The Drapery Lady

Latest Wing Chairs

2012-02-11T12:28:00.003-05:00

Here are just some of the Wing chairs I have done.

Wing Chair Slipcover Instruction

2012-02-11T01:58:00.000-05:00

I have had several requests to teach the art of making slipcovers. I don't have the time right now to teach a class. So I figured I would offer some tips on how to do it yourself. I love slipcovers. They are so versatile. They can easily be changed for the seasons. They offer practicality when it comes to kids and pets. This project is not for the beginner. It is an intermediate project. You need to have mastered basic sewing skills and be able to manipulate corners and curves . The most popular chair I get is the Wing chair. Here is my latest one.

Not bad, good bones but outdated. I never met the client. She came from another client. She picked her fabric with the salesperson at the fabric store. Well, it's a drapery fabric. It would not be my first choice but I made it work. It was a wide stripe pattern. Be careful to buy extra yardage to allow for matching of stripes.

The first step is to cut bias strips to make welting. I measured all around the chair to figure out how many yards of welting I needed. I lay the fabric out and fold one edge to meet the other and form a triangle. Cut along the fold.

Fold your triangle in half to make it easier to reach across.

Then cut away. I like to cut 2 1/2" wide strips. When the triangle gets too small I toss it. You don't want too many seams in your welting.

You end up with a pile like this.

Now sew them together to make one long strip like you would a mitered edge.

You will need a zipper or left welting foot and piping insert. I use a standard 15/32 cord welting.

Fold your strip in half with the piping inserted and sew away!!!

Now the fun begins! Get lots of pins out. I usually like the T pins. They stay in well. The last thing you want is to spend hours pinning and have it fall apart. This fabric had an extremely tight weave. My T pins had a hard time going through. I opted for the flower head long pins. These are extremely sharp! Trust me, my fingers know! I start at the back of the chair. Place your welting on the top and pin in place to hold. Make sure you have enough on both sides to reach the full length of the chair. The selvage edge should face away from you.

Line your fabric on the back of the chair, right side facing the chair. You will be pinning the whole cover inside out. Make sure to center your pattern. Place a few pins on top to hold in place. Make sure to keep the size of your welting in mind when leaving allowances for sewing.

I now pin a zipper along the whole length of one side with the welting in between the zipper and the back fabric.

now cut the front of the fabric lining up the pattern with the back of the chair. I place my fabric in front of the chair and tuck it in well on the sides. I then leave at least three inches extra on both sides.

Pin all three layers together. Front, back and welting in between. Make sure to match all patterns and place a lot of pins to prevent shifting.

I then move on to one outside wing. I place the fabric centered on the wing. I place a pin on top and the upper corners to hold in place. I now pin along the side of the back fabric. If you are having trouble molding your welting to the curves, cut snips to allow for movement.

The other outside wing gets pinned to the other half of the zipper. The back should look like this now. I took the picture on a strange angle. The fabric is centered.

Lets move on to the inside wings. Again line up your patterns. Tuck them in and allow 3-4" extra selvage. Place welting on the top back edge. I open about two inches of the welting and cut some out. This ensures you don't have too much bulk to deal with when sewing.

Pin inside wing to outside wing with welting in between. Start at the top back edge. Work your way to front top. Stop before corner. Pin front sides leaving only corner open. You should now have excess fabric at the corner. Make several small pleats to get rid of this excess. Repeat on the other side ensuring to match pleats and patterns.

The front should look like this. Take note of all the excess I have left.

Next, lets move on to outside sides. Line up your pattern to outside wing. Place welting in-between. Pin to back fabric and outside wing fabric.

Notice I have been cutting my lengths to bottom edge of chair plus seam allowance the size of my welting.

Now lets cut the inside arms of chair. Line up your patterns and cut enough to tuck and enough to reach over the arm and pin to outsides. You will see its awkward to get around the bottom of the wing. I cut plenty of slits here. Use lots of pins to ensure a good fit.

I now cut the arm fronts. Decide what you would like to center. Place welting in-between arm front and inside arm and outside fabric. Cut slits as you need.

