by Karen Powell, The Slipcover Maker

Transcription

1 by Karen Powell, The Slipcover Maker

2 Karen Powell page 2

3 Bull Denim: cotton denim dyed a solid color. Also offered in white and natural. Most popular choice for colored denim slipcovers Hand-feel varies: soft, smooth, brushed or stiff A medium weight (10 ounce) or heavier works best for slipcovers The look is casual, looks great in both tailored and shabby chic style slipcovers Avoid stretch bull denim Typically less expensive than yarn dyed denim Natural Denim: cotton bull denim that is un-dyed. Versatile, year-round appeal 14 ounce weight offers best coverage over dark upholstery Un-dyed natural color varies from brand to brand some shades have a pinkish or greyish cast. Hand-feel varies from soft to stiff Avoid natural denim labeled greige or grey goods (unfinished denim that feels stiff and has very high shrinkage) Cotton Blend Bull Denim: solid color denim typically made with cotton and polyester. Opt for a cotton/poly blend with less than 20% polyester to avoid a slick hand-feel Polyester in denim gives a subtle two-tone look to the color Avoid cotton/poly denim with added stretch great for jeans but not for slipcovers 2014 Karen Powell page 3

4 Brushed Denim: the brushed surface gives slipcovers a plush look and a soft hand-feel. Level of brushing varies from very light to heavy Pilling might occur on some brushed denims Wrinkles are less noticeable than un-brushed denim Lint and pet hair stick to brushed denim easier than un-brushed Slipcover in white bull denim, 10 ounce Yarn Dyed Denim indigo and other colors: cotton denim woven with two colors rather than dyed solid like bull denim. Offered in various shades of indigo/natural and other color combinations Subtle two-tone, color effect hides pet hair and dirt better than solid dyed bull denim Look for denim with a washed finish, it will feel supple Avoid rigid (very stiff) denim as it won t soften with wash Costs more than bull denim Hickory Stripe: a variation of cotton denim traditionally used for work clothing. Also called railroad stripe. Stripe is woven, not printed Offered in different stripe patterns using indigo and natural 12 ounce works best avoid lighter shirt weights Makes a good alternative to classic indigo ticking fabric Cushion slipcovers in indigo denim, 14 ounce Hemp/Cotton Denim: a yarn dyed denim woven with indigo and natural. Also offered in un-dyed natural. Hemp adds subtle texture and strength to the denim Rustic appearance, not as smooth looking as traditional denim Strong fabric with a supple hand-feel 2014 Karen Powell page 4

5 Most popular denim weights for slipcovers: Medium weight, 10 to 12 ounce Heavy weight, 14 ounce Ounce refers to unit of weight per square yard. Choose a weight based on how you will use your slipcover. Medium weight A good choice for everyday slipcovers that get moderate use and require only a few washings a year. Heavy weight Best option for high traffic slipcovers that require frequent washing. Great for families with pets and/or kids. Provides better coverage for dark upholstery than the medium denim weights. More durable than lighter weights. Cushion slipcover in un-dyed natural denim, 14 ounce. Don t confuse stiffness with weight. Denim that feels very stiff or rigid doesn t always always soften after it s washed and might wrinkle like crazy. Medium and heavy weight denim that feels feels supple and weighty works best for casual, comfy slipcovers. Sofa slipcover in un-dyed natural denim, 14 ounce Karen Powell page 5

6 Wrinkles in denim are softer looking and less noticeable than canvas. I rarely have to press washed denim because the wrinkle relaxes as the slipcover gets wear. Un-dyed natural denim: expect higher shrinkage and a little more wrinkle than colored denim. Yarn dyed denim: very little shrinkage and wrinkle compared to other types of denim. Bull denim 100% cotton and cotton/poly blend: not all colored bull denim shrinks and wrinkles in the same way. The amount depends on the fabric finish and fiber content. This 14 oz. yarn dyed denim has very little wrinkle after washed. Denim will occaisionally vein in places. Veins are subtle, short creases that flatten out but do not dissapear with pressing Karen Powell page 6

7 Save money. Before you buy yardage for your slipcover, wash and dry a one yard sample. If you don t like how it wrinkles and shrinks you re only out the cost of one yard. Avoid surprises later on. A wash test will also reveal if your denim bleeds, crocks, softens and how well it covers your furniture. How-To Wash Test Denim: ❶ Buy one yard. This is important to do for every type of denim you re considering for your slipcover. ❷ Machine wash and dry. Wash in hot water, no detergent. Tumble dry on hot. Remove from drier promptly when completely dry. Tip: If you don t have other items to dry with the one yard of denim, throw in a big towel. This will keep the fabric from wading up into a ball forcing it to wrinkle and crease more. ❸ Press. The level of wrinkle you see after pressing the denim is how it will look in your slipcover. Wrinkles in denim are subtle and typically soften or fall out as the slipcover is used. ❹ Measure the length. Note the number of inches the one yard denim shrunk. You will need to add those inches to each yard needed for your slipcover. ❺ Feel the hand. Does the denim feel soft and supple after it s washed? If it feels stiff and boardy, chances are it won t soften up in a slipcover. Bleeding: color transfers from the denim to other fabrics when wet, especially in the laundry the first few times. This is normal for some yarn dyed colored denim. Be sure to wash your denim fabric and your finished slipcover separate from other laundry items. Crocking: color transfers from dry denim onto other fabrics when it s rubbed back and forth. You don t want this! Here s how to test for crocking: Vigorously rub a swatch of denim back and forth several times on white paper. If a lot of color rubs off, choose another denim Karen Powell page 7

