Butterfly Chair Covers

About butterfly chairs
Butterfly chairs are made out of metal (generally aluminum) and they most often fold up for easy storage. Most covers for these chairs have flaps that slide over the bends in the metal to form the seat.

Materials:

butterfly chair
tape measure
2-1/2 yards of two different colors of durable cloth
four yards of fabric bias or twill tape
McCall's chair cover pattern
scissors
pins
needles
thread
iron
twill tape

Steps:

1. Measure the distance between the upper arms at the widest point (back width).

2. Measure the distance between the lower arms (front width).

3. Cut out the pattern pieces and fabric pieces.

4. With right sides together, stitch both back pieces (the part that your back rests against) of the front of the cover together along the center.

5. After sewing the seams, finish the seams with twill tape or stay tape the length of the seam line.

6. Baste the tape to the seam line, placing it 1/8 inch into the seam allowance (figure A).

7. With right sides together, stitch both seat pieces together along the center (figures B and C).

8. Stitch the back to the seat, right sides together, matching notches and seams.

9. Make the under panel solid out of one of the coordinating colors of fabric.

10. For each flap, sew the two flaps right sides together, along the straight edge, matching notches and colors. Turn right side out and press.

11. Baste the raw edges.

12. Lay the flaps on the right side of the front cover, matching the notches, colors, and raw edges. Baste these in place.

13. Pin the solid under panel to the front cover, right sides together, matching notches and seams.

14. Sew the layers together.

15. Sew a second reinforcing seam along the edges where the flaps are.

16. Leave about two inches, not sewn, on the side.

17. Clip the curves and turn the cover right side out.

18. Slip stitch or machine sew the two-inch opening closed. Sew as closely to the edge as possible so that the stitching isn't too noticable.

19. Add embellishments such as iron-ons, embroidery, rickrack and fabric paint to match room the decor.