How to upholster kitchen/dining room chairs?

seasalt_2

Bless you Clare! Yes, they are the drop in picture frame type! I finally found a picture of them last night in the High Wycombe Furniture Archive - small ladder back chairs. Seats were redone by my Dad about 12-15yrs ago so not the originals. And in 50-60yrs have probably been done more than once! Dad's have done well to last this long as although he is meticulous and would have done the best job possible, he is not an upholsterer! There is hardly any padding left - fibres very thin and compressed so definitely need renewing.

If I did use fleece do you think it has to be carded first (it does for quilts)? I think I am going to experiment ... but without damaging the chairs, don't worry susy.

I don't mind stitiching - in fact I quite like it - it's what I do! What has prompted me to get my @rse into gear is that I have got classes starting again in a couple of weeks time and am just so embarrassed at asking people to sit on these manky chairs - the cobbler's children are never shod etc etc. Although as I also have quite a bit of preparation to do, I may just end up giving everyone a nice patchwork cushion to sit on instead! I have to confess, at the risk of shocking real upholsterers to the core, that it had occurred to me to sandwich a good quality cushion pad of the right size between the webbing and the calico (stitched down tightly) and then cover that! Probably too soft though. OK, I am just thinking out loud now so will stop, but thank you all for your help. I will let you know how I get on, hopefully this side of Christmas!

ChocClare

Oh, do you give quilting lessons? How exciting!

Not to - ahem! - shock ANYONE to the core, but you know how you can buy those seat pads which tie to the back of the chair (this sort of thing) - could you not just make a few of those and save yourself the added stress while you work out a more permanent solution?

seasalt_2

Yes, that had occurred to me too. And was anyway thinking of making thinnish (ie whole thing washable) tie on pads to go on top of newly upholstered chairs as part of the reason they are so manky is that people sit on them in dirty boiler suits, waterproofs etc etc - they don't stand a chance really!

ChocImpress

We have six white Ikea dining chairs with wicker seats and backs, and over the years our two young children have picked at the woven parts so much that the chairs are starting to be dangerous (we are already gettting splinters, and may eventually fall through the unravelling!).

I remember seeing some chair seat covers in a catalogue which were of stout fabric, and which wrap over the seat of the chair to fasten underneath. These would probably be cheaper than getting the chairs re-woven, I thought.

Do any of you clever people know where I can find these wrapover seat covers, please? I know I could make them myself, but I'm recovering from a serious illness at present and don't feel up to it. All I can find online are those seat pads which tie on at the back of the chair. I don't like these, as they tend to come undone and slip about.

Hope someone knows what I mean. Thanks!

masonsmith

You can get lots of fabrics to upholster your kitchen room chair. I also decorate my dining hall, chair and windows and I ordered it from Fabric Warehouse. This online store is known for its massive collections.

imataloss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvdocV1UwCk

Hello Seasalt
Have a look at this hope it helps.
I did a City & Guilds Upholstery Course years ago and our first project was a drop in seat.
I still have my folders/books and if you need any help give me a shout.
I have lost my tool box including all my upholstery tools. I`m hoping it turns up as we continue the great declutter.
You can buy lots of the tools/materials required online now