensive material similar to the slip-cover fabric in weight and the way it handles may be used for the pattern. Unbleached muslin, good portions of old sheets, or large sugar sacks are satisfactory; but do not use anything so old and worn that it stretches or tears easily. A stretchy material results in an inaccurate pattern and a poorly fitted slip cover. In contrast to the very simple slip covers for dining-room chairs which in reality are little more than boxed cushions is the cover for the upholstered chair on page 3. This involves all the problems found in making slip covers. However, a person with some knowledge of sewing need have no hesitancy in attempting the more difficult types. With patience and careful workmanship she can turn out attractive, well-fitted slip covers. Since a wing chair is one of the most difficult pieces to cover, it was selected as a model to illustrate the various steps in making the slip-cover pattern. In modeling a pattern for chis chair, start with the outer back. Cut a piece of material the necessary width and length, including seam allowances, and pin it to the upholstering at the center top. Make sure the crosswise yarns run parallel to the floor and the warp yarns at right angles to the floor; otherwise the cover will be crooked and will fie badly after laundering. Pin at the upper corners and in enough other places to hold the piece securely. Cut the inside back, lay it over the chair and smooth into position, allowing 1 inch at the top for seams. Pin the two pieces together across the top, easing in any fullness. If there is much fullness to ease in, use darts to remove the excess material. Next, model the pattern for the outside and inside wings, the arms and seat. Make sure that the yarns run straight in all pieces (fig. 7). To save time, the pattern for only one wing and one arm need be made on the chair. After these are fitted and the seams marked, they may be removed and the pieces for the ocher side cut from them. Mark the seams and reassemble the pattern on the chair; then proceed with the rest of the pattern. After the cover is all pinned together, go back over the seam Iines and make any adjustments necessary to insure straight seams and a good fit. Mark all stitching lines and the lower edge (fig. 6) with a soft pend or tailor's chalk. Put in any other markings that will help assemble the parts; then trim the seams to three-fourths of an inch. When the slip-cover material is figured, it is advisable to indicate on the pattern for the inside back the position of the principal motif. The center of this design should come about 2 inches above the midpoint between the top of the chair and the top of the seat cushion. When there is no cushion, it should come about 2 inches above the midpoint between the top and the seat of the chair.”/tiles/collection/1/19451.xml
Page spread, with diagrams of armchairs labeled with letters, and captioned, “Figure 3.-Where to Lake the measurements needed for making a slip cover.” The text of the spread reads, “Upholstered chairs. Many more measurements are required for upholstered chairs, than are necessary for straight or occasional chairs. When measuring a wing chair, for example, the usual procedure is to start with the lower edge of the outside back, a (fig. 3), and measure to the top, b, then over the top and down the inside back to c, the front of the apron, d, and down to the lower edge of the apron, e. Record the length of each part separately; then go back and measure the widest part of each section. Be sure to make a generous enough allowance on the width of the inside back and inside arms where they join and on the length of the inside back and the seat where these pieces are sewed together (at c) to permit a tuck-in at these seams. Otherwise, with use, the slip cover will work out of place and seem to fit badly. Next measure the inside of the arm from the seat line, f, over the arm to the seam in the upholstery at g, then down the lower edge of the chair at h. For the wings measure from i, the seam where the inside armpiece joins the wing, to the highest pare of the wing, at j, then on to k, or the seam which joins the outside armpiece to the wingpiece. When the wing and arm sections are cut together, measure from the highest part of the wing, j, to the seat for the inside length and from j to the lower edge of the chair for the length of the outside piece. Now take the width measurements of these pieces. For a separate cushion, measure from the front of the cushion l, to the back, m; from side to side at the widest place, p to o; and the depth of the boxing, l to n. Remember that two pieces, one for the top and one for the bottom, as well as four pieces of boxing, are required to cover the cushion. The following shows the length and width measurements for the wing chair on page 3. Measurements, length (inches), width (inches), Outside back (a to b), 36, 24; Inside back (b to c), 36, 24; Seat (c to e), 27, 22 1/2; Arms (2), Inside (f to g), 19 1/2, 25; Outside (g to h), 13 1/2, 32 1/2; Wings (2), Inside (i to j), 17, 16; Outside ( j to k), 18, 12; Cushion: Front to back (l to m), 20, 21; Boxings (l to n), 3, 21. If the slip cover is to be finished with a valance or ruffle, measure also the distance around the lower edge of the chair and the distance of the chair from the floor at the front, back, and sides. These measurements are (inches): Distance around lower edge, 112; Distance from floor: Center front, 9; Sides, midway front to back, 8 1/2; Center back, 8. Except for the wings, chairs of the barrel-back, club, and lounge types and love seats, sofas, and davenports are measured in exactly the same way as the wing chair. Whatever the type of chair, it is usually advisable to make the seam lines in the slip cover follow those in the upholstery and to make the measurements with this in mind.”/tiles/collection/1/19452.xml
Pamphlet with an image of an armchair and side table with flowers, reading “Slip Covers for Furniture,” stamped “From Your Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, 10th District, Texas”
