Slipcover -- Tips and Tricks

So I mentioned earlier this week that I am using Miss Mustard Seed's tutorial to slipcover my massive pink sectional.  I am almost done with the body of the couch and just need to whip up some pillows as I am covering each couch cushion separately.  I am loving the result and would be able to sew this much faster if I wasn't this pregnant or if Dexter was still in Mother's Day Out. Sitting on a hard floor while your hips are separating and your 2 year old toddler tries to "help" you with each pin really slows down your progress.
You will have to wait for the full reveal later this week/weekend, but I had to share a few tips and tricks I have learned in the process.

• A lot of the comments said the 9'X15' 8oz drop cloths from Home Depot were the best as they didn't have seams...but all of mine had them.  I was able to work around them for the most part, but just be forewarned.
• Be sure and look at your drop cloths closely when you buy them.  I bought one that is noticeably darker than the others.  I of course didn't notice until I was laying it all out and just decided I didn't care.  It isn't that much darker, but if you really look, you can tell.  ***ALSO - I went to buy a 4'X9' cloth to finish up a few odds and ends and ended up having to buy another full 9'X15' because the color difference was so dramatic.  The smaller one was much more brown than the larger one.  So look carefully, especially if you buy them in batches like I did.
• Instead of bleaching the cloths 3 times like Miss Mustard Seed suggests, I just soaked the cloths for 30min in a wash containing about 3 cups of bleach, then ran a 2nd wash with oxyclean, a cup of bleach, and detergent.  I plan to "neutralize" the bleach with peroxide when I wash the whole slipcover again since I forgot when washing these the first time.

• I broke out the pinking shears and trimmed up all my seams with these guys.  Because you rip the fabric to get it to size (a GREAT time saver), it unravels much more than normal.  I had thread balls everywhere and they were always getting knotted around the fabric while I sewed, so I decided to pinking shear every seam, even though it was boring and made my hand cramp.  I know I will be so thankful I have done this each time I wash the slipcover...which, with 2 little boys running around, I am sure I will do often.

 

•  In the tutorial for attaching the skirt, she puts the slipcover on inside out (how you pin for the rest of the pieces) and then does this weird flip to attach the cording (you can see this about halfway through video #6).  It didn't make a lot of sense to me, so I just put the slipcover on right sides out (just as it will look when finished) and pinned the piping on with the raw edges facing the same direction.  I then used the remote, a super precise method, to make sure the piping was at the same height all the way around. 
• When I added the pleated skirt, I just pleated it as I sewed.  I don't have a picture of it, but will get one tonight and update this post.  It saved a HUGE amount of time (no need to go back and re-fit the slipcover on the couch and, most importantly for my 35 week pregnant self, no need to crawl around on the floor pinning!).  I'll show you my super precise (ha) method for the pleats soon.

Seriously...if you have sewn a little in the past, you can do this!!  It has surprised me how easy it is.  I am so happy with the results and know it will be much more versatile for the future.

When I do the final reveal I'll let you know how much it cost total (under $200) with a full list of supplies.