Couch Update

Baby Hans with the Arm Rest in Progress

Pinned Corner Piece

My mother so graciously volunteered some of her prized Mothers' Day time to help me with our ongoing couch project. It was short, but productive and, as always, a great time to chat during her last few days on the Mainland. We shaped the second cover for the smaller seat cushion. As with the larger seat cushion, we needed to shape the upholstery fabric around a notch in the cushion. It worked best for us to cut a diagonal line and add a triangular piece to fill in the corner that conveniently hides underneath the cushion. That will keep the fabric from bunching too much around the notch and look better from the top. My task this week is to sew it where we pinned the fabric. 

After tackling the seat cushions, the other main hurdle that remained was the oddly-shaped arm rests. "This is not your conventional sewing project... not by the book, per se," Mom reminded me. "Next time I'll teach you to sew from a pattern." Well, I'm glad we can figure these not-so-normal projects out anyway! We flung our cut piece of fabric over the first arm rest and decided to try successive folds. And it worked on the first run! Mom showed me how to stich the gathers where they come together to hold all of them in place. Then, she taught me to do running stitches by hand to keep each pleat folded nicely until it hits the sewing machine. We did the same for the other arm rest, but folded it in the opposite direction. 

The Arm Rests with Running Stitches

It looks like we covered the most difficult parts of this homemade couch cover. Phew. That means I can probably do the final touches on my own if we don't finish before my mom leaves (in less then 2 weeks!). I couldn't have done it without her! Thanks, Mom, for letting me glean from your sewing knowledge for this unconventional project! 

To Do: 

1. Finish sewing the seat cushion pieces

2. Order sheet clips for underneath the seat cushions 

3. Sew over running stitches on arm rests

4. Start working on the bottom panels

5. Finish all the pillow covers (2 down, 6 to go)