WHAT'S INSIDE?   Page 1 "Show Off" Your Slipcovers in Baltimore Page 2  Professional In The Spotlight   Page 3 Pros Look at Foam For Cushions   Page 4  Slipcover Teacher Training   Page 5  The National Slipcover Pricelist Survey Slipcover Network Fee Increase 3rd Annual Slipcover Summit   Page 6 Vendor Spotlight    Page 7      Page 8 Calendar      (You can click on most of the graphics for larger views. This site is on one page so if the bookmarks above don't work for you, simply scroll down.)

Page 1

 

RICHARD'S

FABRIC CREATIONS

 

Ellicott City, Maryland

www.FabricSlipcovers.com

e-mail at FabricSlipovers@comcast.net

Born in Argentina, Buenos Aires in 1953 and moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1965. Richard is married to Sue and has twin girls 10 years old, Stefanie and Victoria.

Richard started working in slipcovers as a summer job in 1972 to help pay for college. His major in college was architectural drafting, but didn't finish.  In 1974 he  joined the Air Force and became a jet engine technician working on the C- 5 Galaxy, 1 years active, 6 years reserve. During this time he learned to fly. He has owned a single engine aircraft since 1975. ( Piper, 1966 Cherokee 140 )

Richard first learned how to cut vinyl (plastic ) slipcovers. In those days, vinyl slipcovers were in, so he did very well financially. When he was in the Air Force he was based at Dover A.F. Base, Delaware, being only 100 miles away from home, he cut slipcovers in Dover ( he was the only slipcover person in Dover ) part time. He would bring them home on weekends to have them sewn sewn by a seamstress.
In 1978 vinyl slipcovers were not “in” any longer so, he learned to cut fabric slipcovers from a couple of experienced cutters. He learned the basics from them, but soon used his own creativity, developing his own way of cutting.

In 1984, he started his own company " Richard's Fabric Creations " He did the cutting and had a seamstress doing the sewing for him. (He could cut, but admits he doesn't sew very well.) After a few years business was so good he couldn't keep up, so he hired an office manager, eventually another cutter and more seamstresses.

Now, Richard's Fabric Creations has two cutters, seven seamstresses, 1 office manager, 1 runner and his wife (the bookkeeper who also works as  a nurse on the weekends). The office/workroom is located in a converted 1500 ft. garage with windows, air-conditioning and  heating. Two of the seamstresses work onsite to prepare the work for the others,  to inspect, overlock and press. The other seamstresses work from their homes.

Most of RFC’s work is contract to department stores, fabric stores and decorators. They cut an average of 6 slipcovers per day, 6 days a week. 

Richard's Fabric Creations
Ellicott City, Maryland 21042
410-750-2222 or 1-800-732-1021

www.FabricSlipcovers.com
e-mail at FabricSlipovers@comcast.net

Page 2

A Pros Point of View
About Foam
By Ravi Design Company
RaviDesignCompany.com

Foam cushioning, it is a commonly misunderstood and often an overlooked item, when it comes to slip covering furniture. This is rather unfortunate because no matter how nice the slipcover is, no matter how expensive the fabric was it wont be comfortable at all unless the foam or seating is in good condition and of a reasonable quality.

Density and Compression

The most important thing to consider when choosing new foam is the density. Density is not a rating for the foam’s firmness! Very dense foam can be made very soft and relatively open foam can be made very firm. Density relates more to the foam’s ability to retain shape over time wear well and provide support for a longer period of time without collapsing. Foam Density is measured by cubic foot. Although foam is often given a weight rating, i.e., 2lb or 3lb, that actually has little to do with the weight but more to do with the actual volume of material used in a cubic foot of foam. Usually for furniture applications I use a range of foams starting from 1.8 lb. all the way up to 3lb density. I find that the 1.8lb foams are adequate for backs and arms whereas for seating I use between two and 3 lbs. depending on the application and the budget, as you can imagine the denser the foam, the higher the price! Denser foams also have better support because they are able to “push back “ and almost cradle the user hence you will have fewer complaints from customers bottoming out! It is also very important to consider the end usage of the furniture. Will it be used daily? Is it in a high traffic area? Will it be used at all? These are some very important points worth addressing before the correct foam is selected.

Compression is the next rating that is important to understand. From very soft to very firm it is your job to determine the right feel for your seating needs. Foam compression is almost always rated by a number, the higher the number the firmer the foam. I use anywhere from an eight compression for a very soft plush back up to a 35 or 42 for restaurant seating! The great thing with foams is that you can laminate any sequence of different compressions to attain a feel that is right for you and your tush! For example, when building a 6” thick seat cushion, I use a 3” core of a medium firm (about 28 compression) high density foam, with a 1.5” soft topper (between 18 and 24 compression) laminated on the top and bottom for a plush sink in feel!
Polyester Batting

Almost anytime you see a foam cushion you will see it wrapped in poly batting. Why? The poly allows the foam to slide into the cover very easily, as well it helps fill out the corners and little pockets in the cushion cover and gives the cushion a nice plump look and feel. Having poly batt also protects the cushion cover from abrasion on the foam and allows the foam to breathe better. There are ultra softfoams on the market that can be used instead of poly batting but they too stick to the covers like regular foams. I find when I am faced with this dilemma I still glue on a thin sheet of poly over top of it all. Looks GREAT and best of all takes no time to slide into the cover!