8 Q: Denim or canvas; which one works best for a slipcover? A: For my own slipcovers I use denim more often than cotton canvas because I like the appearance better; it s less flat looking than canvas and has very little wrinkle. Both denim and canvas are strong, versatile fabrics that make a good looking slipcover. Consider the look you re going for, your budget and what kind of use your slipcover will get. Buy a yard of each denim and canvas you like, wash them and throw them over your furniture to see which one speaks to you. Q: Will un-dyed natural denim cover my dark color upholstered furniture? A: Heavy weight 14 oz. natural denim does a good job at covering dark colors. Most 12 oz. denims will, too. I recommend testing a sample to be sure. Q: What type of denim holds up best to kids and pets? A: A heavy weight 14 oz. denim will be the most durable and can take frequent washing. It makes a very substantial slipcover. Some 12 oz. denims will also work well. Both yarn dye denim and bull denim will work as long as they are heavyweight. I don t recommend denim that is lighter than 12 oz. Q: Is $18 denim better quality than one that is half the price? A: Price doesn t always reflect the fabric s quality. I bought a $10 natural denim and liked the quality much more than a more expensive one I had. I have also purchased discount denim and was very disappointed with the amount of flaws and extremely high shrinkage. You can find out a lot about the fabric quality by doing a wash & dry test on one yard. Q: I bought denim that is pre-washed. Do I have to pre-shrink it before making my slipcover? A: Yes! A fabric labeled pre-washed means the fabric has been finished in a way that makes it feel soft and supple. That might mean it actually was washed but it doesn t mean all of the shrinkage has been removed. Be sure to pre-shrink your denim yardage so your slipcover doesn t shrink later on. Q: I found a denim I like but its Dry Clean Only. Can it be washed? A: The best way to find out is to wash test a yard. I have washed many dry clean only cotton denim fabrics and most of them turned out great. Sometimes they shrink more or fade easier than a washable denim so be sure to test a sample before you commit to a lot of yardage. Q: The indigo denim I bought feels very stiff after I washed it. How can I soften it? A: Frequent washing will relax the fabric over time but it probably will never feel like a soft and supple prewashed denim. Special chemicals and wash treatments are applied to the denim during manufacturing. These cannot be duplicated in a home laundry. In lieu of chemicals, I have tried vinegar, fabric softeners, dryer sheets and dryer balls to soften stiff denim without success Karen Powell page 8

9 Denim Woven Stripes Medium to heavy weight cotton denim in a variety of woven stripe patterns: Railroad stripes Ticking stripes Pin stripes Awning stripes Look for 100% cotton striped denim. Avoid stretch denim. 12 to 14 oz. weights wear and wash best for slipcovers. Avoid extremely stiff denim. It may not soften with wash. Some indigo stripe denims crock (color comes off when rubbed). Be sure to test. See page 7 for instructions. Denim -Like Woven Fabrics For a denim look without the twill lines try another type of fabric woven with indigo and natural such as: Herringbone Canvas Linen Chambray Choose washable, medium to heavy weights for best results. Shrinkage and wrinkles will vary with each fabric. Be sure to do a wash test. These types of indigo fabrics are creative alternatives to classic denim. They look great in many slipcover styles. Get the look of denim from these fabric resources: Indigo Prints Cotton canvas, twill and linen fabrics printed in a variety of designs featuring different shades of indigo blue: Ikat and Batiks Floral Geometrics Search online fabric stores using keyword indigo to find many types of print designs. Indigo prints are typically drapery weight to medium weight. Avoid shirting weight. Look for 7 oz. or heavier. Good for decorative slipcovers that get light to moderate use. PacificBlueDenims.com Fabric.com HawthorneThreads.com CalicoCorners.com FabricGem.com HouseFabric.com BuyFabrics.com WarehouseFabricsInc.com 2014 Karen Powell page 9

10 ❶ Cut denim into 5 yard lengths. Or, cut longer lengths, up to 8 yards, as long as the fabric fits in your washing machine and dryer with room to spare. Avoid packing the yardage in too tight, it will cause deep set wrinkles. ❷ Machine wash denim in hot water, no detergent. Wash one fabric length at a time. Don't crowd the yardage with other laundry items. ❸ Tumble dry on hot, no dryer sheets. Wet yardage wads up into a ball pretty quickly in an average size drier. It s really important to remove the fabric, unwind it and put it back in the dryer about every 5 to 10 minutes during the first half hour of drying. It s a hassle but believe me this is the best way to minimize wrinkles. ❹ Remove denim from dryer promptly when dry. If you won t be using your fabric right away, roll it on a cardboard tube rather than folding it. This will keep fabric free of creases. Pressing is optional. If your preshrunk yardage has big, raised wrinkles that interfere with draping the fabric smoothly as you do the pin fitting you might want to press it flat. I sometimes mist the fabric with a water spray bottle as I press. Pre-shrunk 12 oz. cotton bull denim with very little wrinkle Karen Powell page 10

11 The advice I share is based on my professional experience as a slipcover maker, as well as, a textile developer for over 25 years. Your experience with the fabrics I mention may vary depending on how you use and wash them. All of my fabric reviews are my own. I have no promotional affiliation with the fabric companies I include in this ebook. Visit my blog for inspiring slipcover makeovers: copyright 2014 Karen Powell All content, graphics and images found in my digital e-goods are the property of The Slipcover Maker and author, Karen Powell, unless noted otherwise. Copying or reproducing my content in any way without my authorization is prohibited. My content is copyright protected and may not be used for personal profit Karen Powell page 11