Step 3: Finish with a Tailored Skirt

glossary

A tailored skirt is the finishing touch to your slipcover. There is enough No-Sew Seam Tape in your No-Sew Slipcover Kit to make this style of skirt. You can dress things up even more with a formal center pleat. You can also make an elegant ruffled skirt using the No-Sew Gathered Skirt Kit.

All you need is a sheet and an iron. You'll cut strips from the length side (selvage edge) of the sheet so the skirt will match the cover. Simply cut 12" strips and seam the strips together. Hem the bottom edges and in mere minutes, you're done!

Measuring and Cutting

• The strips that will be seamed to the correct length for your skirt should be cut 12 inches wide so that when you hem the edges, the finished width is a perfect 11 inches. A reminder, these strips are cut along the length of the sheet so it will match the cover. Take the time to look at this again so you get the direction of the fabric right. It never hurts to double check!
  
  
• Measure the distance around the sofa. Add 6 inches for the back overlap that will close at one of the back corners. Add 1" for each seam required for seam allowance.

If you need seams follow this chart: A=side of furniture plus 6" overlap B=front C=other side D=back of furniture Otherwise, seams might fall in an unattractive place.

• If you are doing a center pleat, add an additional 8 inches to the B measurement.

Making the Tailored Skirt

• Bond the panels together with reinforced seams using the No-Sew Seam Tape (just like you did making the slipcover) to create the final skirt length.
  
  
• Hem all the outer cut edges with the No-Sew Seam Tape, just as you did finishing the edges of the cover.

Congratulations! You have made a beautiful tailored skirt! It's that easy!

Here's How to Make a Center Box Pleat

A box pleat is a pleat that is even on both sides. The creases that make the pleat are on the right side of the fabric. The folded fabric is in the back. The pleat should always be at the center front of the skirt! Remember, you need 8 more inches of skirt in the center B section to make a box pleat.

Make the skirt as instructed above. Now, you'll make the center pleat, one side at a time.

With the right side of the skirt facing up, find the center front point in the skirt and pin it to an ironing surface. This is in the B section of the skirt.

• Measure out 2 inches on both sides of the center front of the skirt and mark with either a pencil mark or two straight pins. Cut a 4-inch piece of No-Sew Seam Tape and press adhesive side down between the two marks you just made. The pin at the center front will be in the middle. Remove paper tape from 2 inches on one side to the center only (where the middle pin is). The paper stays on the remaining 2-inch section of the tape.
  
  
• Fold the skirt 2 inches over the one side that has the adhesive exposed (the wrong side of the fabric will be on top now) and press. You have made the inside of the pleat on that side.
  
  
• Place a 2-inch strip of No-Sew Seam Tape along the top edge of the pleat from the fold to the center where you have the pin. This will be on the wrong side of the fabric. Press the No-Sew Seam Tape in place. Remove paper and press again. You have completed the first side of the pleat.
  
  
• Repeat this process on the other side.

Hey, you just made a center pleat worthy of a professional! Pat yourself on the back!