Re-covering dining table chairs-what fabric?

gibson123

It depends on the look you are after and how durable you want them to be. You could do a leather look

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/upholstery/heron-red-140cm.html

Or go for canvas or denim

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/denim-drill-cord/chefs-check-black-150cm.html

But for shabby chic I think something pretty in cotton whilst not being so hardwearing would look gorgeous.

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/100-cotton/daisy-112cm-pink.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/100-cotton/petunia-2-pink-145cm.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/100-cotton/poppies-1-white-multi-145cm.html

If you want to go washable you could try some tablecloth fabric

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/table-coverings-protectors/check-pvc-navy-140cm.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/table-coverings-protectors/daisies-140cm.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/table-coverings-protectors/strawberries-red-140cm.html

Good luck and let us know what you decide

imataloss

I covered mine in vinyl upholstery fabric which is easy to clean. In the past I have used upholstery fabric and heavyweight cotton. You need something that is hard wearing and fire retardent. It depends on what sort of look you want.

BAGGY

I would go for Denim cut from bootsale jeans. You could probably do six chairs (if it is just the seatpads) with 3 pairs of jeans. Split the inner seam and use the thigh so that the yellow stitched seam runs along the chair. I want to try to do one with the bum so it has pockets but i think my boys will hide peas and stuff in them. Peronally if you are going for the shabby chic look make the chairs individual by putting the seams off centre and using different shades of denim.

Kevie192

I 'upcycled' a table and chairs for our house about a year ago. Used oilcloth-type fabric so it's wipe clean. Painted the table legs cream and the chairs a nice green in eggshell paint to match the fabric. The table had a table protector cut to size and then the fabric stretched over and stapled underneath and the chairs had the seat pads removed, fabric taken off and replaced with the oilcloth.

All our guests comment on how lovely the table is and can't believe it when I tell them I made it myself! Before and after pics below

SpikyHedgehog

zepsgal wrote: »

I would use a good thick curtain fabric (if i was ever to attempt to recover chairs!)

Maybe keep looking round the cs's for curtains you like, then just cut them up?

If the curtain pair were large enough, you could use one curtain for the chairs, and use the other to make a table runner?

x

I was given some curtains that were too long, & the amount I cut off was enough to recover my dining chairs - it wasn't awfully practical for a family as it was silver & white stripes ;-) but it looked good. I'd got a few cot bumpers from car boot sales & used those as extra padding. I laid the curtain material face down on the floor, added the piece of cot bumper, then the seat pad, folded the material over to enclose raw edges & used a staple gun to fix in place.

gibson123 wrote: »

It depends on the look you are after and how durable you want them to be. You could do a leather look

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/upholstery/heron-red-140cm.html

Or go for canvas or denim

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/denim-drill-cord/chefs-check-black-150cm.html

But for shabby chic I think something pretty in cotton whilst not being so hardwearing would look gorgeous.

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/100-cotton/daisy-112cm-pink.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/100-cotton/petunia-2-pink-145cm.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/dressmaking/100-cotton/poppies-1-white-multi-145cm.html

If you want to go washable you could try some tablecloth fabric

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/table-coverings-protectors/check-pvc-navy-140cm.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/table-coverings-protectors/daisies-140cm.html

http://www.abakhan.co.uk/fabric/curtain-soft-furnishing/table-coverings-protectors/strawberries-red-140cm.html

Good luck and let us know what you decide

Oh dear, far too much temptation in the form of material! :-)

Rosygirl

Kevie192 wrote: »

I 'upcycled' a table and chairs for our house about a year ago. Used oilcloth-type fabric so it's wipe clean. Painted the table legs cream and the chairs a nice green in eggshell paint to match the fabric. The table had a table protector cut to size and then the fabric stretched over and stapled underneath and the chairs had the seat pads removed, fabric taken off and replaced with the oilcloth.

All our guests comment on how lovely the table is and can't believe it when I tell them I made it myself! Before and after pics below

That's fabulous, well done!

ragz_2

quintwins wrote: »

I was going to do this before i moved, i really liked the idea of a cheapy oil cloth because it was washable and we have 3 kids but then we never did it

Did this two years ago, cheap oil cloth from The Range/Dunhelm Mill and a staple gun. Mine has ripped a bit on one of the chairs so I need to redo, just make sure you allow for movement when it's sat on, my chairs are quite squishy and the first one I did too tight and it ripped. It's still pretty cheap and easy though.

sunshine6650

ragz wrote: »

Did this two years ago, cheap oil cloth from The Range/Dunhelm Mill and a staple gun. Mine has ripped a bit on one of the chairs so I need to redo, just make sure you allow for movement when it's sat on, my chairs are quite squishy and the first one I did too tight and it ripped. It's still pretty cheap and easy though.

Brilliant...thanks for the tip!

I've got different fabrics for each one and some stain/fire guard for each one. Your advice has been invaluable. X

SpikyHedgehog

Kevie192 wrote: »

I 'upcycled' a table and chairs for our house about a year ago. Used oilcloth-type fabric so it's wipe clean. Painted the table legs cream and the chairs a nice green in eggshell paint to match the fabric. The table had a table protector cut to size and then the fabric stretched over and stapled underneath and the chairs had the seat pads removed, fabric taken off and replaced with the oilcloth.

All our guests comment on how lovely the table is and can't believe it when I tell them I made it myself! Before and after pics below

That's fantastic! I love the way the squares of the window pane check oilcloth echo the pattern on the back of the chairs.

meritaten

take the cover off the chairs and use to cut out the replacement covers - then staple each cover in place. I stapled as I went around the seat folding and tucking the corners in neatly.
its dead easy and if I can do it - anyone can!
er - I used a pair of curtains I bought in a charity shop for £5 and it did six seats. it was a very heavy cotton with a sort of 'glazed' finish. they lasted me years after I 'scotchguarded'' them - I cant remember how much the can of scotchguard was tho.