There are several grades of poly batting ranging from as little as 4 oz all the way up to 14 oz. Personally I use the 14 oz all the time. If I need a little thinner batting I just strip it into half. I will normally wrap the cushions on the top and bottom and the front edge only. This is called a book wrapped cushion, and is most common. For backs I will sometimes use a very soft foam back at half the thickness of the finished cushion and then double or even triple wrap with poly batting to achieve a nice plump look.

For gluing batting and foam I a use a contact cement spray adhesive. It is available in several strength ratings and can also be purchased in bulk.

Cushion Sizing

A very important part in making new cushions is knowing how big to cut the foam in relation to the cushion cover! For medium and firm foams I always add 1/8” all around and to the height.

Example: finished size is 24” by 24” by 5”. I cut the foam 24.25” by 24.25” by 5.5”. Doesn't sound like much, but once you get the batting on, there it is plenty?!

For softer foams I often add all around the sides and up to 1” in height. This gives a nice compression and keeps the foam in place. Many upholsterers seem to OVERSTUFF their cushions, in my opinion. I donut mind if the cover gets a little looser looking over time, with most slipcovers this is actually a nicer look! Once again this is something everyone should experiment with and come up with their own formula!

Reconstituting Foam is possible. If you have a piece of foam that has deformed corners or little ripples in it, you can just steam it back into shape. Although this will work most of the time it is still a better idea to replace most foams that are older than 15 years, depending on the usage of course.

As part of a sale I always treat foam as a separate entity, just as I would do fabric or toss cushions. I sell my customers on the virtues of replacing worn foam by explaining just how much more comfortable their furniture will be, when we are done. In most cases where the foam is completely finished it is an easy sale. I have several seat cushion samples for people to try out. I have them in three different qualities; good, better & best, with a poly wrap on them and covered in a nice fabric. I also go one step further and finish the edges differently, i.e. piped on one side, top stitched on another, etc.  This gives the client an idea of the edge finish they might like. In certain cases though people are adamant and want to hang on to their pancakes, in this case I just measure up for new covers and recover right over the old cushion cover. This way, I am not actually handling the old foam, which can be very unhygienic.

Left over or old foam can be recycled. New unused pieces of foam can be turned into chips by your local foam supplier, and used foam can often be recycled in to carpet underlay. It is best to try and find a recycler in your area, in many cases they will come and pick up from you if you have a decent quantity.

Here are a few links to further your reading:

http://www.pfa.org/  polyurethane foam association, good information available on different aspects of the foam industry. Very technical.

www.foamex.com   Manufacturer of foam products has a neat foam calculator, which will tell you which of their products are best, suited to what application. Also has directory of foam distributors North America wide.

www.aboutsofas.com   Exactly what its name implies.

 

Zipper Lady email:ZipperLady1@aol.com

TOLL FREE   888-810-7255

Page 3

 Slipcover Teacher Training

Plan to join us for a full day at the Slipcover Summit on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, "Slipcover Teacher Training." Workshop is to cover group dynamics, facilitating a group, marketing classes, writing curriculum, trouble shooting, and so much more. If you are wanting to teach how to make a slipcover or any other type of sewing classes in your part of the country, this workshop will be very beneficial. $90 will cover the day workshop plus lunch.

Any questions or input regarding this full day of training contact Karen Erickson  at 1-800-267-4958 or email Karen@slipcoveramerica.com

    
 
Page 4

Slipcover Network
Fee Increase

To keep up with rising cost, and to try to keep the Slipcover Network out of the red, a fee increase is necessary for those who have their businesses listed on the Directory page of the Slipcover Network website at www.slipcovernetwork.com.  Yearly fee will be $30.  If you paid in December then your next payment will be in Dec 2003, but if you last payment was paid in January 2002, then we would appreciate the increased fee.

Vendors being listed on the links page of the Slipcover Network yearly fee has increased to $60 a year

Subscriptions for the of the Slipcover Press will remain the same for another year at $15 a year.  We are happy to mail the Slipcover Press to subscribers if you like to read it in print.  For others who read it online we appreciate your $15 a year.  As you know we pay to have a graphic designer set up the layout of the Press, for those of you who read the Press online, the $15 helps to pay for this fee.

We are now accepting credit cards for those who would like to charge their payment for being listed on the Slipcover Network or to subscribe to the Slipcover Press.  We can accept Mastercard, Visa and Discover card only.

