About the Studio
A Brooklyn workshop dedicated to the traditional crafts of upholstery and textile work. Est. in a living room, refined over two decades.
Origin Story
David's Custom Slipcovers is a third-generation family business, built on a foundation of craftsmanship and integrity passed down through the years. What started with my grandfather's dedication to the trade has evolved into a full-service workshop serving Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Long Island.
My grandfather taught us more than just how to measure and sew—he instilled a philosophy that guides every project we take on: honesty comes before business. It's a simple principle, but it means everything. It means telling you when a slipcover is a better choice than full upholstery. It means being transparent about timelines and what's realistic for your furniture. It means standing behind our work.
Today, we bring that same integrity to every pin-fit measurement, every seam, every installation. The techniques have been refined over generations, the equipment has improved, but the core values remain unchanged: respect for quality furniture, honest service, and craftsmanship that lasts.
Philosophy
"Honesty comes before business." My grandfather's words guide everything we do. We believe in the intelligence of well-built furniture—in the way a quality frame telegraphs its craftsmanship through solid joinery and heft. In the economy of repair over replacement. In the satisfaction of using something daily that your grandchildren might also use.
Our work serves three purposes: protecting what you already own, extending its useful life, and making it beautiful enough that you want to keep it in service. Sometimes that means a washable cotton slipcover for a family room sectional. Sometimes it means reconstructing a vintage piece from the springs up. The techniques differ, but the goal is the same.
A Day in the Workshop
Home visits for pin-fit measurements. We arrive with fabric swatches and our tools, ready to work. Everything is pin-fitted directly on your furniture—we need space to move and work around the piece. We note wear patterns, structural issues, and how the furniture is actually used. You don't need to prepare anything; we work around your space.
Pattern work and cutting. Patterns are drafted on paper first, refined, then transferred to muslin for a test fit. Only after the muslin confirms the pattern do we cut into the final fabric. Nothing is eyeballed.
Sewing and assembly. The industrial machine runs for hours—seams, piping, hems, closures. Each piece is pressed at multiple stages. Corners are mitred by hand. Zippers are set with surgical precision.
Final pressing and quality control. Every completed piece is pressed with professional equipment and inspected for quality. We package everything carefully for transport, then schedule installation at your home. For upholstery work, pieces are loaded for delivery; slipcovers are installed on-site.
Workshop Glossary
Terms we use daily in the workshop, translated into plain language
Bias Cut
Fabric cut at a 45-degree angle to the grain. Gives piping flexibility to curve smoothly around corners without puckering.
Welt / Piping
Decorative cord covered in fabric, sewn into seams. Adds definition and hides the joint between two pieces of fabric.
Pattern Repeat
Distance before a printed or woven pattern starts over. Affects how much fabric we need and where seams can fall.
Railroading
Running fabric horizontally instead of vertically to avoid seams on long pieces like sofas. Only works with non-directional patterns.
Eight-Way Hand-Tied
Traditional spring system where each spring is tied to eight neighbors with twine. Time-intensive but lasts 50+ years.
Drop
How far fabric hangs below a table edge or cushion. Important for calculating lengths and proportions.
Tuck Allowance
Extra fabric built into slipcovers that gets pushed into crevices between seat and back. Keeps the cover from riding up.
Break
The point where drapes rest on the floor, creating a slight bend. Different from puddling, which is intentional pooling.
"Honesty comes before business."
— Family philosophy, passed down through three generations