Upholstery 101 (week 9)
Hello, and welcome back....in case you are new here...this is an on-going upholstery series. To start at the beginning, go here.
Today is the second to last post for the series......so let's jump in! This is what the chair looked like last time. Since then, I added lining to the other arm and seat bottom
Today is the second to last post for the series......so let's jump in! This is what the chair looked like last time. Since then, I added lining to the other arm and seat bottom
Now is the time to take out the old pieces that were saved
Using a small scissors, and a seam ripper
...open all the seams
Here is the center back. I need to use this for a pattern. Remember how many times you have seen me trim everything....so, where there are no seams....along the top and the bottom, I will cut the new piece several inches longer. This gives extra fabric for pulling
Here is an inside arm piece (I need 2, cut one face up and the other face down) and an arm piece (also 2 cut face up and face down)
Learning from my last mistake, since I added extra padding to the chair, I want to lay the old pieces on the chair to see if I need to make further adjustment to them before cutting
As you can see, the top and bottom of this piece need to be longer. I think the side seams are lining up nicely (always refer to your old photos if you can). For the inside side piece, I need to add length to the outside edge....for pulling and stapling
The arm piece is just a bit too thin...this was an easy prediction based on my previous post
After deciding how I wanted the pattern centered, I cut the back piece. Note, centering an image is a personal preference....I could have centered so many different options. I wanted to have the man, woman, and some of the foliage...if I raised the man and woman higher, I would have a lot of beige at the top of the chair
Keeping in mind, but not making yourself crazy, think about how the right and left pieces will connect (pattern and image). I wanted this fishing dude!
...and a different dude on the other side
Decide how much piping you want....you can use ready made...or make your own
Truth be told, I tried to find ready made and I could not find a color that worked, so I made my own. The next step is an important one...press your fabric. If you try to press your fabric once it is on the chair...you could MELT the dacron batting...I have made that mistake!
Sew the sides together
Lay it back on the chair, if you are happy with it...go on...if not, now is the time to make changes
A few staples in the center top...keeping pattern layout in mind the entire time
I did a slight deviations from my usual (top, bottom, right, left, repeat), this time, I did an entire side first...
top down to where the seam is...went to the other side...top down to seam
Then, along the top
Trim the top (this is where all that extra fabric came in handy).
Now, I did the bottom back...adjusting tension where needed to keep the pattern aligned
Finished back (note, it was rolled up and over that wood support piece. The bottom seat will be pulled downward where you see the lining
Side arm, also pulled up and over the wood support.....bottom seat will be pulled downward over the lining
Here is a front view
My little fishing dude
This is a good view to see how many choices there are when you center a pattern...choose what works for you
Next time, the finale...I hope! I am going to be completely honest...I am still not sure how I am going to finish those arms...I can't wait to come back next week and find out!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful and safe Holiday. If you are able, please try to bring something to your local food bank!
Upholstery 101 (week 8)
Hello, and welcome back....in case you are new here....this is an on-going upholstery series. To start at the beginning, go here.
Today's post is all about trial and error....spoiler alert....you will be able to learn from a mistake that I am about to make!
This is what the chair looked like last time
I added batting to the other arm, and this is what the chair looks like now
I want to add the lining. Looking back at the original chair, this is how the lining looked
It was one piece. However, you will also notice that the arms don't have any batting on them, and mine do! Also, take note that the lining is stapled to the top of the arms.....I have padding on my new arms....
Place the lining over the chair, working on the bias for extra give
A few staples center top
A slit to ease and trim lining into shape
Tuck the lining in the same way the batting was done
Make an ease cut so that the lining can be tucked around the frame
....like this
Here is the alteration from the original, I pulled the lining over the padded arms
Staple around the back, just like the batting was done
Shape the top of the chair, working out all of the folds
Staple along the top, trim off the excess
AND TOO MUCH PRESSURE, the lining has ripped! If I stapled along the top of the arm, this probably would not have happened. However, I wanted padded arms. The lesson for me is that when an alteration is made (like dominoes) ....be prepared to alter the steps that follow
This lining can't be done in one piece. Follow the natural line of the chair, I cut the lining
Cut the other side to match
Drape a new piece over the arm
Cut, tuck, trim
For the end of the arm, it is just a series of pleats and folds all stapled to the bottom of the arm
Here is what the chair looks like now
I need to do the other arm and the seat.....however, trust me, when you start to make mistakes....it is time to take a break and walk away for today! I hope you learned something...I know I did. See you next Wednesday!