Send your Slipcover Network application to The
Slipcover Network 24430A SR530 NE
Arlington, Wa 98223 

The National
Slipcover Pricelist Survey

The results are in, and we did make the announcement online in August, at the 6th Annual Workroom Conference, in the Sew What Magazine, and in the October Slipcover Press, that the summary of the pricelist marketing survey, is now available.

Thanks to the help of Jeannie of California, Cate of Missouri and Susan of Washington the surveys were collected and tabulated into legible information that hopefully will be of help in determining pricing for your work.

We are happy to send out the summary via e-mail as an attachment at no charge. Beware that viruses lurk out there in cyber land, so be careful when you open up a pricelist if you request one. I always will let you know that the pricelist is attached in my email to you.

If you would prefer to have a hard copy sent to you via US postal carrier please send a check for $5 to :

Slipcover Press "Pricelist Survey"
24430 A SR 530 NE
Arlington, Wa. 98223

3rd Annual
Slipcover Summit

The 3rd Annual Slipcover Summit will be held June 11-14, 2003 in St Louis, MO at the Sheraton Hotel in Westport Plaza.

This is the only event of it's kind, within the USA that is totally devoted to the art of slipcover making.  Our goal is foster growth throughout the Summit, to advance  knowledge and education through sharing, brainstorming, discussion, lecture and demonstration.  Experience different methods of slipcovering, find new resources, and techniques.

Wed, June 11th will be Slipcover Teacher Training.  This workshop is designed for those who have been, or want to teach slipcovering in their community.  Learn all about group dynamics, how to facilitate a group, learning styles, planning curriculum, how to market classes, set pricing and more.  This will be a full day session.

June 12-14th classes are still being finalized.  The brochure with lodging and travel information will be available by the end of January 2003.  We wanted you to have a sneak preview of what is going to be offered.
Slipcover A Parson Chair
and Slipcovers For Cushions
by Janelle Dech from PA
of Crab Apple Farm Interiors

 

Page 5

 

 

Active Foam Products is not your everyday supplier to the custom upholstery & drapery trades.  Striving for uniqueness has separated Active Foam Products from the general description of being an upholstery supply house.  Since taking over 20 years ago, Scott Meyer has created one of the most comprehensive and unique lines, capable of selling nationally in what is typically a regional business.  The company is more aptly described as a foam fabricator that carries supplies, rather than an upholstery supply house that carries foam.

Active Foam was established in Chicago, Illinois in 1958.  The original mission was to fabricate foam for the custom upholstery market in Chicago.  In 1963 the company expanded into distributing upholstery supplies.  In 1982 Active Foam Products was purchased by its 

current ownership and began to develop the company into one of the premiere suppliers to the custom upholstery trade in the entire country.  At that time, the company had a 16 page catalog, stocked 8 foams that were cut by 2 home made saws, and worked out of 10,000 square foot, 5th floor loft building.  Today, they have a 176 page catalog, stock 60 foams, with over a dozen saws, 4 fully automated, working out of 2 locations with a combined square footage of 64,000 square feet.  The Chicago location has grown to 44,000 square feet, and the second location involved an expansion in 1992 into Milwaukee.

What makes Active unique, is they brought foam fabricating services that were only offered to large manufacturers,  to the smaller custom trades.  Trades such as, furniture, re-upholstery, drapery, slipcover professionals, automotive interiors, marine interiors and small seating manufacturers that get every turnkey advantage of production cutting and shaped foam inserts as the largest  manufacturers.   Additionally, they service the majority of custom orders within one day. These type of services have put Active in the position of being a lead supplier of choice to much of Chicago &Northern Illinois market, and has led to equal success in the Greater Milwaukee &Wisconsin markets as well.

Look for the Active Foam plant tour in the next issue of The Slipcover Press.

Page 6

  

 

  

Parson Chairs In Their Underwear?

Well prices change and as of May 2002 Alpine Furniture Ltd our of Moultrie, GA  raised their prices for parson chairs.  New price is $79 plus $20 for shipping and handling.

Check out their website at  Alpine Furniture, Ltd.  http://www.alpinefurn.com/emall/servlet/storeServlet?storeID=10236

Contact Information Lisa
Email us at: alpinef@surfsouth.com
Phone: (888) 231 4583
Fax: (229) 985 0693
Office hours 8am-5pm

Remember to let them know you heard about them through the Slipcover Network!

 

Slipcover Press Staff & Contributing Writers

Professionals In The Spotlight- By Karen Erickson

Pros Look at Foam for Cushions - Ravi Pankhania

Vendor Spotlight- Karen Erickson and Scott Meyer

Managing Editor - Karen Erickson

Layout Design - Rick Knowles

Yearly subscription cost is

$15 by check or thru PayPal Online

We now accept: MasterCard Visa and Discover

---

Slipcover Network Your guide to Slipcovers on the Internet http://www.slipcovernetwork.com Click here for an order form.

 Page 7

 

Calendar

Click above to view the Slipcover Network Calendar.

Have a class, workshop or event that should be placed on the calendar, do let us know as soon as possible.          Page 8