Lets cut the seat now. Place your fabric on the seat. Leave enough length to tuck in with excess and to reach the front bottom edge of chair plus seam allowances. You need enough width to tuck in sides with excess and fold down front sides to bottom edge of chair with seam allowances. Pin to back and sides of fabric. Fold down front sides. Pin to outside fabric and bottom of arm fronts. You will have excess in front corners. Make a dart and trim. Also pin the edges of your excess along the insides the of the chair.

The chair now look like this and its time to sew!

Slip it off and sew all seams slowly. Take care to keep all patterns lined up and to sew very close on curves. Then do a fitting. If it is not perfect, open the seam and do it again. Now place the slipcover with the right side of fabric up. Pin welting along all bottom edge of chair.

Take cover off and sew in place under the zipper when you come to that corner. Place cover back on and pin a skirt on. I chose a very short skirt with corner pleats. You can go long or short, pleated or ruffled. The possibilities are endless. I then serge all seams and press. When you put the cover back on for the last time, make sure to tuck all he excess you left deep in the chair. This will ensure no movement when you sit on the chair. Make your cushion, again matching patterns to those on the chair.

I hope this helped. Send me pictures of your projects. Don't be discouraged at first. Do as many fittings as it takes and practice, practice, practice!!!!

Miracle Worker

2011-10-09T11:37:00.000-04:00

Okay, this makeover was really a miracle. This chair came to me in a sorry state!

Since this is for resale, upholstery was out of the budget. So I had to add my slipcover magic!!!

I started with the cushion. I added One inch batting on both sides to give a worn cushion some luxury without having to replace the whole cushion. Then I got to work on the slipcover. The chair had wood details I felt shouldn't be hidden.

I left the arm knobs exposed.

There were carved details at the bottom edge. A long skirt would have hidden this. So a tiny skirt was enough to add a finished detail without covering the characteristics of the chair.

The print was a lovely Duralee fabric. The contrast of the large black and white print balances the dark ornate frame. Just shows the magic of fabric!

It will posted on craigslist under Vicki's Vintage on Long Island if you are interested.

Check out our TV debut!

2011-05-31T07:52:00.010-04:00

Preview

Fios1 news Money and Main Street

Search The Drapery Lady

The magic of fabric

2011-05-13T18:05:00.000-04:00

The furniture in this room was outdated. It was repurposed in a media room. This left the room quite barren. So on small budget, it was off to craigslist and flea markets. Check out vicki's vintage on LI craigslist for great finds too. Here are some good, sturdy pieces.

After a good sanitizing and fabric shopping here is what the result is:

Some accent pieces and flowers brought it all together.

Studio shoot

2011-05-12T15:58:00.000-04:00

Verizon Fios 1 news came to interview us today. They are featuring The Drapery Lady on a news segment called Money on Main Street. Here are some shots of the studio prepped for the visit. Stay tuned for a viewing schedule.

Twin headboards for Fire Island

2011-04-22T23:28:00.001-04:00

Our latest project was twin headboards for a guest room on Fire Island. We started with two sturdy frames. Cabinet grade wood for the back and double 2x6 for legs. These were manufatured by our carpenter. He made sure to have a seamless back. The slightly rounded shape termed "squoval" by the client was then curved out freehand. After which, I attached 3" foam with spray adhesive. I used a turkey knife to get the exact shape. A 1" layer of batting was then added for ultimate comfort. This was stapled on to secure the foam even tighter.

The legs got only the batting spray glued on. Next the legs got wrapped in a lovely pattern from Lee Joffa.

We worked on them simultaneously in order to provide ultimate accuracy and continuity. We then tackled the large back section. The print was measured and placed with repeats in mind. It was secured with staples to the rear of the headboards. The rounded corners got

three very small pleats to make the curve.

We then added our bias welting. We chose a larger size. The standard one would get lost behind the large amount of foam and batting.

Next we used curve ease to cover the back of the headboards.

We chose a neutral Cotton duck. It will provide a sturdy background. One placed in the curvease, a rubber mallet with a cloth on it does wonders for getting all on smoothly.

Here is our finished product in the studio. In home pictures will come soon. They also got matching bedskirts in an ivory lined cotton with a small trim in the Lee Joffa print.

Slipcover set

2010-08-04T23:27:00.000-04:00

These pieces both have attached back seat cushions made to look like seperate pieces!

2010-08-04T23:24:00.000-04:00

Wing chair redone in a Duralee Mohair

Channel Back Chair

2010-08-04T23:12:00.000-04:00

Another fresh update!

