Feedback on Reupholstery

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by Lois McKeon

While browsing through our favorite bookstore, my husband and I came across a few early numbers of MOTHER . and bought a copy of each, because the contents spoke to our hidden desire for a truer, more natural way of life. We subscribed, and each issue inspired us to further dreams of a down-to-earth mode of living. Apart from some experiments with sprouting and baking, however, dreaming was as far as we went.

Then NO. 30 arrived, and Virginia Schmitz's article "How to Reupholster Furniture" gave us the incentive to begin on something practical: specifically, the restoration of an Early American davenport (Photo 1) which was solid and in good shape except for the disgracefully threadbare covering. We didn't feel that we could afford either to buy a new piece or to hire the old one redone and we certainly didn't want to dispose of the poor thing, since we sometimes have to use it for an extra bed. So, with 'Virginia's advice as moral support and our ragged couch as stimulus, I set out in search of material.

My first stop was a well-known department store, where I found the selection very limited partly because I wanted a period design, and partly because of the prices. The two possible fabrics I did turn up were marked to sell at $8.00 and $10.00 per yard (a total of $112 or $140 for the 14 yards I needed to reupholster the davenport). A check at other department stores revealed the same conditions.

Then I tried an upholstery and drapery house and discovered tables of good material marked down for various reasons: short lengths, outdated patterns, and manufacturers' imperfections. Among the remnants were two pieces-seven and eight yards respectively-that would have sold for $20.00 a yard if perfect, but which had been reduced to $2.75 because of small flaws. Since there seemed to be plenty of the complete pattern to cover the main parts of the couch, I bought the two lengths ($38.50 plus tax) and, with careful planning, was able to match the design over all sections.

My procedure in re-covering the davenport was one I had learned back East. I chose this method-,which differs somewhat from Virginia Schmitz's-because the old fabric was firm and secure (though threadbare) and I didn't want to remove it.