How to Make Chair Back Covers

How to Make Fabric Chair Back Covers for Kitchen or Dining Room Chairs

On a recent trip to JoAnns Fabrics, I came across a turquoise and white fabric. When picking it up to get a closer look, I knew immediately what I was going to do with it. Luckily, it was on sale and I didn’t even have to use a coupon.

DIY chair back covers in turquoise and white on dining chairs in dining room

I bought it to make chair back runners for my hand-me-down dining room chairs.

Making chair back runners are an easy-to-make alternative to full-blown slipcovers and can be made the no-sew way if you don’t have a sewing machine.

The name of the fabric is Akron-Panorama in Surf. It is a Mill Creek Fabric.

I brought in some yummy pink peonies and one of my new boxwood globes to add some contrast and interest.

I love the mix of colors against the painted white and wood furniture.

I made the white knotted-back slipcovers that are under the chair back runners two years ago. I have a tutorial on how I made them – Simple Slipcovers

I didn’t want to make new slipcovers, just add an accent of color to go with the bench I painted turquoise before the holidays.

Making these runners is quick and easy. I sewed them, but they could be made using fuse or fabric glue if you don’t sew.

Instructions-on-how-to-make-chair-slipcovers

I simply placed a runner over each chair and tucked the back behind the knot in the slipcover. If I decide to remove the white slipcovers –

I could simply add ribbon ties to each side of the runner so that I could tie them onto the chairs.

Sew-or-No-Sew-Chair-Back-Runner-with-Ties

I used ribbon, but you could make ties from the fabric.

How To Make Dining Room Chair Back Fabric Runners

supplies needed:

Fabric – enough to cover the chair back and front, plus an extra inch all around to create a hem and finished edges.
Ribbon in a coordinating color: 4 – 14-inch long pieces
Scissors
Thread or fabric glue or iron-on adhesive
Iron