Simple Upholstery & Slipcovers: Great New Looks For Every Room [Paperback]

Carol Parks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1997

Using basic tools and techniques, you can make more than 50 fabulous projects. “Helpful regardless of your sewing skills.”—Country Sampler’s Decorating Ideas. “From simple slipcovers to tailored reupholstery, your skills will increase as your decor is transformed.” —Country Almanac. “Idea-packed....this book will serve you well.”—Country Decorating Ideas.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Beginning with coverage of the basics--fabric types and characteristics, welting and trims, tools, cutting and sewing directions--this book offers solid information on using upholstery to transform the look of a room. From the simplest additions (pillows and loose coverings) to the more complex pieces (tailored slipcovers and reupholstery), the projects are well explained and appealing, and include interesting variations such as incorporating decorative buttons and ties or upholstering a table. In addition to detail photos of work in progress, several full-room photos offer ideas for coordinating the total look of a room. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Instead of dashing out to buy new furniture, it is once again in vogue to change the look of sofas and chairs with slipcovers. This manual explains basic terminology, measuring techniques, and how certain fabrics are easier to handle when sewing cushions or stitching cover-ups. Beginners will certainly be challenged by a variety of difficult projects, but Parks also shows charming, simple ways to transform chairs, stools, and ottomans with appealing loose-fitting covers. Advanced methods, such as reupholstering a classic wing chair, are shown in photographs that clearly illustrate the necessary stages in the process, from stripping old covers to padding, cutting, fitting, and stapling on new material. Alice Joyce --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (December 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806981598
• ISBN-13: 978-0806981598
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,072,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple to the Complicted and easy to read and actually do, May 9, 2001

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Simple Upholstery & Slipcovers: Great New Looks For Every Room (Paperback)

Some people get books like this because they want to see how things are done but rarely do they actually do a project. I on the otherhand am a doer and not just a looker. This book makes doing it easier.

Just over 140 pages long this is a book that really gave me the step by step info on how to both make slipcovers which are a European maindstay as well as how to redo upholdtery of chairs and sofas.

The authors covers everything from what type of fabric to use to preparing it ahead of time re: washing and sizing. On pages 56-66 she gives a step by step with photos instructions on how to do a slipcover for a couch that is of sound construction.

Pages 67 thru 71 a club chair is redone. But it is the tailored slipcovers starting on page 73 which I can do and do well. The Quick Tied cover for a chair on 87 is just perfect for those of us who live the casual California lifestyle or for someone in a small cottage on Marthas Vineyard.

The book covers Materials; Tools and Equipment; Cushions and Pillows; Simple Coverups; Making a Tailored Slipcover; Tailored Slipcover Projects; Quick Upholstery; Reuposletring a Chair; Upoholstery Projects. The issues of padding and stuffing, webbing, tying spring cord, threads, zippers, tacks, welt, sewing and sizing are all covered.

See if your library has the book. Then take your time, and plan well and measure twice and cut once and pin and baste and you will discover that you not only can redo your own furniture but have fun and probably save money as well.

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a beginners book, February 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Simple Upholstery & Slipcovers: Great New Looks For Every Room (Paperback)

Unless you have a good working experience of pattern-making, this book probably isn't where you want to begin. The author has assumed a level of expertise that is beyond a very beginner. The ideas are inspiring and it does have some fun ideas, especially in re-building the shape of furniture. But if you need to start from Square-1 then keep looking for a book that will teach you more of the basics. If, however, you are an accomplished seamstress, it won't be difficult for you to have a lot of fun with this book. You can fill in the blanks with some upholstery Q&A websites on-line.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars useful and well-illustrated, June 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Simple Upholstery & Slipcovers: Great New Looks For Every Room (Paperback)

It's quite a practical book. As a professional make of loose covers I am always looking for new techniques, well illustrated. I didn't agree with all the methods, but on the whole, a useful book.