Club Sofa Hampton inspiration

2010-08-04T22:57:00.000-04:00

This waterfront home needed and update. Inspiration came from clean lined Hampton look. The fabric is a Duralee Herringbone print with a dark caramel linen as the welting.

Before

Blush pink chair and ottoman

2010-08-04T22:46:00.000-04:00

This needed serious updates. The client likes a shabby chic look.

Ballerina Chairs

2010-08-04T22:38:00.000-04:00

These are well dressed ladies. Ready for the dance floor. Look at those legs!! The client brought her inspiration photo and we got to work. This is a combo of upholstery and slipcovers. The seats are removable for easy care.

Sweetheart Chair

2010-08-04T22:30:00.000-04:00

Before. Very sorry looking!

Love these fresh Botanicals that are so hot right now! We all made up stories how it belonged to a little old lady who sat on her covered porch, while the sun set reading her favorite book, sipping lemonade. Turns out it belongs to a young lady who lives in the city!

Drapes for a little princess

2009-08-19T22:42:00.000-04:00

These drapes were given to a little girl to commemorate her moving to a big girl room. The lovely floral print brings a very feminine look to the room. Paired with the solid banding in a sage green gives it the Victorian look with a touch of modern. The young client was very happy with her order.

Warm up your bedroom with lovely drapes

2009-08-19T22:22:00.000-04:00

This new addition to the home was a large empty space. The addition of drapes not only add beauty but functionality as well. They warm up the room with rich textures and hues. They are made from a chocolate brown embroidered silk from Stout and Company. The drapery lining keeps the sunlight to a minimum for sleeping, as there are windows all around the room. Drapes are very energy efficient. They keep external conditions at bay with the added layers of insulation on the windows. They are elegantly pleated in a modern inverted box pleat style. There is also a textured sheer under for diffused sunlight during the day. For cohesiveness, there are matching pillows placed on the bed

Ottoman

2009-08-19T22:10:00.000-04:00

Ottoman before, just fine,

but look what you can do with a little fabric.

This slipcover is completely removable for easy cleaning.

New projects

2009-06-08T22:44:00.001-04:00

Shabby Chic chair painted in a crisp white with black contrast gimp and a lovely print.

Restaurant chairs before and after in a rich chocolate brown micro fiber. Easy to clean.

Shabby Chic Sofa fitting

2009-05-20T08:20:00.000-04:00

This is the shabby chic slipcover in the fitting stage. As you can see it has a loose fit and a casual look. White cotton duck is the perfect choice for a slipcover this style. Be prepared though, no matter how much you press this fabric it will look wrinkled. If you are not comfortable with this feature, this is not the fabric for you. The customer and I have made a few adjustments. For example, the skirt will be shortened. The length is appropriate for the look of this sofa but you have to keep in mind practicality. This client knows that she has no entry way. Therefore the floor gets very dirty. So we have decided to shorten the skirt so dirt doesn't get trapped in the slipcover folds. Tune in next week for the final fitting.

Fabric selection

2009-04-10T15:36:00.000-04:00

When choosing fabric for your next project, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. First and foremost is the application it is being used for. You would not pick the same fabric to upholster a sofa as you would to make silky drapes, for example. After deciding on your application, choose a weight of fabric depending on your project. Remember not all fabrics can be used for every project. Take into account for example welting. If you are making a slipcover with welting you need to choose a fabric that can be used on the bias nicely without too much bulk. On that note, lets talk first about slipcovers. It is what I have been doing the most of lately. Slipcovers can vary in style. First decide what kind of slipcover style you like. If you like it to look very structured like the original piece, you should choose an upholstery weight fabric. Feel free to use textured fabrics. It adds a lot of character without making it too busy. This sofa was done in a tone on tone embroidered print. The detail on the fabric is beautiful without being overpowering. The weight is enough to be structured but not too thick. You have to be able to make folds with it and manipulate it on all the curves.

Another style of slipcover is a shabby chic cover. This application is more adaptable to a cotton duck or denim fabric. These fabrics have that more relaxed wrinkled look which is perfect for shabby chic or cottage décor. Some people even buy the drop cloths at their local hardware stores which have great widths.

potterybarn.com

Knit blends like this one lend well to slipcovers. This client has a contemporary style in her home. These covers are in the tv room where the look is more relaxed but not too casual. Be careful not to pick something with an open weave. You don't want to see through the cover and it will add to the labor and fabric prices to line it.

