First Attempt- Slip cover.

This couch...see it's lovely shiny plastic glory in the back?  

And how I tried to mend the arm here?

Which did not go as planned at all and I ended up patching it with brown felt until I get another 

brilliant idea on how to deal with a hole in rattan.

Sitting on a plastic couch in winter isn't a big deal. Besides being a little more

squeaky, and random fart noises if you're barefoot, it's pretty comfy.  

Sitting on this couch in the summer will not be as pleasant.

This is the start of a slip cover I'm doing myself.  It's especially difficult because the back of the couch frame isn't solid.

see? about 6 of these opening to deal with.

Did I say I've never slipcovered anything before? 

I traced the cushion back 

over muslin in chalk, then used those pieces for the pattern.

It's not as form fitting as I would like. I think that has to do with the plastic still being on.

Essentially I traced the plastic, and not the actual couch, and the 

fabric is sliding around on top of the plastic. 

Which if fine, because there is no way that plastic is going to come off.

Pretty sure those cushions would disintegrate if I did!

Next I'll tackle the seat cushions. Piping anyone?

Cross Stitching a Couch

Couch

by: D.B.

I have inherited a much beloved couch.

It is covered in plastic.

My feet can touch the floor.

Pink and fuzzy with roses.

I will have to look up why there is horse hair peeking out from underneath.

Did I mention it has rattan?

Here is the hole in the side arm. It's been there for over 30 years. Picked at by little fingers.

This couch sits in our living room, and we use everyday. It should really sit in a formal living room, or somewhere that you can look at it, but not touch because we have picky little fingers at our house too.

I was wondering how I can fix this myself, fast, and cheap, without causing too much destruction.

Staring at the rattan, it kind of reminded me of cross stitch fabric. Oooh, how cool if I could embroider the whole arm!

I found this link on my poppet: How to cross stitch a chair.

It was really cool, but that chair doesn't have a big whole in it.

Here's me showing you the back, but 

I really want you to see my Elvis bust. Can you 

believe someone was actually throwing a pair of these

away??!!

Here's the test cross stitch. I imagine great textures happening once it's done. 

I think I'm going to have to buy the sheet of rattan chair webbing and patch the hole before I can continue. I don't think I can replace the whole panel, that seems too daunting, and this isn't a chair seat I can just flip over.

Any ideas?