Patterns on tufted upholstery?

13 years ago

Hi y'all.

I've got two of these chairs that were originally done in tufted green velvet. Is it possible to do a simple pattern with tufting or would it just look bad?

For a visual on the tufting, here is a modern interpretation with leather tufting in the exact same dimensions.

Could a decent upholsterer pull this off with a stripe? Thanks!

Featured Answer

mary_c_gw

13 years ago

Hi again Fori,

Let me qualify my answer. (I've been a professional upholsterer for years.) There are buttoned chairs and there are tufted chairs.

So I googled, as Kitchenkelly suggested. Most of the images were of buttoned chairs. In other words. a button is pulled just a bit into the upholstery.

That is very different from true tufting which always involves diagonal pleating in the center, and vertical pleats at the front and back.

Here is a true tufted chair in a stripe. Link below. Personally, I don't like it. I think it's disturbing to the flow of the pattern to have the stripes chopped up. It would be more choppy on yours because it is a seat, and the pleats would come down the front of the piece.

Were you my customer, I would strongly discourage that fabric choice.

Here is a link that might be useful: striped tufted chair

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Comments (15)

mary_c_gw
13 years ago
In a word, no.

The tufting process pulls the fabric diagonally in places, and also pleats part of the fabric. You will end up with wide stripes, narrow stripes, and jigs and jags of folded bits on the diagonal pleats.

A small scale all-over print might work, but honestly, solids work best for tufting.
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patty_cakes
13 years ago
I agree w/Mary~~a solid would be best. ;o)
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caminnc
13 years ago
I have two small chairs that have a cream on cream pattern. It is a tight flowing pattern and they are tufted and it looks very good IMO. Look for the color you want to use in two tones that has a nice soft flow.
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kitchenkelly
13 years ago
Hi Fori,

I just googled striped tufted chair. They are out there so I just think you have to find a "decent" upholsterer like you said.

Great chairs!
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jbax
13 years ago
A tight herringbone or houndstooth would look good.

I would probabaly stay away from stripes.
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celticmoon
13 years ago
I say no on the stripes. It'd be a nightmare to get even and there is a chance it would look funny unless the stripe pattern was just right.

It can be done, just know that your visible diamond is about an inch smaller than the actual space between buttons when you lay it out. So your stripes visually 'jump' left and right.

Hard to explain. But a lot can go wrong even with a good job because of the stripe spacing.
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palimpsest
13 years ago
The right pattern would look ok, stripes would be tough. Not necessarily impossible but it would take a great upholsterer.
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celticmoon
13 years ago
Excellent example, Mary.

The close up of the tufting shows how the stripes line up sometimes, then get all wonky. And that is with a simple fairly subtle stripe.
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Fori
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for confirming! Stripes bad. Small pattern maybe. Solid safest.

Guess there's nothing wrong with green velvet. :\
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kitchenkelly
13 years ago
Is it Kermit the Frog green velvet?
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Fori
Original Author
13 years ago
Not Kermit at all--it was sagey avocado with a hint of mint. It was very fashionable I'm sure.

I guess if my furniture is going to be dated, no harm in having it upholstered to match. :)
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mary_c_gw
13 years ago
Plenty of other colors out there.

Good luck with the chairs Fori. I've retired from upholstering, except for the occasional piece for myself. Your chairs would be a pleasure to work on. I love tufting. It's fussy, it's precise, it's a PITA, but well done, it's wonderful.
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dalmadarling
13 years ago
What about minimal tufting? This one is a pattern and looks great!

[eclectic home office design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2104) by las vegas media and blogs Made By Girl
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Fori
Original Author
13 years ago
That's interesting, Dalma. And it's such a BIG print.

A big print would look good on my wing chair which I think I'll upholster to match since it turns out I can't bear to get rid of it
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