Made to Measure Sofa Covers: How They're Measured, Made and Fitted
"Made to measure" is printed on a lot of sofa covers these days. Some of them are measured by a person standing next to your sofa. Some are cut from a factory pattern for a particular model. And some are simply a standard size picked from a drop-down list. They aren't the same thing, and the difference shows the moment the cover goes on.
I've been making loose covers since I was 16, so for over 40 years. In this post I'll explain what a properly made to measure sofa cover is, how one is measured, patterned, sewn and fitted, and how to choose the right route for your own sofa. If you just want to see what we offer, our made to measure sofa covers page has the overview.
What "made to measure" should mean
A genuine made to measure cover is cut and sewn for one piece of furniture: yours. Not your model, not your size band. Your sofa, with its own quirks. Two sofas from the same range can differ after years of use. Cushions flatten, arms spread a little, and older pieces were often finished by hand in the first place.
So when you're comparing covers, ask one simple question: what is the cover actually made from? There are only three honest answers:
- The furniture itself. Someone measures and patterns your sofa in person. This gives the best fit of all.
- Your existing covers. If your sofa already has loose covers, they were cut for it, so they make an excellent pattern.
- Your own measurements. For simple shapes, careful measurements taken at home can be enough.
At Eeze Covers we offer all three, and every set is cut and sewn by hand in our Yorkshire workroom. We only make tailored covers. We don't make or sell stretch covers, and if you're weighing those up, I've written an honest comparison of stretch and tailored covers.
Step 1: Measuring and patterning
This is where the fit is won or lost.
With Tailor Made, our premium service, I come to your home and measure and pattern the furniture in person. A tape measure tells you how big a sofa is, but it doesn't tell you the shape. Patterning means working directly on the sofa: following the roll of an arm, the rake of the back and the curve where the inside arm meets the seat, and marking where every seam should fall. It's slow, careful work, and it's where experience counts most.
Tailor Made is the right choice when:
- The sofa has fixed upholstery and never came with loose covers. Covering fixed-upholstery sofas with loose covers is my speciality, and it's the craft I now teach to others through our online training.
- The piece is an antique or a one-off, where no pattern exists anywhere.
- The shape is unusual: scroll arms, wing backs, camel backs, deep curves or shaped cushions.
I cover homes across Yorkshire and the North, and travel further afield for larger orders.
With Copy Cover, your old covers do the job of the pattern. You post them to us from anywhere in the UK, or we can arrange collection. We copy every panel, so the new set matches the shape the originals were made to. For a matching suite, one chair's covers plus a measurement of the sofa is often enough for us to make the whole set. And don't worry about the parcel: a full set of covers folds down into a surprisingly small bundle.
With Measure Your Own, we send you a simple measurement chart for straightforward shapes. Ask us first whether your sofa suits it. If it doesn't, I'll tell you.
Step 2: Choosing your fabric
Because the cover is cut to the sofa rather than to a stock size, you aren't limited to one range. Almost any suitable furnishing fabric will work: plains, textures, velvets, chenilles, damasks, checks and patterns.
A few things I always talk through with customers:
- Use. A sofa that gets daily family use, or a dog, wants a hard-wearing weave. A rarely used front-room sofa can take something more delicate.
- Washing. If you'll want to wash the covers, choose a fabric that's suitable for it.
- Pattern. Large patterns, checks and stripes need matching across cushions and panels. Done well, they look superb. They just take more planning.
You can browse our recommended discount fabric stores, ask us to source a fabric for you, or send us your own. Email us and we'll send you our discounted fabric recommendations.
Step 3: Cutting and sewing
Once the pattern and the fabric are ready, the cover is cut panel by panel. Every piece is placed so the pile runs the right way, the pattern sits centrally on the back and cushions, and the stripes line up where they meet.
Then come the details that make a cover look tailored rather than draped:
- Piping is optional. It gives a crisp, traditional edge. Leaving it off gives a softer, more modern look.
- Valance style: a straight skirt, corner pleats, or no skirt at all.
- Fit: snug and tailored, or a little more relaxed.
If the cushions have gone flat, this is the time to sort them. We can add new cushion fillings or a fresh wrap when we make your covers, so the new set sits on a firm, full shape. Most people have the whole sofa or chair re-covered so everything matches, but we can make cushion covers on their own if that's all you need.
Your covers are usually ready in 2–4 weeks.
Step 4: Fitting
A made to measure cover should go on smoothly and stay put. No daily tucking, no sliding seat covers, no fabric creeping out of the gaps.
With Tailor Made, I come back to your home to fit the covers myself. I check every seam and every cushion on the sofa itself, so you see the finished result before I leave.
With Copy Cover and Measure Your Own, the covers come back to your door ready to fit. Because they've been made to the shape of your sofa, they go on the way the originals did. If anything puzzles you, ring me and I'll talk you through it.
Every set we make carries a lifetime workmanship guarantee. I stand behind every seam.
Which route suits your sofa?
| Your sofa | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Already has loose covers, such as most Multiyork and many Tetrad models | Copy Cover | Your old covers are the perfect pattern, posted from anywhere in the UK |
| Fixed upholstery, never had loose covers | Tailor Made | Needs patterning in person on the furniture |
| Antique, unusual shape or a one-off | Tailor Made | No pattern exists, so it has to be made on the piece |
| Simple, boxy shape and you're happy with a tape measure | Measure Your Own | Ask us first whether it's suitable |
Multiyork owners are a good example. The company has gone, but the furniture was built to last and most of it was designed with removable covers. A Copy Cover gives you a new set made from your old one, with no need for the maker's patterns. See our Multiyork loose covers page. Tetrad owners with a discontinued model, or who want a fabric outside Tetrad's range, are in the same position. Our Tetrad loose covers page explains more.
If your covers are simply worn out on a sofa that's still sound, read Replacement Sofa Covers: Keep the Sofa, Replace the Fabric. For a fuller look at our three services, see what we do.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between made to measure and made to order?
Made to order usually means a cover cut from a standard pattern for a particular model or size, once you've placed your order. Made to measure means it's cut for your actual sofa, from the furniture itself, your old covers or your measurements.
Do you come to my home?
Yes, with Tailor Made, our premium service. I measure and pattern in your home, make the covers, then come back to fit them. I cover homes across Yorkshire and the North, and further afield for larger orders. Copy Cover is UK-wide by post.
Can you make covers for a sofa that never had loose covers?
Yes. Covering fixed-upholstery sofas with loose covers is my speciality, done through our Tailor Made service.
Do I have to send all my old covers for a Copy Cover?
Not always. For a matching suite, one chair's covers plus a measurement of the sofa is often enough. We can arrange collection too.
How long do made to measure sofa covers take?
Usually 2–4 weeks.
Do you sell stretch covers?
No. We only make tailored covers, cut and sewn for your furniture.
Can I have just new cushion covers?
Yes. Most people re-cover the whole sofa or chair, but we can make cushion covers on their own, and add new fillings or a fresh wrap.
Talk to me about your sofa
Every sofa is different, so the best first step is a conversation. Tell me what you've got and I'll tell you honestly which route will give you the best fit.
Get Fabric Recommendations Email us and we'll send you our discounted fabric recommendations.
Get in touch Call 01484 976295 or 07760 777876, or email [email protected].
Owner and master tailor at Eeze Covers, Paul has been producing high quality, bespoke sofa slip covers for over 40 years. In this time, he has covered every shape, color and type of sofa. He is undaunted by difficult furniture and enjoys the challenge of covering awkward, complex or tricky types. Customers often compliment his work on tailored loose covers looks like genuine reupholstery.