Slipcover help

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I want to break up some of the wood tones in my dining room and I am hoping to slipcover two of these chairs. These are my end chairs. I have made straight slipcovers for parson chairs and recovered the seats of previous dining room chairs, but the curve of this chair has me a little stumped. Would upholstery webbing be needed for the open areas between the wood piece in the center back and the sides? To help with the open space between the seat and the top. The "arms" curve down but there is also a curved seat. This is the Astor dining chair from Harvety's...to get a better idea of what the chair looks like.

Thank you for any advice.

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Comments (3)

bamamom
Original Author
10 years ago
This is what I would like to do with these chairs minus the tufting. I'm wanting a linen color. Open for suggestions.

Thanks
suezbell
10 years ago
When you replace your foam, you'll need to have it deeper -- longer front to back -- in order to keep the front edge soft.

In addition to getting dense firm foam cut to the right shape and size, you'll need enough fabric to cover the foam and wrap around the wood seat frame and upholstery tacks to tack the new fabric to the underside of the chair -- the inside of the vertical front, back and side boards.

When you buy your fabric, get enough to fold the edge twice to hem the fabric before attaching it to the wood so it will not fray and tear. You'll want to stitch the edge of the fabric even before hemming to prevent fraying.

http://www.paradisebuilders.org/img/examples/CedarBoards%20Insulated%20Board%20&%20Batten%20-%20Single%2012.jpg

Using metal strapping between layers of the hem fold could help you pull it tight in an even way.

https://imperialrivet.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/metal-hanger-strap.jpg

The one obvious problem you are likely to encounter with recovering only the seat is shaping the fabric around the arms of the chair. If this is your first DIY project and you'll be doing the work yourself, it may take several tries to get that right.

Personally, I'd not try covering the curved back as a DIY project unless the objective included filling in the curve and creating a more straight back using the thicker foam for more back support rather than trying to shape the cover to the curve.

Before trying this as a DIY project, you may want contact a pro -- someone that can also give you some insight on the advantages and disadvantages of using different types of fabric for such a project and get a quote for their work.
bamamom thanked suezbell
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bamamom
Original Author
10 years ago
Suezbell.... Thank you so much for responding. You have definitely addressed my concern of covering the back of the chair making it an upholstered chair.

I've recovered several chair seats and feel comfortable doing the seats only, but the back of these has/had me stumped as you mention the curve and how to deal with it.

I suppose for now maybe just new fabric for the seats and be happy with that. I certainly do not want to ruin them.

Thank you again for your advice