Make Do and Mend

Hepburneyes

Hi Mellika,

This is my 1st ever post on MSE (have been a OS lurker for over a year!) so please bear with me!!!

I made some really simple covers for sofas a few years back. Imade them from a free pattern from prima magazine. Sadly i don't have it anymore, but I can recall how to make them & hope I can explain it for you!!!

It basically resembled an oversized sheet that was fitted to the sofa with ties on the corners, at the back & at the arms just above where the seat cushions are.

Thet were made from 3 pieces of fabric seamed together. measure your sofa from left/right side at bottom of arm, over the arm down towards seat cushion, tuck t/measure down in between arm and cushion as if tucking in a blanket, leave tucked in part there and carryon measuring across cushions (tucking in between them as necessary) measure over other arm and down to the floor. This is your width measurement (A) allow extra for hem allowance either side.

Next measure front of sofa from floor over to the back of seat cushion and tuck in. this is (B). A x B = Piece 1

Next measure from tuck in, up back cushion to just over the back beyond where eye will see seam(top of sofa). this is(C) A x C= piece2

Measure from top of back to floor at back of sofa (D)

a x d = piece 3.

Remember to add seam and hem allowance to your measurements!

Now sew 1 to 2 @ A then 3 to 2 at opposite side to which you have just sewn and hem all the way around. Place cover on sofa with 1 @ front on seats, 2 @ back and3 on back of sofa and tuck into cushions etc. now use either ties made from same fabric or matching ribbon(use as wide as poss.) to gather fabric at arm and at back corners of sofa at same level as arms. stitch ties in place!!

Hope this makes sense!! you could also adapt you bedspread to fit in the same way and add ties to that!

Hope that helps x

Mellika

Hepburneyes wrote: »

Hi Mellika,

This is my 1st ever post on MSE (have been a OS lurker for over a year!) so please bear with me!!!

< ... >

Hope this makes sense!! you could also adapt you bedspread to fit in the same way and add ties to that!

Hope that helps x

I'm so flattered that you registered just for me! *wipes tear*

Thanks for the explanation. Does not make much sense to me, what with English not being my first language and knowing zilch about sewing... But I will print this page out and ask my MIL to explain it to me. I'm sure this is the answer to my problem.

So a big THANK YOU to you, and hope this is the start of a very active posting career for you

pigpen

buxtonrabbitgreen wrote: »

I have a comfortable old 2 seater sofa that needs re covering too. I keep looking at new sofas but can't afford one. I was wondering whether to bite the bullet and take the cover apart and use it as a pattern to make a new one. It is very worn particularly on the arms and though I have sewn them up a few times there is now nothing to sew to.

Scrounge some old broadsheet newspapers (or other cheap/free paper/dead bedsheets etc) and pin them to the outside of the sofa and use them as pattern pieces.. cut them to the seams on the sofa.. don't forget to add 1.5cm all the way round for seams.. I have a chair to do

for bits that zip on to the body unpick the top piece which you see and stitch it to the back piece which you dont.. saves faffing replacing zips etc.

My SIL didn't sew hers together.. she got an upholstry stapler and stapled the fabric .. worked for her.. and her 4 children.

moanymoany

When my dd was born I discovered that the mattress in the pram was perfect to use an ordinary pillowcase. It was great, they fit perfectly, I could simply turn it over to get the use of the other side and I had lots of them as they were cheap and were useful after.

moanymoany

One place that is worth looking at for bedding is TKMaxx. I got a 600 thread duvet and pillowcases and it feels wonderful. I can't remember how much, but much cheaper than BHS for an inferior quality poly/cotton.

buxtonrabbitgreen

Thanks Pigpen. but I have sorted it out for now. I went into Harveys, they have a sale on and bought a really nice pair of arm covers for £1.50. I really don't think I could make them that cheap and I certainly couldn't embrodier flowers. I noticed there was a patch of spare material by the label. I don't know why it hadn't registered before as I have washed it loads of times. I have cut that off and bought some wondaweb to stick under the worst spots. So with that and the arm covers it should be good for a few more years, as the rest of the covers are ok. The zips are all broken on the cushions but that doesn't really matter as they don't show.

buxtonrabbitgreen

pigpen wrote: »

Scrounge some old broadsheet newspapers (or other cheap/free paper/dead bedsheets etc) and pin them to the outside of the sofa and use them as pattern pieces.. cut them to the seams on the sofa.. don't forget to add 1.5cm all the way round for seams.. I have a chair to do

for bits that zip on to the body unpick the top piece which you see and stitch it to the back piece which you dont.. saves faffing replacing zips etc.

My SIL didn't sew hers together.. she got an upholstry stapler and stapled the fabric .. worked for her.. and her 4 children.

I will keep the upholstery stapler in mind. I like the no sewing idea. I wouldn't be able to wash the covers then though. I would have to get a darker coulour.

FairyElephant_2

I just 'rescued' an old bikini-top which I loved, but couldn't wear 'cos the plastic clip at the back to do it up was broken, and one of the strap 'thingies' that you adjust the length with (sure they must have a proper name!) was also broken.

I had another top where the elasticity in the fabric had gone (too much swimming in chlorinated water I suspect), so cut off the back fastener and sewed it to my fave one - it is a little larger than the original, but sure no-one will notice! The strap I adjusted to the right length and just stitched it in place, and did the other side in case that 'thingy' breaks too.

Off on my hols on Sat, and now I can wear my fave bikini again!

Lalaladybird

Lets be really frugal this year and make do and mend....


Knit a scarf/blanket to use up bits of wool

Cut up Christmas cards to make gift tags

Keep any gift bags or ribbons for next years presents

Save tin cans to grow herbs in

Penelope_Penguin

Great idea :T We can also recycle an older thread on this exact topic

Enjoy :j

Penny. x