The Slipcover Saga (Week 7-ORC)

Well, I ghosted the blog last week, and I’m so sorry about that, but I had good reason to. I was BUSY sewing my first ever large sewing project! A slipcover for our sectional. I know I’ve mentioned it a few times in past posts, and truthfully dreaded the process. I just didn’t think it was possible for a novice sewer like me to get the outcome I desired. Luckily, with the help of my husband, we were able to figure out a process that worked, and the final outcome was so much better than expected. I didn’t want to stop at sewing though. I wanted to dye the fabric to a more fitting color for the space. Enter the Rit Dye Experience. I sampled a few different color formulas, and ultimately settled on a single chocolate brown color. It was a deep brown with red undertones. Perfect for the space! So we purchased the amount of bottles we thought we’d need. Picked up a blow-up kiddie pool from target, and started the process of dyeing the slipcover. Maybe it was an omen, but just as we set up everything, a storm blew in. I was stubborn, and wanted to get the project done, so I could move on to other tasks, so we sat out on our porch, in the midst of a thunderstorm, and dyed the fabric. At about the 45 min. mark, we realized we hadn’t used the fixative, and having only one bottle I was hesitant to add it to the mix. Plus, I wasn’t even sure if that was when we should be using it! I was so exhausted at that point, that I went inside and got the bottle to add to the mixture. Maybe that was a mistake, because once we had the rinsed the fabric, and washed it in the washing machine, we took it out and found that the dye was splotchy. Like we dripped something along random parts of the fabric. I didn’t put the two together, but my husband did, and so we think the inadequate addition of the fixative caused the flaws. I was pretty put off of the project at that point, but my husband convinced me to give it another go. After all, the overall color wasn’t even as dark as I had intended it to be, so going darker may fix both issues. So now we are waiting on the bottles of dye to be delivered. I’m hoping I didn’t do all of that work to have something I’m deeply dissatisfied with as an outcome, but I’m trying to keep a good attitude about it right now, so thinking about the fact that it didn’t cost a whole lot, and that I got some sewing experience in the process make it all worth it no matter the outcome. UPDATE: The second dye job didn’t work out as we had hoped, but we are going to roll with what we have, while waiting for new fabric to be delivered. At some point in the near future it looks like I’ll be sewing another slipcover!

Here’s a look at the slipcover before we ruined it with dye. Ah, I wish I had left well enough alone.

I will say though, that I love sewing! Now that I understand it, and have a decent machine, the process is actually quite relaxing and enjoyable. I decided to use some leftover fabric to create a couple of seat cushions for our two chairs at the game table. They turned out even better than I had hoped! Be sure to check my Instagram Highlights to see how they turned out!

Sewing Products

(Affiliate links included.)

• BigDuck Cotton Canvas
• Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
• Upholstery Thread
• Fabric Shears
• Rotary Cutter
• Pins

This space is really coming together! Aside from the slipcover color disaster, I think it’s going to be a really nice space in the end. I’ll be tying up all the loose ends this next week, I hope, and will be ready to share for the big reveal next week!

I’ll have even more posts to share about the space after the reveal. So much went into making this space what it has become, and I feel like I need to take the time to really spell it all out for y’all here on the blog. I hope you’ll visit again to see it all!

Be sure to visit the One Room Challenge Blog for more space updates! Enjoy, friends!