Dining Chairs (part 2)

 Well.  Making the pattern was relatively easy.  The chairs have piping around the side and seat so I was able to use this as an 'edge' for the pattern making the outline my sewing line.  I made notes on each piece to state sewing and/or cutting line and as each piece was cut, I pinned them around the chair and adjusted where required.  Again relatively easy.

There were a few areas where I couldn't quite get the gist of how I was going to shape it but carried on regardless hoping that the sewing part would (hopefully) sort it out.  

The chair remained in this state for about a week as I was trying to make a final decision on the fabric choice (see below).  My fabric choices, I thought, would need to accent the existing colour of the room - vintage cream and dark green (accent wall) - or be a total opposite to make a statement.  I found three different fabrics  - cream linen, gold(ish) brocade (I think its brocade anyway) and an embossed ivory upholstery fabric. I have yards of the cream linen so decided to use this as the first pattern trial.

cream linen  pre washed       gold(ish) brocade            ivory upholstery

Once I had the pattern cut and pinned, I had to decide how I was going to sew the front side corners. I had pinned them as you make a bed corner firstly with the excess fabric underneath the top and folding to the front, secondly with the excess folded to the side.  Either solution seemed reasonable.  However, once I came to sew the corners up, I realised that the excess fabric was going to cause more of a problem just being there so I simply pinned where the corner was, joining the front and side pieces together and sewed straight up.  I think once the fabric has been ironed/pressed it will sit better (no pun intended!) and will obviously soften the more it is sat upon.

So here are the photos of my 'maiden' chair cover.  There are still a few pattern issues to deal with but I am really chuffed with the result.  I now need to cut out four versions of the pattern and fit each one separately.  I have decided - if I have enough fabric - to cover two linen and two ivory upholstery.  Best of both worlds.  The gold(ish) brocade looks to be a little out of my comfort zone regards to preventing fraying so I have returned it back to my hoard stash for a different project.

Halloween is nearly upon us and my daughter has decided she going to host a pumpkin carving/film/birthday party this weekend for one of her bridesmaids.  Guess the table will see the light of day sooner than I thought.  Ah well. Gonna have to find some time between now and December to complete the four covers as we need them for Christmas Dinner!  See you soon. :)

Dining Chair Covers for Christmas

 So.  I know its been a while since I posted.  Not that I haven't been busy!!!  All the wedding place settings (Mad Hatter hats) are made, they just need ribbons and labels doing for them and that's not one of my jobs.  The basket for the cards has also been lined and the bunting done.  See photo.

I have walked, walked, bathed and walked (!!) doggies, made the most of the dry (when possible) weather and have managed to redo my garden and reseed the lawn following the last two clutches (!?) of ducklings destroying it.  I have also taken down most of the ivy growing along the back garden wall in the hope that Mrs Duck won't find anywhere to nest next year.  My intention is to keep it really, really, really short!  The ducklings are lovely but so much hard work and soooo many early mornings! Anyway, we'll see.

My days, when I don't have dogs, are now pretty quiet work wise.  So I thought I would challenge myself into doing something I've not done before.  I love sewing so a project was decided upon - whether it was a good one, remains to be seen but for the moment, I am excited and hopeful that I can do this.

As you can see from the photos, my dining chairs have seen better days.  Out of the six we have, there are about four which are really looking their age and the leather (if indeed it is leather??) has begun to perish and flake.  I clean the chairs regularly so I know its not dirt that is causing the problem but the chairs are wearing where the back of your legs rub.  I have seen covers being made for chairs like mine but thought I would have a go. 

My concerns at the moment are that all the ones I have seen are for straight backed chairs whereas my chairs have a curly bit at the top (see photo left).  I have read many tutorials for covers but none which really address this issue so I have stopped reading and am just going to approach the covers as if they were straight and deal with any hitches along the way (she said hopefully).

I found a clean but obviously faded valance sheet in my hoard stash of fabric as I needed something to make a pattern.  Using the measurements from the chair, I broke it down into two side pieces, one front including the curly bit, a straight back piece and the seat.  

I now have the basis of a pattern which will obviously develop through the process of pinning and then I can use it when I finally decide on a colour and fabric type for the covers.  I know they won't be stretchy ones as I do not use stretchy fabric and don't think that it would be durable enough for the chairs.  I guess now, the fun begins!  Wish me luck........ :)