(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. 🙂
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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!
I don’t sew so I would never attempt the slipcovers but I have to say that I noticed Grandma Eleanor’s legs before you mentioned them. They look better than mine! Good grief.
What a nice Grandma to have. Miss Eleanor looks like she is really concentrating on that first video. It was all I could to to resist buying a club chair at the Goodwill this week. It had a white slipcover and had “possibilities” but was too big for the living room. Please continue to post more about Grandma Eleanor and your project.
Charming! I am venturing toward the idea that I can make slipcovers for my Martha Washington style chairs. Last attempt was not so successful, I tend to get into a hurry with my personal sewing projects, at least the ones I make for me, to wear or otherwise! This time I vow to s-l-o-w down,lol. My mother taught me to sew, I still have the golden touch and sew that she bought me thirty years ago, I now have Singer Futura to go with it.
Oh my gosh, Rhoda! She is beautiful and amazing!!!! Thanks so much for sharing. Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Margaret, Virginia Beach
This made me miss my own sweet grandmother who was a professional seamtress and miliner. It’s hard to believe that Miss Eleanor is 90! She must take good care of herself and those are some mighty pretty legs she has! Mine don’t look that good now! Can’t wait to see the finished project.
Rhoda, she reminds me SO much of my dear 88-year-old Grandma! She can’t hardly hear at all and uses a hearing aid and it often takes several times for her to answer my questions if I yell loud enough! She taught me to sew when I was a little girl, though she can’t sew anymore because of her hands and poor eyesight. What a blessing grandma’s are!!
Looks great so far, Rhoda! And how wonderful to have such an enthusiastic helper (who actually looks to be doing most of the work!) Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Oh and thanks for the source for plate hangers. I’ve used them too (and blogged about them as well, I think they’re so great) and I’ll be sure to stock up while we get free shipping!
What a blessing to be able to benefit from the wisdom of such a talented little lady. Can’t wait to see the end result!
I loved this and it made me miss my Granny like mad! I actually have tears while I write this. I wasn’t lucky enough to have had Granny as long as ya’ll’ve had Eleanor, but I had her for long enough to know what a blessing she was to us all. I could have watched the whole video. We have alot to learn from the older folks in our lives!!!! Thanks for sharing.
How sweet! Lovely post! Grandma Eleanor is precious! Can’t wait to see her new slipcover! I wish my mother was still around. She could whip up anything in no time! I’m thankful she taught me how to sew. I still haven’t ever made a slipcover – that’s for the professionals, like Eleanor!
Grandma Eleanor is wonderful–how lucky you are to have her. And how wonderful that she is still able to do all that she does!
What a treasure!
She can sew and has great legs to boot. 🙂
Grandma Eleanor is precious! I wish I still had my Mimmie…she could sew like nobody’s business!
Those Disc hangers look really neat! Next time I’m in the market for a plate hanger, I’ll consider buying from him (from your blog, of course! : )
I LOVE her! Can I adopt her? She is ADORABLE!!!
She is making your slipcover just like my sis does them!
Eleanor is doing a fabulous job.
I hope that I am like her when I grow up!!!
Love,
Kim
Rhoda. This is WONDERFUL! What a cutie is Grandma Eleanor. And how good of you to give her the opportunity to share her gift–not just with you, but with all of us as well!
I want to come to your house, stay in the Beachy guestroom, and snuggle up in Eleanor’s chair. Okey dokey?
She is just the cutest lady! (I love the pic you had of her and her dog!…you should put up a few more of those, so sweet!)
I think you’re right…it probably made her day to know she was needed. Whenever my grandmother visits, we always have projects for her too. The busier you are, the longer you live I think! 🙂
Rhoda,
I can’t wait to see the finished slip covered chair! Your Grandmother is one special, not to mention talented, lady!
Happy Saturday!
Oh, she is cute!!! My Nannie is 98 and has also been sewing all her life. Her legs are not as good as Grandma Eleanor’s though. 😉 Maybe I’ll ask Nannie to help me with a few projects when she’s here for my sister’s wedding….I can’t wait to see how your slipcover turns out!
I love Grandma Eleanor! She is wonderful – I would never believe her age if you hadn’t told us! She is doing a bang-up job on the slipcover.
She must be lying about her age. She looks too good! She has done a wonderful job but give yourself some credit too. Without you suggesting she help you out she would be bored still.