Please help me make a cover for my Ektorp sofa?

polkadot

I was given one of the old Ektorp sofa beds last year-one of the large 2 seater ones that are now discontinued.

When we got it was fairly grubby looking with no cover-now its very grubby with no cover. Ive been trying to get hold of the right cover but at £140 I may aswell buy a new couch (a thing Id love to do but dont have the money for).

Im okay on my sewing machine but am pretty useless when it comes to making patterns and wondered if someone here could help please? I know it would be a matter of "drawing around the shapes of the sofa" but then have issues with things like seam allowances:o

Owain_Moneysaver

Any local colleges offer upholstery classes?

ormus

http://www.threadbanger.com/decorityourself/episode/DEC_20080506

half an inch is the norm for the seam allowance.
you can goto an inch if you wanna be extra safe.

loracan1

I've got an old sofa I'm in a mind to recover sometime - there are a few sites that give tips about it, one being that making up a pattern from some cheap muslin is a plan.

I do know someone who got an ektorp 2-seater earlier this year, he bought a spare cover at the time but also has a couple of throws on it too - same colour as the sofa and they look ok too.

pimento

A couple of ideas:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/660147

http://www.ikeafans.com/forums/workspaces/12320-any-patterns-self-made-slipcovers.html

polkadot

Thanks for the ideas... head is definitely starting to tick now

loracan1

Google 'slipcovers' for more ideas!

dander

Do you still have the original cover? In a similar situation, I carefully unpicked the old covers and used the pieces to make a pattern for a new cover.

If you can figure out the size and shape of the finished pieces, you shouldn't need to worry about specific seam allowances, just mark out your stitching lines onto pieces of fabric, stitch along them and then trim the seams to a neat size.

polkadot

dander wrote: »

Do you still have the original cover? In a similar situation, I carefully unpicked the old covers and used the pieces to make a pattern for a new cover.

If you can figure out the size and shape of the finished pieces, you shouldn't need to worry about specific seam allowances, just mark out your stitching lines onto pieces of fabric, stitch along them and then trim the seams to a neat size.

Unfortunately it was given to us without a cover

Becles

Is there an Ikea near you?

I was in one the other day and noticed there were heavily reduced sofa covers in bins dotted around the sofa displays. I can't remember the names or colours though. You might pick up a bargain if you visit your local store.

polkadot

Becles wrote: »

Is there an Ikea near you?

I was in one the other day and noticed there were heavily reduced sofa covers in bins dotted around the sofa displays. I can't remember the names or colours though. You might pick up a bargain if you visit your local store.

Thank you-unfortunately this one has been discontinued-so I can only get the covers from those sites that bought stock from Ikea when they announced the discontinuation and now sell the items at exorbitant prices.