Wool Slipcover Tips

Selection

• Wool slip covers can be made from woven fabric or from knit fabric. Woven wool slipcovers offer good coverage, since the fabric is dense. They are a good choice for a sofa with a strong pattern on the upholstery or for covering a dark colored sofa with a light colored cover. Knit wool slipcovers do not provide the same degree of coverage as woven ones do, but the fabric is much more flexible, so it will work well for unusually shaped furniture. Choose a wool slipcover that matches your decor, will cover the existing fabric without showing through, and that will fit your furniture.

Installation

• Slip covers are applied to a sofa or chair starting at the back and then pulling the cover down over the arms and seat. For a woven wool slipcover, the center of the slipcover should be aligned with the center back of the sofa before you try to pull it over the seat and arms. Woven wool is not flexible, so centering it perfectly is the key to getting a good fit. Once the cover is on the piece, use a wooden spoon or other round implement to push the wool into the crevices of the furniture to ensure good fit. When you are happy with the fit, mist the slipcover with water to set it in place. Wool has a memory, and the water will lock it into position so your slipcover won't shift around.

Care

• Spot clean your wool slipcover using a wool wash or other rinse-free cleaner. If you need to clean the entire slipcover, hand wash it or take it to a dry cleaner. Never put a wool slipcover into the washer and dryer at home; doing so will cause it to shrink to about half of its original size.