Pages

Monday, June 10, 2013

How to Reupholster a Chair part 5



This is the final piece of upholstering.  
I am making sure the squares on the seat line up with the squares on the front and back of the upper seat.  This is what I was talking about back when I was cutting out the fabric in Part 3....
And, depending on your fabric pattern, why you might need more fabric than you think....
Then I staple one or two times at the center front and center back...you should see a little bit of a crease in the fabric.  
Almost like you have pulled it too tight.  If it's smooth at this step the fabric will be too loose when you're done....
It's great to work with someone else for the pulling and stapling....
This is how I cut out around the arms.  You can try to use your old fabric as a pattern but I've found it's easier just to cut this out once I've got the fabric on the chair.
This usually involves me snipping a little then pulling it down where I want it to go and checking it then resnipping a little more and checking again...
Until I get it how I want it and it's all laying flat

This is the post at the back of the seat.  I usually stop cutting about 1-2" from the post.  This is just like clipping your curves while sewing.  If you sew you know that helps ease the fabric around corners and curves without it puckering up...
Since you have corners where there will be a pleat at the end anyways, start in the middle and staple out towards each corner.  Pulling/smoothing down towards the front and out towards the side at the same time.
Do the same on the sides.  After getting the arms/posts clipped I put one staple in the center of each side.  Then each arm is a stopping point, so work your way from that center staple out towards each arm...
Here she is all stapled and trimmed....
Here's the back all finished up and trimmed....
And here she is--  I'm just waiting on the trim to glue on over the staples/edge and she'll be ready to go back home in her new fabric.....

4 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks! I had fun redoing her and I think Joy is really happy too...

      Delete
  2. How many hours do you think it took you to do this? I am about to reupholster a chair like this for a client but I've never done one with an upholstered back so I am having a hard time deciding what to charge her since I'm not sure how long it will take me. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I probably had about 10-12 hours in it. I try to keep track of my hours and then charge an hourly rate but it is really hard to estimate. I usually just tell people a ballpark figure and let them know I'll be keeping track of my hours so it could vary depending on what I run into. You just never know when you start tearing into something what it's going to involve. That way they can decide up front. There really is no way to give a flat rate unless you just decide you're willing to do it for a certain amount. Good luck!

      Delete