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Making Slipcovers with Grandma Eleanor

August 15, 2009 By Rhoda 86 Comments

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Country Living

(inspiration slipcover from Country Living)

Since sewing is not my forte and 90-year old Grandma Eleanor (my hubby’s maternal Grandma) gets bored with staying home all the time and not having much to do, I asked her if she would like to help me with that slipcover project that I’ve been putting off for about a year now.  She was happy to have something to do and I think it makes her feel useful to have a project going on.  Sure does help me out, since I would have probably butchered this project on my own.  I feel pretty sure about that. 🙂

I found this chair last year at the Salvation Army and it went great with the granny room look I had in the guestroom, but soon after, that room got a makeover and this upholstered chair would not do anymore.  So, I found some pretty white linen-y fabric at a yardsale last year for $5 and there they’ve both been sitting in the beachy guestrom.  I draped and tucked the fabric on the chair and that’s as far as I’ve gotten.  Every time I walked in there, I kept telling myself I needed to get out the sewing machine and try my hand at making the thing.

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So, this week, we uncovered the chair and got started.  Eleanor came over for a couple days and I watched as she cut out pieces of fabric that will be made into a slipcover. Maybe I’ll actually learn something from this.  Let’s hope so. 🙂

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She draped the fabric and then cut each piece with the scissors, going all the way around the chair. Check out Eleanor’s cute little legs.  Not bad for a 90 year old.IMG_6182

Tucking, pinning, and cutting.

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She used a piece of newspaper to make a pattern for the curved arms.

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And a-sewing we go!  Eleanor is a pro at this and has been sewing all her life, so it all came back to her really well.  And my new yardsale Kenmore sewing machine works great, so she enjoyed sewing on it too.

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She insisted that we had to put covered cording all around the cushions, arms, and a few other spots.  If it was up to me, I probably wouldn’t have done that, but she’s really good at covering that cording, so I’m glad we are doing it.  I think it’s going to look really great when she’s done.  The old gal still has the sewing touch and she whipped up this cording in no time.  Of course, you have to cut cording on the bias. I learned that a long time ago from my own sewing mama.

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She measured the flat pieces around the cushion and that’s what we are starting on first, getting the cushion covered.

I thought you’d enjoy a couple of little videos I took of Eleanor while she was sewing.  She’s completely deaf in one ear and only has about 1/2 her hearing in the other (and wears a hearing aid), so communication is not the easiest, but we made it.  I asked her in the first one how long she had been sewing, and she finally answered me in the 2nd one.  She’s too cute!


We did get that T-cushion finished the first day and I’ll show you the rest when we get it done, since it will probably take  awhile to complete it all.   In fact, I have to go back to Hobby Lobby, since I bought all the cording they had and I need a few more yards.  She’s a hard working little lady and wants it to look great. She said she didn’t want me telling anyone she made it if it didn’t turn out well, but I told her I’m not a perfectionist.

Heck, I lived with it tucked and thrown for almost a whole year now. 🙂

*****************************************************************

Before I go, just wanted to mention that I have a brand new sponsor, Disc Hangers, so click on the button to the right (or the link here) to check out his website.  He saw my post on hanging plates and he sells the disc hangers online and thought his online site would be a perfect match for my blog.  And, he’s giving all of you FREE SHIPPING through the end of this month. So, if you’re in the market for some of those disc hangers (invisible), I hope you’ll take advantage of the discount and they can be sent directly to your home.  I love shopping in my PJ’s!  🙂

If you’re interested in ordering some plate hangers, just click on the Disc Hangers button to the right and put in the promo code FREESHIP09, before checking out, for free shipping.  He’s going to continue this through the end of the year just for my readers!

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Filed Under: Family Friends and Me, Projects and How-To 86 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Lou says

    August 17, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    Yeah! You are finally getting it done! I am so impressed with Eleanor working that machine! I don’t even go that fast! That fastness is a sign of a pro – my daughter does that, too. I still need to finish(no, start) my chairs. I don’t feel too bad with you having that chair just draped for a year. My daughter and son-in-law are coming for Thanksgiving, so I now am motivated to get all that slipcovern’ done! Enjoy!
    Mary Lou

    Reply
  2. Jeannine @ Small and Chic says

    August 17, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    She is cute as a button! You are so lucky to have her still. 🙂

    Reply
  3. lilibet says

    August 17, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Grandmother Eleanor’s skills are a dying art form. Grannies born early last century knew how to cook, bake bread, sew, plant a mean vegetable garden, slipcover a chair, knit baby booties… you name it. I believe they are the BEST GRANNIES to have! Our generation is very lucky.

    Grannie E. is absolutely adorable. Not to mention that she is in fantastic shape — I am 36 and cannot sew without my neck hurting immediately. Eleanor puts me to shame.

    I loved your post.

    Reply
  4. lilibet says

    August 17, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    Wow! I just saw Eleanor’s paintings on your link! Amazing!

    Reply
  5. Connie says

    September 9, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    What a sweetie Eleanor is. I bet she felt very wanted when you asked her to help you. I guess we can always learn from our elders no matter how old they are. That was a good idea to get the video’s of her and her work. When she sat at the machine, she was all business — it must have come right back to her. How nice of you to be so patient and kind to her.
    Loved the post !

    Reply
  6. Tammy says

    September 12, 2009 at 8:39 am

    Aw. I want a grandma Eleanor. She is so darn cute! Love the 2 videos. I hope I am as able as she is at 90. Nice legs! woot woot! Go grandma! Will you be sharing the after photo with us soon? Can’tt wait to see it.
    hugs,
    Tammy

    Reply
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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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