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A Dropcloth Slipcover for an Old Bench

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      Here is the AFTER picture of the Dropcloth Slipcover that I recently made for a very outdated old bench.  I began this post with an after pic to draw you in . . . mostly because I was afraid that if I showed you the BEFORE pic first you might be scared away!

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Here is the BEFORE.  I’m ashamed to admit that this shabby (not in the good sense) little bench has been living in my master bedroom.  The trim has been a wreck since Sasha was a puppy (ummm . . . 5-1/2 years ago?), the color is no longer to my liking, nor the floral satin fabric.  So why have I kept it?  It is the little bench that catches stray articles of clothing and mail that needs recycling.  It is the bench that hides the electronics charging underneath.  It is the bench where my husband sits to slip on his shoes (when there is room to sit).  This bench is also a perfect match to my outdated bedroom which I have great plans for making over.  Maybe this transformation will be the first step.
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So here is how I made a new dropcloth slipcover for my old bench. After disposing of the trim (no, it wasn’t EVEN fit for a future project) I measured the length and width of the old fabric cover and cut my dropcloth fabric to the same size.

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 I laid my fabric over the bench, lined it up straight, and pinned the corners, pulling the fabric taut.

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I sewed along the line of the pins and trimmed close to the seam.

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After turning the slipcover right side out and placing it back onto the bench I measured the bottom edge of the fabric along each side.  For the ruffles I tore (for a frayed edge) four  – 4″ strips of fabric, each one double the length of the side it would be attached to.  I sewed a long basting stitch  along the long edge of each strip, and  pulled the thread to gather to fit each of the four sides, matching the seams in the ruffle to the seams at the four corners of the slipcover.  Next, I sewed the four strips together along their short edges and then sewed the whole ruffle to the bottom edge of the slipcover .  Why four strips instead of one long strip?  First of all, there were going to be a couple of seams somewhere since the doubled circumference of the bottom edge of the slipcover was much longer than my fabric.  Secondly, it is tricky to pull gathers in a very long strip and even trickier if the fabric is thick.  I didn’t want to risk breaking my thread and losing my gather.

(Sorry, no pictures were taken for this step because everyone knows how to make a ruffle, right?)

After attaching one ruffle I decided I wanted a second one so I repeated the process except with 7″ strips so the bottom ruffle would peek out from beneath the top ruffle. 

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Just for fun I added a French graphic from The Graphics Fairy website, which I ironed on with transfer paper.

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For a final touch I added some handmade dropcloth rosettes around the top of the ruffles. (Rosette tutorial HERE)1-Slipcover redo for little bench 003

3-Slipcover redo for little bench 013I’ve enjoyed using drop cloth fabric for projects around my home.  My first experience with this fabric was my Drop Cloth Draperies which have been one of my top viewed projects.  I’ve also made pillows, and hand bags (which you can see on my Pinterest “Stuff I Sell” Board.  I have a whole list of other great ideas for dropcloths that I want to try in the future.  This fabric is great because it is inexpensive, washable (I always pre-wash my fabric), it has the look of linen but it irons up much easier and crisper looking, and it tears nicely leaving a great frayed edge that doesn’t continue to fray.

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Once my bench was finished I decided it was just too cute to be used as a catchall in my bedroom any longer and I took her along with me to the French Flea . . . 
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 . . . where she went off to a very good and very stylish new home.

So, have you tried using dropcloth fabric for any projects around your house?  What have you made?  I’d love to hear about it.

Blessings,

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Comments

  1. Gorgeous, you did a magnificent job, you are soo very talented, I truly love it! I’m sure she’s dressing a beautiful room somewhere. Maybe you should make another for yourself, lol! Thank you for your sweet and kind comment. Enjoy your weekend.
    FABBY

    Reply

  2. Hi Patti! Very supercute bench!! I haven’t made anything from dropcloth fabric yet but I’m inspired now. Thank you for sharing. Really enjoy your blog.
    Blessings,
    Linda, Chino Valley, AZ.

    Reply

  7. Hi Patti, so nice to meet you today! Thanks for visiting me. I love what you did with this, especially the rosettes. I never would have thought of that, but what a great touch that was. You sold it?! Good for you, but I don’t know if I could’ve parted with it! Looking forward to seeing tomorrow at the We Call It Olde Link-Up. Take care – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin

    Reply

  12. Hi from your newest follower on G+, Twitter and bloglovin! Your pinterest link wasnt working, so I will try to come back and add that later. I just LOVE this slipcover. I wish I could do this to my couch! Come on by tonight at 8pm, as we are having a linky party as well! See you there!

    Reply

  21. This looks gorgeous – I haven’t used drop cloth – it looks so soft and shabby! From what I’ve read, you do better by sharing the best picture first – so great job! 🙂
    I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    Reply

  26. Your little bench was so awesome, loved the ruffles and rosettes and the barley twist legs. I’m surprised you could let her go. Lucky person that bought it. I’d loved to have been the one to buy her. She was so different, perfect.
    I love using drop cloth fabric, so easy to sew with, love to tear strips and how they look. I use it often to make my table runners and especially for pillow covers. I would love to make a cover like you did. You are a great seamstress. I want to make curtains for our bedroom and stencil on them. That’s been in my mind since I saw some curtains that had been made that way, have to make them myself. Really something to look forward to. Happy weekend

    Reply

  28. Looks fabulous!!!
    I wanted to invite you to the {Handmade Café} Link Party, the new and very unique linky! I hope you’ll join us and link up. You will meet many exceptional international crafters/bloggers!

    The party goes on till Oct. 14th.

    Oksana @ Oksana Plus Hobbies
    http://oksanalikesit.blogspot.com/

    Reply

  29. So gorgeous!! You’ve been featured from Give Me The Goods! You’ll also be on my FB page this morning 😉
    Hugs,
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

    Reply

  30. I love your new drop cloth slipcover! Nicely done as always! You are one of the fan favorites at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on over and grab a feature button. Here is the link to this week’s Sunday Showcase. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-showcase-from-make-it-pretty.html Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash tomorrow! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Reply

  38. I Love it!!!! I have an old ottoman that I am going to do this on.
    Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful ideal 🙂

    Reply

  40. What a beautiful job! I did one but not as nice as yours, i just took the staple gun, tucked the fabric around the corners properly and stapled to the bottom of the little stool. After seeing yours, i think I’ll try again with the skirting also.
    C

    Reply

  41. After looking at your projects, I just had a thought of trying to make a bedskirt with drop cloth.

    Reply

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