(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.
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. 🙂
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.
Tucking, pinning, and cutting.
She used a piece of newspaper to make a pattern for the curved arms.
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.
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.
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!
Grandma Eleanor is a doll! I hope I’m that cute when I’m her age…
Enjoy your new sewing machine. I picked up sewing in April while re-doing the interior of our airstream travel trailer. It had been 30 years since I used a sewing machine (Home ec in HS). Now I’m sewing up a storm!
There are tons of sewing/quilting/crafting blogs out there that feature lots of free project tutorials out there. Who needs to buy patterns?
She IS a doll, and also for doing that at her age, wow…..
Hugs to you both
How nice of Grandma! And yes, she does has fab legs!
I love the blue wall colour and those mirror’s are TDF!!
Grandma Eleanor is so cute! I hope I can still live when I’m 90 years old.
Donna
How wonderful to have a wise and talented elder to help with a project like this. I’ll bet that the end result looks fabulous!
I’ve missed seeing you at my place, Rhoda but saw you had a new post up and had to come see! You lucky girl..to have a Grandma to help you do all that work…she looks more like 65 than ninety! Do you think I might get her to come spend a few weeks with us? Chair looks great!
Sandi
What an incredible memory for you! I have a crafty gramdna, too – and I will never forget the projects we have done together. Such a neat idea to video her in action! She is just lovely!
She is such a cutie. I just love that she is wearing shorts! I can’t wait to see the finished chair. Thanks for including us in the project; it brought back fun memories of sewing with my grandmother.
I LOVE Grandma Eleanor…more, more, more!!
I’m so impressed. The slipcovered chair looks wonderful.
Geeze, I hope I look that good at 90! I love the inspiration picture and I’m hoping to do at least one sofa I’m bringing with when we eventually move in a white slipcover {it’s an all-over large floral with a dark blue background presently}. Although, if we don’t move the house before the holidays, I may just have the slipcover done as a Christmas present to myself!
Grandma Eleanor is amazing! My grandma, who is just a youngn’ at 77, showed me how to do this!
What a precious post. I think Grandma Eleanor is just a doll and how wonderful that she is still up and running and so willing to help at the age of 90. Your slipcover will look fabulous I’m sure. Great post. Hugs, Marty
First – How adorable is she? Love her!
Second – Cording is a must, so I’m so glad she made you do it. 😉 It really takes upholstery, etc up a notch and makes it look less homemade and more professional (in my opinion). You’ll be glad you are doing it. It’s also quite easy to do once you know how to put it in.
Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Grandma Eleanor … bless her heart, is so sweet! I totally agree about the cording. I can’t wait to see the finished slipcover.
Jane
What a blessing. How awesome is Miss Eleanor!!
Rhoda she’s amazing for a 90 Years young. You and your hubby are very lucky to have her.
PS…can’t wait to see the slipcover. I’ve been wanting to try my hand at that forever
Rhoda, I just know you cherish moments like these spent with Grandma Eleanor – women of her generation that are still around and able to impart these crafts to us are truly a living legacy to what are quickly becoming dying arts. Reminds me of spending time learning the tricks of the sewing trade with my own dear grandmother who passed away at 90. Am so looking forward to seeing the finished slipcover! Great post!
She is a treasure! My gosh, I hope my legs look that good at 90. Come to think of it, they don’t look that cut now!