General Chat

I have a thing going on.....a bit of an obsession I suppose really......I collect old chairs......see them along the side of the road on council clear up (an Australian thing where you put outside what you don't want and the council come and take it away, you prob have it in UK too, not sure) and just can't resist them......I have been sent a great photo of my gt gt grandfather who had a furniture business...with chairs hanging outside of the business property so I blame it on him really! Anyway....I have some really lovely chairs clogging up the garage and beginning to annoy my hubby! Anyone out there have any good advice/tips!??

Not really an expert Sally but I did once buy some upholstery weight material and cover a pouffe with hinged lid that I particularly liked, that no longer went with the new colour scheme. I was surprised how easy it was and very proud of the finished result. You can buy studs,trim etc to do it with at a good large haberdashery. Have a go, I'm sure that you will enjoy it. Chrissie x

Thanks for your encouragement Chrissie!!!! I am excited but worried that it will be awful! I am off to work now so won't be able to reply until tonight so please don't think that I am ignoring any replies. Thanks, Sally x

If the chairs are fairly old or good quality then they deserve being properly upholstered. Find a good course and go to classes....if you enjoy it enough you could turn it into a profitable business. Traditional upholstry is hard work but well worth the effort. Good luck, Viv

it is easier if you can take the old cover off and use it as a pattern, in order to cut the new chair fabric

Hi Sally - l recovered an old stool of my grandmothers yearsss ago. It was easier than l thought , really!!!!! Have ago, if it goes wrong at least you have'nt spent alot of money - try and find material in charity shop, do you have them?? If not practise with some old curtains. Good luck:o) jude sarf wales

I felt like that too but then I thought 'it's of no use as it is, so what harm can I do'. Tackle it with confidence:))

Thats right....I just can't stand to see these old chairs thrown out!!!!!!! Picked up two beautiful little chairs yesterday morning so will start with them, before I try the grandmother armchair hey!!!!! Thanks for all those tips everyone....really helpful. Hey Jude! I lived in Sarf Wales too! Cardiff....

I made loose covers a couple of times for an old suite that i had and was very pleased with my self. If doing this a good idea is to use old rolls of wallpaper to make a pattern . Pin to item to be covered and cut round to make a pattern piece, allowing for seams. I have recovered a stool and dining chairs and found this easy. If recovering item. Do as someone said and use old piece as pattern. Remember to stretch as tight as you can and use a good staple gun. Good luck I am sure you will be happy with the result. Germaine x

Years ago, well over thirty years ago anyway, I went to upholstery classes, it was much easier than I thought I made an upholstered rocking chair. You can get books and magazines that give you tips on how to tackle it You must have a go, when you are wealding that hammer, it gets rid of your frustrations. June xx

I looked at your title and thought. 'No, it wasn't hard, it was soft and comfy.' Seriously though, as with many things, the job itself is easy once you realise that there is no great mysterious Trade Secret.

Thanks guys.....I am going to enrol in a course and go for it...I will let you know how i get on!!!!!!! Sal xx

Years ago my husband found a beautiful victorian captains chair on a dump - the wood was in perfect conditon. He went to evening classes (bit of a pain dragging it back and forth!) but eventually covered it and padded it and I have to say it looked beautiful. When we moved from that house we had to sell some furniture and I think he got £250 for it in an auction. So not bad profit.