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Sewing a slipcover for a curved piece of furniture can be challenging. Learn how to make a slipcover for this type of piece.

When I first saw this love seat it terrified me a little. Following the curves and making the back lay right was a challenging task compared to furniture that has straight lines.

It sat in the shop for two weeks before I decided to tackle it, all the way I whispered a prayer for wisdom.

Before you start this post you may be interested in some of my favorite sewing tools for slipcovers.

Chair Slipcover Class

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For the best outcome I decided to make templates for each section. The front had four sections and the back had four. All of the sections were wider at the top than at the bottom.

For the templates I use old scrap fabric, muslin or old sheets. Then I laid the template on the slipcover fabric and traced the lines. It is important to lay the template on the fabric following the grain line and making sure that it is not tilted to the bias.

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

Download the Intro to Slipcovers

Once all the front templates are made I pinned them together on the couch. This helps to know that you are following the right curvature. Then machine stitch.

Do the same thing the the back of the couch – piece together all four templates.

This love seat is symmetrical so the right and left arm section were the same size and the middle sections are the same. If you have used garment patterns you might be familiar with turning one pattern piece upside down to get a symmetrical piece for the left and right side of the body. This is the same concept.

When the back section is finished, sew on the piping.

However, note that I did not follow the exact line of the original upholstery.

Upholstery is different than slipcovers because the fabric can be pulled tightly around the top curve of the couch and be tacked down. The slipcover has nothing to hold it down so this look would not work. Instead I look for the natural lines of the furniture and make my seams there. This creates a smoother look.