Linen sometimes is a choice for a more feminine slipcover. Think summer dress. I would not recommend this in room with a lot wear and tear. Not only does it wrinkle easily, but it will pill with frequent handling.

Now drapery fabric.

Drapes can also vary in styles. Traditional homes might lend well to moirés and jacquards, where casual homes like a beach side retreat might be wonderful with linen unlined drapes. Silk is very popular with drapes. There is nothing more beautiful than a pair of lined silk drapes. I always line silk drapes. Most of the time, I recommend to my clients an interlining with their silk drapes. This adds more fullness as well as protection from the elements. Silk drapes will dry out if they have too much sun exposure, making them brittle. Even though I have given certain guidelines when picking fabrics there are no set rules. I have been known to make something out of nothing.

Take for example these drapes and bedskirt This was a lining very inexpensive fabric. It was bought on ebay for about 50 cents a yard. I bought the whole roll for a project which never happened. Here I have made use of the fabric in a lovely way. Once it is steamed, it will be a beautiful set for a lucky little girl.

Sheets are also a great home dec tool. You get a lot of fabric out of a king size flat sheet. They are great for duvets, slipcovers, shades, bed skirts and best of all they are machine washable.

Another thing to take into account is pattern. Fabric with a set pattern like a plaid for example, will need more fabric to match these lines up. Repeats (how often the pattern repeats itself on a fabric) needs to be taken into account. Sometimes a fabric has a lovely print right in the middle. If you want to recover chairs lets say, and you want that print in the middle of each chair you have to know that you will be tossing a lot of excess. In this bench I chose to center the fabric to get as in as many blooms as I could.

Then there is the matter of price. Prices on fabrics have a huge window. The same textures but in different colors can be priced differently. It all depends on what designers are up to this year. Sometimes price predicts quality, but not always. Be creative, go to the designer warehouses. They usually have last years’ designs left over at an amazingly affordable price. If you are open minded with your selections, you can usually find a great deal. Lastly take into account what rooms these fabrics are going in. Is the decor in the room able to hold these fabric additions or will they look out of place. Do you have old drafty windows and need extra protection? Do you have children or pets and need to pick a more sustainable fabric, maybe machine washable. Only you with the guidance of your designer can make these decisions. Happy Shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!

The key to unifying a room on a budget

2009-04-08T12:05:00.001-04:00

In this economy we are all looking for ways to save money. The Drapery Lady is well aware of this and tries to help clients on all levels. This client has two very different sofas. She does not have the budget right now to buy new furniture. We offered her a budget friendly solution.

Slipcovers

Now the structure of these sofas are very different. The smaller sofa has a full back with attached cushioning. The larger sofa has fuller arms with a very flat back. The first thing I did was attach a 2" foam on the back of the larger sofa. I wrapped a layer of batting to give it a more rounded look. This gave both sofas a fuller back.

As far as the rest of the sofas, I made the slipcovers very similar. Usually I follow the lines of the sofa exactly. This time I chose to make a few changes. For example, the arm on the smaller sofa is very straight. To add fullness I added kick pleats on the skirt fronts. To further unify the look I have suggested the client purchase similar pillows for both sofas.

The Drapery Lady prides in being flexible with the ever changing times. Call us for a free in home consultation. www.thedraperylady.net

Home decorating on a budget

2009-04-07T22:03:00.000-04:00

I promised I would post ideas anyone can do no matter what the budget or skill level to beautify their homes.

So here is a lovely project that would go with the hot new Shabby Chic look. This is a settee purchased as is. Notice there is severe staining on the seat. This cannot be removed.

You could buy a piece like this at a thrift store or on craigslist for about $40-$60.

This particular piece would take about 3 yards of fabric to recover. I am lucky enough to live close to a designer fabric studio with a warehouse in the rear. They sell fabrics from $3.50 a yard. I bought white upholstery gimp. You can purchase this for as little as 25 cents a yard, You would need approxiatemely 15 yards for this piece. You will also need a heavy duty stapler, staples, a glue gun and refill sticks. My client chose to paint the frame first in a Dove White paint.