Page spread, with text and two photographs of an arm chair with fabric for a slipcover, with dotted lines, captioned, “Figure 7. -Making a slip-cover pattern. (Above) Darts remove fullness at top of the back. Fitting the pattern for the wings. (Below) Dotted lines indicate the direction of warp and filling yarns.” The pamphlet text reads, “Pattern for wing chair. The most satisfactory pattern is modeled right on the piece of furniture to be covered, and the seeps are precisely the same as though the slip-cover material were being used. Any firm, inexpensive material similar to the slip-cover fabric in weight and the way it handles may be used for the pattern. Unbleached muslin, good portions of old sheets, or large sugar sacks are satisfactory; but do not use anything so old and worn that it stretches or tears easily. A stretchy material results in an inaccurate pattern and a poorly fitted slip cover. In contrast to the very simple slip covers for dining-room chairs which in reality are little more than boxed cushions is the cover for the upholstered chair on page 3. This involves all the problems found in making slip covers. However, a person with some knowledge of sewing need have no hesitancy in attempting the more difficult types. With patience and careful workmanship she can turn out attractive, well-fitted slip covers. Since a wing chair is one of the most difficult pieces to cover, it was selected as a model to illustrate the various steps in making the slip-cover pattern. In modeling a pattern for chis chair, start with the outer back. Cut a piece of material the necessary width and length, including seam allowances, and pin it to the upholstering at the center top. Make sure the crosswise yarns run parallel to the floor and the warp yarns at right angles to the floor; otherwise the cover will be crooked and will fie badly after laundering. Pin at the upper corners and in enough other places to hold the piece securely. Cut the inside back, lay it over the chair and smooth into position, allowing 1 inch at the top for seams. Pin the two pieces together across the top, easing in any fullness. If there is much fullness to ease in, use darts to remove the excess material. Next, model the pattern for the outside and inside wings, the arms and seat. Make sure that the yarns run straight in all pieces (fig. 7). To save time, the pattern for only one wing and one arm need be made on the chair. After these are fitted and the seams marked, they may be removed and the pieces for the ocher side cut from them. Mark the seams and reassemble the pattern on the chair; then proceed with the rest of the pattern. After the cover is all pinned together, go back over the seam Iines and make any adjustments necessary to insure straight seams and a good fit. Mark all stitching lines and the lower edge (fig. 6) with a soft pend or tailor's chalk. Put in any other markings that will help assemble the parts; then trim the seams to three-fourths of an inch. When the slip-cover material is figured, it is advisable to indicate on the pattern for the inside back the position of the principal motif. The center of this design should come about 2 inches above the midpoint between the top of the chair and the top of the seat cushion. When there is no cushion, it should come about 2 inches above the midpoint between the top and the seat of the chair.”
Page spread, with diagrams of armchairs labeled with letters, and captioned, “Figure 3.-Where to Lake the measurements needed for making a slip cover.” The text of the spread reads, “Upholstered chairs. Many more measurements are required for upholstered chairs, than are necessary for straight or occasional chairs. When measuring a wing chair, for example, the usual procedure is to start with the lower edge of the outside back, a (fig. 3), and measure to the top, b, then over the top and down the inside back to c, the front of the apron, d, and down to the lower edge of the apron, e. Record the length of each part separately; then go back and measure the widest part of each section. Be sure to make a generous enough allowance on the width of the inside back and inside arms where they join and on the length of the inside back and the seat where these pieces are sewed together (at c) to permit a tuck-in at these seams. Otherwise, with use, the slip cover will work out of place and seem to fit badly. Next measure the inside of the arm from the seat line, f, over the arm to the seam in the upholstery at g, then down the lower edge of the chair at h. For the wings measure from i, the seam where the inside armpiece joins the wing, to the highest pare of the wing, at j, then on to k, or the seam which joins the outside armpiece to the wingpiece. When the wing and arm sections are cut together, measure from the highest part of the wing, j, to the seat for the inside length and from j to the lower edge of the chair for the length of the outside piece. Now take the width measurements of these pieces. For a separate cushion, measure from the front of the cushion l, to the back, m; from side to side at the widest place, p to o; and the depth of the boxing, l to n. Remember that two pieces, one for the top and one for the bottom, as well as four pieces of boxing, are required to cover the cushion. The following shows the length and width measurements for the wing chair on page 3. Measurements, length (inches), width (inches), Outside back (a to b), 36, 24; Inside back (b to c), 36, 24; Seat (c to e), 27, 22 1/2; Arms (2), Inside (f to g), 19 1/2, 25; Outside (g to h), 13 1/2, 32 1/2; Wings (2), Inside (i to j), 17, 16; Outside ( j to k), 18, 12; Cushion: Front to back (l to m), 20, 21; Boxings (l to n), 3, 21. If the slip cover is to be finished with a valance or ruffle, measure also the distance around the lower edge of the chair and the distance of the chair from the floor at the front, back, and sides. These measurements are (inches): Distance around lower edge, 112; Distance from floor: Center front, 9; Sides, midway front to back, 8 1/2; Center back, 8. Except for the wings, chairs of the barrel-back, club, and lounge types and love seats, sofas, and davenports are measured in exactly the same way as the wing chair. Whatever the type of chair, it is usually advisable to make the seam lines in the slip cover follow those in the upholstery and to make the measurements with this in mind.”
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Date

1941-02-00

Publication

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin

Dimensions

9 × 6 in. (22.9 × 15.2 cm)

Accession Number

2006.004.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

Lyndon B. Johnson, Representative and future President, sent Slipcovers for Furniture to a constituent in his Texas district. Produced by the Department of Agriculture, the booklet describes the economics, design, and advantages of slipcovers. Slipcovers “are far more practical and harmonious, decoratively speaking, than the tidies of Victorian vintage which until a few years ago so universally protected the arms and backs of chairs from soil.” The pamphlet includes advice on choosing decorative fabrics, estimating yardage, selecting a valance or ruffle, and provides patterns for sewing wing chair covers.

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