As usual, I have bitten off more than I can chew with my latest crafting adventure.
Again I think it boils down to my penchant for idealism, I had this idea that being the clever housewife that I am, I could reupholster a chair. Umm yeah right.
Why someone with absolutely no experience with anything remotely crafty could do such a thing I do not know. Anyway Last night at about10pm I decided it was the ideal time to get going on the chair project.
So this is the chair before:
During:
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And after I had finished ripping it all off and removing the leg that I can't reconnect...
So now I'm totally regretting it and I wish I'd just put the new fabric on over the original mustard velour. I have no idea how to make it all smooth again, I guess I'm going to have to find some sort of filling and interfacing?
I have no idea whether I should get rid of this gross stinky brown stuff? I don't really even know what it does, it seems to be the cover for the springs... Anyone know anything about chairs?
What a dill I always do this. Now I suppose this poor old chair will have one of three futures:
1.)Death by way of council pick-up
2.)Life imprisonment by way of being banished to the cellar room where all my unfinished projects go
3.)Resurrection and new life by way of me taking the bloody thing to an overpriced upholstery store
Hmmm do we choose life or death?
I am pro life, well in this instance anyway. I think this can be rescued! (Perhaps I am also an idealist). What was originally in between this brown stuff and the fabric? I reckon you could just use wadding. Staple it down and then the fabric on top? I have never resurrected a chair but this is my guess...I am sure someone can help. I believe Kylie from All Things Lovely once made over a chair? x
ReplyDeleteWell it is Easter after all isn't it Winnie, we should choose life for the chair. How about you and Ivy come over for a play date next week? I could do with a second opinion on the chair!
ReplyDeleteI am there for sure! But we will have to make it the week after because daddy and baby are in Port Douglas! They left this morning! I miss them...but also loving the uninterrupted "me" time!!! How about Mon,Tue or Thu?
ReplyDeletethere is a pattern forming...easter = resurrection? http://tinyconcept.blogspot.com/2009/04/easter-decorating.html
ReplyDeleteI think the "gross stinky brown stuff" is matted wool felt. At least that's what it looks like. I think you should let creative Winnie offer her opinions and suggestions! Save it! :)
ReplyDeleteI vote for resurrection. It can be done!!! As Winnie said, just put a layer of thick quilters wadding over the coconut fibre and staple it using a staple gun. I used two layers of fabric for my chair as the final fabric with the design was a fine cotton - not really suitable for recovering. Underneath I used a heavy stretch denim (the stretch allows for those of us that aren't professional!) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how to fix it (sorry). I'm all for saving it and it sounds like the suggestions already posted might do the trick.
ReplyDeleteI'm about to embark on a similar reupholstering adventure which I blogged about. Trying to decide if I should just cover over the vinyl plasticy thingy cover or rip it off. Not sure if I can stomach what might be underneath it.
Viv xx
Oh thank you for the encouragement and tips! Ok I will head to Spotlight this week and ask for a stretch denim and some wadding. Coconut fibre, wow that makes sense. It is hairy! I thought it was some sort of hessian bag type stuff.
ReplyDeleteViv my advice is to recover the vinyl, once you start ripping stuff off you end up in all sorts of trouble like me!
ReplyDeletesave the chair! i love the style. have a look at http://www.designspongeonline.com/ in the before and after section for some inspiration. there are some great things in there.
ReplyDeleteThank you so so much Helen that is a fab link! I will be sure to post some progress shots of the chair. It is sitting neatly on the back-burner right now. My husband and I are back on the big garden project for the next few weeks. Trying to get it completed by Spring. Lots to do...
ReplyDeleteI was going to recommend DesignSponge but one of your other clever readers beat me to the punch. Whip It Up also has TONS of links to great DIY directions: http://whipup.net/. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTry foam, then batting over, then fabric. Only attach the fabric, and unless the inner stuffing was falling apart, you probably should have just gone over the mustard yellow.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar chair that I have been working on. I am down to the coconut too. If I ever get around to it, the first thing is to fill in all of the old tack holes, sand them down, add the batting and them the fabric. GOOD LUCK
ReplyDeleteLMAO!!!! Been there, done that. Got the badge and the hat. Ok, not the same project but a few others. Well heck, most of the time ego and confidence DO get one through a new venture. Only occasionally does it not work out. I will continue living fearlessly and live with the occasional blunder; at least one learns something in the process!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and think its great! I hope you can restore your chair... it would be a shame to waste all of that work you've already done!
ReplyDeletehttp://thebluepearlgirl.blogspot.com
Ok so I have bought some supplies for the chair, still missing the fabric but I have this stuff called DACRON. Apparently it is just what I need? That's what the salesman said... hmm we will see. Stay tuned.
ReplyDelete