| Welcome to antiqueupholsterer.com You're here because you want to upholster a chair. We've photographed a wingback chair as it gets upholstered at our shop, Joe Klem Furniture & Upholstery, located in Coburg, Oregon, near Eugene and Springfield. We've added some descriptive text, to give you an overview. This is not a detailed step-by-step. We're working on that. Check back. Meanwhile, what's below will help you decide whether or not it's a job you'd like to take on. Please take the time to read the text; it'll help your project a lot. |
This is a 1970's or later wingback.
Wingbacks were 1st built to shelter the sitter
from the drafts in medieval castles, where the
scant heat came from a fireplace. The chairs were
placed facing the hearth.
NOTE: Before you can begin reupholstering a
chair, you'll need to remove the old cover. That's
not shown here.
TIP: Remove fabric in the reverse order to which
it's applied. Go to the last picture, & move up.
Wingbacks were 1st built to shelter the sitter
from the drafts in medieval castles, where the
scant heat came from a fireplace. The chairs were
placed facing the hearth.
NOTE: Before you can begin reupholstering a
chair, you'll need to remove the old cover. That's
not shown here.
TIP: Remove fabric in the reverse order to which
it's applied. Go to the last picture, & move up.
This is not the chair to the left, but it might
be your chair. These are coil springs, and
this is the way they should look before you
go any further. This is what's called an
8-way tie.
be your chair. These are coil springs, and
this is the way they should look before you
go any further. This is what's called an
8-way tie.
Naked Wingback
The piece on the table, with the chalklines, is called
the nose. The fabric on the chair will make the deck.
The chalk lines scribe the seams to be sewn. A
center is marked, for matching patterns.
the nose. The fabric on the chair will make the deck.
The chalk lines scribe the seams to be sewn. A
center is marked, for matching patterns.
After the nose has been sewn up, & then sewn
to the deck, it's hand sewn to the springs
underneath, in a professional job.
to the deck, it's hand sewn to the springs
underneath, in a professional job.
Next, it's the inside arms. It's all technique.
Your straight line is front-to-back, at the
top of the arm.
Your straight line is front-to-back, at the
top of the arm.
The nose is centered & the deck applied. The
nose needs to be higher than the deck,to keep a
cushion in place, & for appearance.
nose needs to be higher than the deck,to keep a
cushion in place, & for appearance.
And then, the inside back.
After the inside arms are fixed, the inside wings can
be scribed & fastened.
be scribed & fastened.
On the outside, the wing goes first. There's a
welt (cording) to outline, some dacron to pad
out.
welt (cording) to outline, some dacron to pad
out.
This is what the outside looks like, at this point.
The snips relieve tension easing fabric around a
curve.
The snips relieve tension easing fabric around a
curve.
The fabric that covers the outside arm is 1st
stapled at the top, in reverse, with a cardboard
strip to make a straight line.
stapled at the top, in reverse, with a cardboard
strip to make a straight line.
You could hand sew this; or use some upholsterer
trickery. Patterns are always oriented to the floor;
back legs are often 1" shorter than the front.
trickery. Patterns are always oriented to the floor;
back legs are often 1" shorter than the front.
The outside back's outlined with a welt(cording)
too; then there's a layer of burlap, and a layer of
dacron.
too; then there's a layer of burlap, and a layer of
dacron.
And, that's what it should look like, when you're
done.
done.
The bright lines are chalk lines; it's "dustless" chalk
which blows off with compressed air. The centers
are marked; it's a 4" cushion, so, the lines are drawn
straight down from the arms & back @ 4" up from
the deck.
This is the heart of the job. I figure an hour to sew &
stuff a cushion like this.
Your home machine will stretch whatever fabric's
on top. Nick the pieces to be sewn together @ center
& corners, to get it all lined up.
which blows off with compressed air. The centers
are marked; it's a 4" cushion, so, the lines are drawn
straight down from the arms & back @ 4" up from
the deck.
This is the heart of the job. I figure an hour to sew &
stuff a cushion like this.
Your home machine will stretch whatever fabric's
on top. Nick the pieces to be sewn together @ center
& corners, to get it all lined up.
Just keep your centers straight.
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About Us: Home Page Contact Us FAQS For Sale
Pictures/Estimates: Antique Chairs Antique Sofas Strictly Victorian Dining Chairs Daybeds and Ottomans Wingbacks
Scandinavian Modern Chairs Modern Sofas Recliners Commercial