How to Reupholster Furniture

(Page 4 of 4)

November/December 1974
By Virginia Schmitz  
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When I cover the cushion I baste the casing first to be sure the fit is good. Then I sew it on the machine, leaving an opening in the back large enough to insert the contents, and blindstitch the slit.

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After all the fabric has been replaced there may be some tiny imperfections. A few blindstitches taken here and there will eliminate these, or you can just live with them since you'll soon begin to notice that even brand-new furniture has minor flaws which the average person never spots.

If you want to keep such imperfections to a minimum though, beware of shortcuts. Jim and I re-covered a chair for a friend who then decided to do his own sofa, but felt that our way was too much trouble. Instead, he left the fabric in place, traced newspaper patterns from the couch itself and stapled the new material right over the old. The result didn't reach the standard we've come to expect of our our work. Every piece of furniture is different and you must move the covering to find out how your particular article was done, or so, at least, it seems to me.

Another reason why Jim and I have had good results with home upholstery is that we've always worked with pieces which were basically sound and only needed fabric replaced. There's so much good furniture floating around that it isn't usually necessary to bother with something that's popping springs. On more than one occasion we've raided the dump for perfectly usable articles which someone has discarded only because the material was soiled. (Of course, one has to get them before rains mildew the stuffing.) At garage sales, faded and worn pieces often go for a few dollars. Folks just aren't aware that they could renew the covering so easily and inexpensive.

And there you have the only course in upholstery you'll ever need. Jim and I have worked together because we like to, but one person could go it alone. It just takes a bit longer. Love and peace!

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Comments

  • r 8/1/2009 10:18:58 PM

    I'm not sure I need to make this comment, but I thought for anyone encouraged by your article, they might want a little dose of reality. While I agree you can learn a lot about upholstering by undoing a piece of furniture, the idea that you don't actually need to know How To Upholster is just not true. I've been professionally upholstering for 15 years and teaching upholstering for 5. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for 'winging it', but from experience I can say a lot people will get frustrated with much more than a dining chair. I didn't want your readers to feel like they just weren't crafty, because they couldn't pick up the trade from just your article. It's articles like these that drive many people away from learning these skills, because they've decided they must not be talented. Please readers, check out a class or at the very least start on something super simple.

  • Karen Segretto 4/9/2009 10:22:41 PM

    Hi! I got into reupholstering about 7-8 years ago when I was pregnant for my first son - it was my 3rd trimester PROJECT that came about from that blast of hormones I later learned about.
    Anyway, I got as far as investigating the original construction of the piece and had most of the fabric torn off... then I lost that momentum and was too close to the due date to continue... baby came, no time to finish... that project ended.
    I'm glad to see, though, that now that I'm considering reupholstering our sofa, loveseat and wing-back chair to match and to repair damage done to the chair by three cats... I'm glad to see that your article stresses that it is decently easy to do if you just take that approach that I began with those years ago.
    I feel relieved that I have a chance to do this without paying crazy amounts of money to a professional.
    I do remember, though, spending a lot of time scratching my head... particularly as I took more fabric OFF that chair... it became more overwhelming and I was losing confidence that I could put it back together.
    I hope the people at the fabric store can be helpful enough to explain things to me that I don't know enough about with sewing yet to get it done well.
    First, though, I'm going to the dump to try my hand at a different piece of furniture before I move onto our three pieces.
    Too bad I sold all my tools that I bought back then!
    Let me know if anyone has any tips to share... PLEASE!

  • Cheryl Cordova 1/28/2009 2:51:30 PM

    I agree with the other commentor's... I have started my first project and just felt unsure. His article, in it's narration, gives me confidence to just go for it!!! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!

  • Kathy 10/17/2008 6:22:39 PM

    I have been waiting so long for an article like this. I started re-doing my grandmothers old rocking chair and got so fustrated I just gave up. After reading these wonderful instructions I think I have the courage to continue. Thank you so for taking the time to list every little detail for upholstery dummies like me.

  • Darlene 1/20/2008 3:03:45 PM

    I really like your article.. Thank You! I am taking on a large but
    simple Ottoman. I am ready to put batting on the frame. Do you
    think I should put a slip over the batting to keep it in place? or
    is that an added expence? I plan on making the cover so I can take
    it off to clean it... Not sure on how I will keep it from slipping
    either.. Thank you I don't know where the code is

  • Brandyn 1/14/2008 11:01:11 AM

    My question is the same as Jessica's. I'm looking to buy fabric
    this week and was wondering how to not by too much. My fabric is
    $15.00/yrd (with a coupon) and I CAN'T afford to buy too much.
    Thanks!

  • jessica 1/11/2008 6:45:18 PM

    My question is how much fabric am I going to need? How do I figure
    that part out?

  • murry 12/30/2007 10:14:02 PM

    HA,HA,HA,Boy now,thats funny,and kinda cute.the only thing you have
    to cut ever in a bias is the welt.also dont add an inch for the
    seam,add a 1/2 all the way around.most furniture you dont aven need
    old pattern just a tapemeasure.so what are you going to do when
    soomone gives you just a frame.i,ve been doing uphplstery 26
    years.if you realy want soom good upholstery tips email me
    murryg@live.com ps.never cover over any old mat.try adding new
    paddig over the old paddig,at least an inch of dacron,befor
    installing new mat.

  • Barb 11/16/2007 2:29:28 PM

    I have been helping my MOM remodel walls & carpeting and wanted
    to help her save some $$ buy re-doing the furniture with new
    fabric... that favorite old chair and that big old brown sturdy
    couch that's a sleeper and she can't part with.... I'll start with
    the two rockers & foot stools and then try the couch if
    successful! Thanks for your how to's!

  • R 11/13/2007 1:50:32 PM

    I surfed all over the web reading anything I could find about
    upholstering. Finally I came across this article. I just finished
    with my first project, and everything I needed to know was in this
    posting! I left the article on screen in case I needed some quick
    advice, lol. Plain, simple and to the point, thank you!!

  • nancy 8/13/2007 3:42:21 PM

    i just finished reading your article and want to thank you so much
    for your calm advice. i am about to imbark on a project and often
    thought exactly what kyou have written down but it sure helps when
    you hear someone else thinking the same thing. well,bovoyage for
    now and thanks again.

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