Chair Upholstery and Cording How To

 This chair was a little bit different than this one, and easier.
At first I thought I would have to take apart like the last one, but it turned out it wasn't necessary.
All I had to do was rip the old fabric off the chair. It was stapled just around the perimeter off the seat.  Not folded under and stapled like most chairs.
 I figured that would be the best way, look what I was up against!  I wasn't about to try and take this apart.
You must make sure that you take the old fabric off gently, trying your best not to rip it.  Because you will need it as a template for your new fabric.
Place the old fabric over your new fabric and cut around it.  There were little notches to cut for the posts that run around the edges. Cut it out exactly like the old fabric.
Once your fabric is cut to size, either use the old batting and cushion like I did, or buy new stuff.  I didn't see any reason to because it was still in good shape.
Carefully place your new fabric in the exact same place as the old.  It is a good idea to take lots of pics before to know precisely where everything was.
Staple the fabric around the perimeter, pulling it tight as you go.  I didn't take a pic of this part.
It's not that hard though, you can always pull the staples out and start over if you mess up.
 The cording~
I always thought this was going to be so hard, but really it is quite simple,  if you have a sewing machine :)
I pulled the fabric off the old cording and re-covered it with the new fabric.
But if you don't have that option, you can buy it at any fabric store it looks something like this
So here is what I did.  I'm not saying this is the right way because I was just winging it.  I am by no means a seamstress, but this worked for me and it can work for you as well.

First I cut the piece of fabric to the length of the cord, wide enough to have extra on the sides.
I took the cording and wrapped the new fabric around it
like so.
Holding the fabric tightly closed around the cord I began to sew close to the outside of the cord
Sew all the way down to the end of you cord, it should look something like this.
Cut off the excess fabric
Now, take your new cord and hot glue it around the bottom of the seat, where the tattered edges and staples are. If you don't have a hot glue gun, I highly recommend you get one.  You will use it all the time.
The finished look

You CAN do this!  
Please let me know if you have further questions.  

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7 comments:

  1. Oooh, thanks for the cording tutorial! I've got a couple of chairs in the garage that are waiting for it to warm up so I can make them over. I'll be adding cording too now that I see how easy it is!

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  2. that is just fantastic! i need to try my hand at these kind of projects, but i get so scared!

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  3. that burlap is there bc thats one of the steps in reupholstering (when you have to go all the way to ground zero, then you replace the burlap, stings, etc). Your re-do looks great! good job figuring this out all on your own too!

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  4. Great tutorial, Kathleen. One of these days I will tackle a project like this. I have bought some fabric. I think I am still a bit shy to try my hand at it. I guess I need to just dive in and when I get stuck I'll contact you! You seem to have mastered it. Your chair turned out beautifully!

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  5. Your chair looks so amazing. Thanks so much for showing us how to do it. Now to find a chair to try my hand at it :)

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  6. Great tutorial! I bought a chair I need to redo and have been wondering how I will tackle the cording! Thanks!

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  7. I LOVE THE EASE OF THIS REFINISH. GOOD NEWS FOR ME THAT I CAN DO IT. GLUE AND SEWING
    TOGETHER CAN HELP ONE CREATE GREAT STUFF. THANKS FOR DEMO-ING IT... TYPING WITH ONE HAND PRESENTLY SO NOT SCREAMING. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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