DIY Barstool Slipcovers

Slipcovers are no longer just for Grandma's old couch or college-dorm futons; today's furniture coverings make upholstery look brand new and on trend. These stylish seat covers instantly change the look of worn IKEA barstools, and you can make them yourself. Use our design as inspiration for a project of your own that will make you proud.

What You Need

• Seam Ripper

• Fabric (1-1/2 yards per chair)

• Scissors

• Thread

• Sewing machine

• Pins

• Hook-and-loop fastener

How to Make It

Note: In this project, stitch all seams with a 1/2-inch seam allowance and right sides together unless noted.

1. Make fabric pattern from old slipcover.

   1. Most barstools come with a thin, cheap slipcover that is already on the chair. Use a seam ripper to detach all sides of the slipcover. The detached fabric will be your sewing pattern.

   2. Lay the old fabric flat out on your new fabric and trace lightly. Cut out.

   3. If your stool did not come with a slipcover, check out how to reupholster a chair. You may need to use pliers or a flat-head screwdriver to remove staples. Use the removed fabric as your pattern.

2. Stitch skirt front to skirt side pieces, matching notches. Press seams. Pin seat to skirt (long edges), pivoting seams at corners. Stitch skirt to seat.

3. Press narrow rolled hem on curved openings and topstitch. Set aside.

4. On outside back, press narrow rolled hem on two curved openings and topstitch.

5. Lay inside back and outside back flat on table. Fold in half lengthwise and mark center between outer curves. Pin inside back and outside back right sides together, starting at center backs and pinning around curves (these curves will not match up while flat but will stitch into place to form curve of chair back). Stitch inside back to outside back, easing as you go.

6. Pin seat to inside back, matching center notches. Stitch starting at side seam and around cutout (this creates a pocket to hold slip to chair where seat meets the back).

7. Stitch skirt to back at sides. Side skirt will be 1-1/2 inches longer than back piece.

8. Turn slipcover right side out and press. Fit to chair before applying hook-and-loop fastener.

9. Press up four lower raw edges 1 inch and sew on soft loop fastener with two rows of stitching.

10. Apply sticky side of hook fastener to chair. Put slipcover onto chair. Tuck pocket into bend of seat. Wrap lower edges to join hook-and-loop fasteners.