Now keep in mind this is a beginner skill project. This is not an antique or a family heirloom. This is not custom upholstery. This purely for decorative purposes only.

The first step is to cut the fabric to fit. You should always place the fabric on the piece and calculate where you would like the pattern to lay. This particular fabric had large blooms. I chose a layout that would showcase as many blooms as possible.

Once you have cut all your fabric pieces, label them and press under all the edges 1/4 inch. I started with the seat. I stapled the fabric along all the edges. Make sure you keep your fabric nice and taught. It always helps to do a few staples on opposite sides just to get the positioning correct. Then fill in the spaces to ensure a secure fit.

Once you have all the fabric stapled on you can begin to place the gimp. Make sure your glue gun is pre-heated and filled. Place a drop of glue on one end and fold under for a tidy edge. I began in the back of the seat to hide the joining. Continue gluing all the way around all the edges ensuring you are covering all the staples.

Here is the completed project. This currently being sold on craigslist.com for just under $300. This would make a lovely piece in a bedroom or an entryway.

Follow me on twitter for new updates or check us out on the web www.thedraperylady.net

Shabby Chic Sofa Before

2009-03-12T19:17:00.000-04:00

This is my next project. A shabby Chic slipcover for a full size sofa with back cushions. I will be posting instructions as I go so you can make one for yourself. I would say you need moderate sewing skills for this project. I have calculated 20 yards of fabric for this sofa. The customer wants a shabby chic look. The fit on this cover has to be very loose fitting to go with that style. The fabric will be a white cotton duck. This is a perfect fabric for this project. It is washable and can take the wear and tear of children. It is perfect for a more relaxed look. I will be recommending a loosely gathered skirt for a more feminine look. The first step will be the cutting. Some supplies to bring on that day are: customer's fabric, large flower pins, sharp scissors, tailors chalk and notepaper. Wear comfortable clothes. You will be bending down and squeezing behind the sofa. Look for more pics and instructions next week.

Wing Sofa Slipcover

2009-03-10T01:18:00.001-04:00

Wing Sofa Slipcover, originally uploaded by The Drapery Lady.

This is the finished product with the customers' choice of fabric. The cushions were not replaced. The piece is all original underneath. This cover can be removed for Dry Cleaning very easily. The fabric had some stretch to it so I did not install a zipper. To prevent any slipping I used twist pins in a few inconspicuous spots to hold everything in place.

before

2009-03-10T01:15:00.001-04:00

before, originally uploaded by The Drapery Lady.

This is an antique wingback love seat. I actually found it on craigslist. I contacted the seller and then changed my mind on the purchase. In my conversation with the seller I mentioned my plans for the piece. She was so excited she decided to keep it for herself. She asked me to make a slipcover for it so she can put it in her sunroom. She bought the fabric by my suggestion at the Duralee warehouse. It is the goldmine inmy town. I am so lucky to live near a designer showroom of this magnitude. They have a warehouse with all of last years designs. The deals are unbeleivable! Fabric can make or break a budget!!! The project was not an easy one. I cut the slipcover on the piece for a perfect fit. It took a little while and a lot of pins. The most complicated part was the ends of the wings. The transition into the seat proved to be complicated. The finished product was well worth it and my client was extremely happy.

Flickr

2009-03-10T01:04:00.001-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Hello

2009-03-10T00:15:00.000-04:00

Hi, My name is Elisa Irvolino. I own a company called The Drapery Lady. The business is in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY. I sell custom window treatments. Soft treatments like valances, drapes and cornices. Hard window treatments like custom blinds, shades, panel tracks and shutters. I sell most of the designer fabric lines. I have also expanded into slipcovers. They are custom made perfect fit slipcovers. They are not the kind that shift around when you sit on them. They look like new sofas. No one will know they are slipcovers. I offer free in home consultations and design assistance. I will work with any budget!! So that's my sales pitch!!!!!! I have repeated it a million times on various websites and forums. I am at a crossroads with the business. I am at the point where I have to decide if I should continue the business or give it up. With the economy the way it is, business is slow. I am trying to find new marketing techniques with little cost. I started this blog to seek advice as well as help others. I will post my customers projects I am working on as well as instructions on how to change things in your home on any budget. Check out my web page thedraperylady.net. Feedback is welcome. Good Night.