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Today, I get to show you how my chair has turned out. Not totally perfect, I grant you, but for someone who’s never trained in upholstery it’s altogether passable and, most of all I enjoyed doing it.
I’m not really taking the credit here, I simply followed step by step the advice of Mr Desmond Gaston (what a splendid name) whose book I bought years ago. So this is not a tutorial, simply wanted to show you how simple this can be.
Here’s the before and after, I found these two ‘cousin’ chairs a few weeks back, both upholstered in the pink material. Both rather tired, but I liked their shape, known here as ‘Napoleon III’
The first step is undressing the chair. This gets messy – be warned, – definitely a good job to do outside. I had no intention of re-doing the stuffing of the chair, I simply wanted to replace the fabric cover.
Once the chair was undressed I realised I was gong to have to replace the webbing straps supporting the springs in the seat and back.
With Desmond perched beside me and the right tool in my hand it was easy to stretch the straps tight and the seat magically raised itself back into the right position.
All the tools I needed are here, you probably already have most of them at home. Essential are the tack lifter (5) and the web stretcher (2).
1. THE book! 2.web stretcher; 3.curved needle; 4.scissors; 5.tack lifter;
6. webbing; 7. tacks; 8. pins and large upholsterer pins; 9. stapler and 10. hammer.
Once I was happy with the spring support I could start re-covering, I used the pieces of material I had stripped off the chair as a pattern, and cut around them leaving an extra 2″ in all directions to allow for my inexperience and give me plenty to pull on.
As you can see I love to work outside, whenever the weather allows. The picture below show one of the most fiddly bits, adjusting the pleats around the arm. These big upholstery pins are really useful.
Reupholstering a chair in this manner is far easier than making a fitted slip cover because each piece is adjusted individually. Get one piece right then move on. Start with the seat, then the inside back; inside arms; outside arms then outside back, followed by a skirt if necessary.
I used one of my antique sheets for this project but bought some ticking for the seat. I used a strip of the ticking to cover the piping around the little skirt. Desmond approved of this idea!
The sheet I used was discoloured on one side so could no longer be used as a bed sheet. The material was still strong and the small monogram rather pretty. When the seat was finished I applied the monogram to the head of the chair with small hand stitches.
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Voila! Now I just have to do the other one, probably in matching materials. Then I’ll move onto the sofa. For that I may well used this totally wonderful vintage ticking that I bought at a brocante sale recently. Just love this dark dark grey and white stripe, and love the ticking theme continued. Next instalment soon … ish!
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27 comments
I enjoyed reading this post, thank you. I love lots of pictures too.
You are SO clever! I never would have thought that was an old sheet. And I love the monogram sewed on. Great project!
S….this is one of my favorite posts that you have ever done. You took the perfect pictures to correspond with your descriptions. The chair is lovely and the monogram makes it. I can not wait to see the sofa. Thank you for posting this…k
The chair looks lovely. Can´t wait to see the finished sofa.
I am so impressed, what a makeover!! I absolutley love the elegant sweetness of the finished product, the monogram was the crowning touch..fabulous!
You are amazing!
Impressive and inspiring. I'm looking at the "ugly chair" my husband brought into our marriage with a raised eyebrow… it could be next.
You did a fantastic job!
You are a brave woman to attempt upholstering with only a book……however, c'est formidable!!!!! You've inspired me!
Sharon
I am so impressed!! The chair looks stunning and I love your choice of fabric for the other chair. Will these be 'his and hers' for your home?
Jeanne xx
This is amazing…you did a wonderful job and the pictures outside make this post magazine worthy!! Very well done, Sharon! I can't wait to see the other two pieces.
XO,
Jane
Well done Sharon! Love the "tableau" of tools!
Sunny greetings to Normandy from Périgord
karin
You did an amazing job. The chair looks wonderful! I've thought of doing something like this, but lack the nerve. You make it look attainable.
Wow, the makeover is magical, you make it look so easy. I'm so impressed and love, love the finished chair. It looks very French. Congratulations…….great job!
~Emily
The French Hutch
It turned out wonderfully! You did a fantastic job. It looks beautiful.
A most inspiring posting! You're a role model for us all!
I'm truly impressed. Gotta get me one of them tack lifter thingamabobs!!
You do make it look so easy…And I KNOW it's not!!
🙂
It looks fabulous! You have done such a great job!
If you had fun Sharon, then that is all that matters but personally I think you did a wonderful job!
Dearest Sharon,
You're quite brave to start doing this but the endresult is very rewarding!
Love the striped Toile de Jouy and you're so right for doing it outside…
Lots of love,
Mariette
Sharon – Brava! Absolutely beautiful!
I purchased two chairs several years ago that I have always wanted to reupholster but the thought of attempting this DIY terrifies me.
I will have to see if I can find this book…but I don't think I possess your courage or talent!
Fabulous Sharon.. you did a wonderful job… Desmond too..
Love the grey ticking also… clever you… ciao xxx Julie
Loved the project. Nothing fills the heart more than a craft well done. I enjoy these types of impact projects. They give you ambition for the next one. Lovely!
Bette
Fabulous! You have done an amazing job – well done! 😉
Well I for one don't see any mistakes – it looks amazing and I love the contrasting fabrics you used. Are your two chairs slightly different in size (a Mr and Mrs set?). I especially love the little ruffled skirt with piping trim.
There are few things as rewarding as reupholstering yourself, and then using the piece for years – knowing every time you sit down that YOU did it! Haven't done anything in more than 10 years, but still remember the good feeling fo finishing up and having a lovely piece. Good work, and great photos.
Sharon you are too modest – this result is awesome! Truly one of a kind & sooooo you.
Millie x
Thank you for the clear step by step pictures – the result is certainly worthwhile. Your blog is wonderfully diverse and I will be following.
Joan