Today's post is all about trial and error....spoiler alert....you will be able to learn from a mistake that I am about to make!
This is what the chair looked like last time
I added batting to the other arm, and this is what the chair looks like now
I want to add the lining. Looking back at the original chair, this is how the lining looked
It was one piece. However, you will also notice that the arms don't have any batting on them, and mine do! Also, take note that the lining is stapled to the top of the arms.....I have padding on my new arms....
Place the lining over the chair, working on the bias for extra give
A few staples center top
A slit to ease and trim lining into shape
Tuck the lining in the same way the batting was done
Make an ease cut so that the lining can be tucked around the frame
....like this
Here is the alteration from the original, I pulled the lining over the padded arms
Staple around the back, just like the batting was done
Shape the top of the chair, working out all of the folds
Staple along the top, trim off the excess
AND TOO MUCH PRESSURE, the lining has ripped! If I stapled along the top of the arm, this probably would not have happened. However, I wanted padded arms. The lesson for me is that when an alteration is made (like dominoes) ....be prepared to alter the steps that follow
This lining can't be done in one piece. Follow the natural line of the chair, I cut the lining
Cut the other side to match
Drape a new piece over the arm
Cut, tuck, trim
For the end of the arm, it is just a series of pleats and folds all stapled to the bottom of the arm
Here is what the chair looks like now
I need to do the other arm and the seat.....however, trust me, when you start to make mistakes....it is time to take a break and walk away for today! I hope you learned something...I know I did. See you next Wednesday!
Upholstery 101 (week 7)
Hello everyone! In case you are new, here, this is an on-going upholstery tutorial....to start at the beginning, go here.
To refresh your memory, this is where we left off
To build-up the center-back of the chair, I applied 2" foam following the same steps as the seat. This is what the chair looks like so far
To refresh your memory, this is where we left off
To build-up the center-back of the chair, I applied 2" foam following the same steps as the seat. This is what the chair looks like so far
Now for the inside-sides and the arms....using a double layer of dacron (batting)
Tack it into place along the side of the center foam...making sure there is overlap everywhere (it is easy to trim, impossible to add more)
Trim off the extra where it meets the foam
Next, tuck the bottom portion through the frame...
..and out the bottom-side
The front edge of the inside arm needs to be stapled
being extra careful not to nail into the finished frame portion, nail just before it
Here is what it looks like so far
Trim off the excess from the inside edge...now the shaped arm...tuck and fold while stapling under the arm
....work all the way up and down the arm...
....trim off excess
Take the bottom portion of the batting and pull it up around the frame and staple...trim off excess
Here is one arm complete
I will repeat all of this for the other arm. Hope to see you next week!
Oh, wait...come back tomorrow for a SUPER EXCITING post! Here is a hint....it won't be on this blog?
Just Sit on IT!
......continuing with the challenge, this is day 25 of 31....for all 31, go here
While preparing for tomorrow's upholstery tutorial, I realized that I did not tell you enough about foam.
How much cush for you tush?
It is very scientific....not really, you just SIT ON IT! Let me show you. Here is the chair with just springs and burlap
Starting with 1" High Density foam
Too hard
Next up, 2"
Better, still a bit hard for my derriere
The Papa Bear, 3"
Yes!
The foam will have a layer of dacron, so I'll test it that way....
It is a plush seat, my personal preference.
Same method for the back
This is the winning combo; a 3" High Density foam for the seat, with a 2" High Density foam for the back.....your bum may have a different preference.
Do you prefer a plush chair, or a firm chair?
While preparing for tomorrow's upholstery tutorial, I realized that I did not tell you enough about foam.
How much cush for you tush?
It is very scientific....not really, you just SIT ON IT! Let me show you. Here is the chair with just springs and burlap
Starting with 1" High Density foam
Next up, 2"
The Papa Bear, 3"
The foam will have a layer of dacron, so I'll test it that way....
Same method for the back
Do you prefer a plush chair, or a firm chair?