Recliner slipcovers are challenging though not impossible. Once you learn the basics of slipcovers you can do them as well.

Recliner slipcovers may seem like a daunting task because of all the moving parts. It would be annoying to have to constantly retuck the fabric every time you move the chair into the recline position. This recliner has four main pieces. Two arms, the back, and the cushion.

The cushion you can easily construct similar to the bench cushion cover post that I shared last week. This cushion for the recliner does not need a new insert but just a new cushion cover.

For slipcovers make a muslin template for the arm covers to get the exact shape and the replicate on the opposite arm.

Then the arms can be made. First I start by making a muslin template.

One template will have to be made this way and then flip the muslin over and trace another one. This way you will have one for the right arm of the chair and one for the left.

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After you cut the template it will need to have welting attached. You can make your own welting by sewing bias strips together and filling it will this cotton cord. You will also need to make a muslin template for the rest of the arm. There are several darts in the back because of the curvature of the arm. Then the arm will close in the back with a zipper.

The slipcover arm covers of the recliner have zippers down the back for snug fit.

Slipcovers can be a beautiful way to enhance your home. Check out some of my projects for your own slipcover inspiration.

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The back is a bit tricky as you can see in the pictures below .

For a recliner slipcover trace the front of the seat back and add welting just like on the original chair.

First make a template the shape of the front, you will be tracing the exact shape onto your fabric but then will need to leave a bit of extra fabric on the bottom to go between the hinges and velcro up the back. For this on I left about 18″ to tuck.

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The image below shows how to tuck the fabric through the hinges. It will then velcro to another piece of the slipcover to hold it tight. Sew on velcro can be found on amazon.

A recliner can be challenging to slipcover, make the back piece the tuck under the hinges and velcro on the back.

If you look at an upholstered recliner you will see that the back usually velcros at the bottom and then velcros underneath. The slipcover is going to use the same pieces of velcor already on the chair. I did have to cut off the orignal back panel (the old fabric) so that it wouldn’t get in the way of the new fabric.