Sewing a sofa bed cover...

[unlucky83]

So I have an Ikea sofa bed that has a slightly padded cover. It has pen and glue on it and looks generally scruffy. I was going to buy a new one but although it is 'machine washable' it doesn't really fit in a normal washing machine (overloaded and comes out with soap marks etc, not particularly clean) ...
Instead I've bought some upholstery material and am going to make a cover that fits over the cover (no padding) -so it can be machine washed.
Planning on using the current cover as a pattern..
Looking at the material I've got and the current one I am thinking of making it as two pieces rather than the current 4 piece cover.... will that work? The original cover should be taking most of the strain...

Hopefully photo of badly drawn diagram explains it better...

Let us know how you get on! I also have a scruffy lycksele.

Would it be three pieces (two ends and the main central but)? If it were me, I would also work out where the seat meets the upright part of the back, and fold the material (right sides together) and sew along just inside that line - I think it might help it sit better into that right angle, as well as give you a marker point when you're attaching the ends. Not done it before though so feel free to ignore!

*bit (not but)

Sorry unidentified that's what I do mean! - I did think about sewing a 'crease' or a seam into it at the point -but more for it sitting properly, didn't think about helping line it up -but it will help! Even thought about sewing something along the front to make it look more 'fitted'.

Looking at it I think I could get away with using slightly less material if I did it Ikea's way but think mine will be easier ! famous last words....
And lurker - it is a Lyckselle - an old one with a dark grey cover. Plain so EVERY mark shows up...never looks clean (and after the PVA disaster - looking at you DD2 - it isn't!). My machine is bigger than 'normal' - 7 maybe 8kg - and it still doesn't fit - find it really annoying with mucky children!

I've bought patterned to camouflage - red with white dots (from Ikea) so it should brighten it up too -just need to find the time to do it now...will update when I have.

I think your top picture, using one "bag" for the seat and another for the back, gives the right idea. Once you've got the visible bit covered with about 15 cm extra (unfinished) tucked into the join, you can think about keeping them together.
I'd just join them into a long pocket (velcro?, that way it's easier to wash two smaller bits) and push a pool noodle or an umbrella down into it to keep it held tight.

Thanks - I see what you mean
But there isn't really a 'join' to push stuff in because it is a sofa bed the mattress is all one piece ...just a little bent there and I could do with keeping the cover it came with on underneath because as well as being slightly padded it is also water resistant - not proof but does save any minor spills marking the mattress...
My old sofa throw I sewed a channel in it and so I could thread a bamboo garden cane in to push right down the back of the seat cushions - which worked quite well -except the DCs still managed to get it loose - mainly pulling down the bit that covered the seat back - was planning on a getting a bigger throw and sticking it under the legs at the back to trap it in place...

No join, hmm... This is turning into a challenge!

I'd stick with the two bags idea, but on the inside joint seam I'd add two loops of elastic (or ties) which fasten around the back legs of your sofa. That way it's anchored in the middle but not visible.

I'm really struggling to picture this...will have to have a think...
Think my problem might be is the width of material is the same as the width of the top of the sofa so either I will have to make it wider by sticking sides on some way ...or try and see if I have enough to do it lengthway...I'll have to have a play tomorrow ...
(more procrastination..)