I know several of you have done fairly extensive DIY reupholstery projects, so I wanted to get your opinions. I have done dining room chair seat replacements. And even recovered a sofa, but I never totally reupholstered a caned back side chair.

Some history of the chair:

My in-laws purchased the two chairs somewhere in the late 1950s. The chairs were originally painted antique white with antique gold accents. I had it reupholstered in the late 70s or so to change out the broken caning (originally it had been hand caned, replaced with a spline and machined caned) and the seat, which originally had a loose pillow look was changed to simply a velvet upholstered seat with a crown. The wood color was changed from the antique white to a walnut color.

The velvet stripe from the 70s did not last long, so somewhere in the late 80s, I recovered the top of the seat. I did not do any other change to the upholstery. Fast forward to present day, one of the springs under the chair popped loose so it was time to investigate. (Had I checked more carefully I see that there are spring reattachment kits that can be installed from under the chair so that upholstery doesn’t need to be disturbed, but alas, i didn’t find it until too late.

Forensic analysis follows:

From the underside of the chair - cambric, a layer of cotton batting, remnants of a green baize type cloth, another layer of cotton batting, but with plant materials, layer of burlap, springs exposed.

From the top - upholstery fabric (which is in great condition and I’d like to keep, but probably won’t be able to as the dynamics change), some type of thin Dacron bonded to a fabric which made for a smooth layer most likely from the 70s redo, old foam (looks like very squished 3”), layer of cotton batting, also with plant material, burlap layer, burlap covered edge roll and then the springs. It appears that there was an attempted repair of the sprung spring, probably in the 70s redo. And tons of tacks, both loose and in the burlap layers.

So, after this long winded explanation, some questions. In rebuilding, I'd like to replicate the current sear with a crown. I’d like to use webbing for the base, following with a burlap layer with folded and stapled edges. The edge roll (debating whether to reuse or get new?), stapled on next a layer or two of cotton upholstery batting, new foam cut to size and shape. Do I use regular or high density foam? Do I use another layer of cotton batting or Dacron or try to locate the type of Dacron bonded to fabric which I removed? It made for a really nice layer to place deco fabric over.

As far as under the chair, does it need anything other than the cambric covering? As mentioned in my demo, there were several layers of old cotton batting and other stuff which existed under the springs, but what was the benefit?

Any good sources for the cotton batting, or Dacron batting or Dacron/fabric batting and burlap? I assume most of the supplies will have to be mail ordered ( I'm in New Jersey) I have the jute webbing, a pneumatic stapler and I’m ready.