Silk chairs

[kodydog]

Wish I had a better picture. I did a pair of chairs for a decorator a couple months back. the back frame was formed with bent metal rods. Over that was an elastic type fabric and then foam over all. I love working on challenging pieces it gives me a break from the old routine.

[Peppy]

Nice! We had one in the shop recently that was built the same I guess. With the steel bars and nothing to staple to. Tricky stuff, and silk to boot! Looks awesome!

[kodydog]

Thanks Peppy--here's a better picture and some wing chairs that i just finished last week.


here's a wing chair in an awesome leather!


Check out the huge Chippendale wings on these babies


I'm generally not a big fan of recliners but this customer was willing to pay my price.

[bobbin]

Beautiful job on the "petal" chairs, Kody.  I love the fabric.  I bet those curved back edges were no fat lady's dream. 

I've never been a huge fan of leather chairs, but that one came out great.  Looks like a real "brandy and cigar" chair. 

The two big-winged chairs are my favorites.  The fabric on those is handsome, too.  (secret desire:  a big, roomy wing chair in a one of those really luscious "flame stitch" fabrics). 

[kodydog]

Thanks bobbin. I like the name you gave the petal chair. The top three were done for decorators private collection. And the last for a customer of a furniture store owner.

[bobbin]

I meant to ask you, Kody., how you afixed the cushion to the top of the ottoman's base?.  Is it done before the whole thing is put on the frame?  I'm not an upholsterer, so oftentimes the order of assembly is a bit of mystery to me. 

[kodydog]

Its all assembled before it's upholstered. It's kind of tricky because it gets sewn outside in. When your done sewing, the lower part is inside the cushion. Theirs a zipper on the bottom to pull it all through and turn it inside out.

[hdflame]

I really like the black leather and brass tacks....and foot stool!

[hallsdraperyworkroom]

Hi Kodydog.

I am a newbie at upholstery; been doing window treats for years, but not much larger upholstery. 

I have been asked to recover an ottoman with a semi-attached cushion on top.  Could you tell me where I can find instructions on how to do this?

Thanks.

Deb

[kodydog]

Yeah, right now every one is sitting back and saying, go ahead Kody explain how to do this... Not an easy task and I'm sure some of my buddies will help me out.

First of all when you take it apart take lots of notes and take lots of pictures.

1. Make sure before you start picking the old cushion apart, mark where the semi-attached part (what I call the seat front) attaches to the cushion in several places for reference marks.
2. You will have to draw a sew line on the bottom panel (big square). The old cushion likely has one and you can transfer the measurements to your new cushion.
3. At this time I would add a flat zipper, corner to corner on the diagonal, within the square. This is how you will stuff the cushion when its all done.
4. Use the old pattern to cut and sew your seat front. This may be two pieces or four pieces with some 90 degree cutouts that also get sewn.
5. Using your sew lines on your bottom panel, sew the seat front to the bottom panel.
6. The rest gets sewn like a box cushion with the seat front inside (assuming this is a box cushion and assuming you know how to sew a box cushion).
7. When finished turn the whole thing inside out.
8. To me the hardest part is stuffing the foam into the new cushion. Take your time, try not to break the zipper, it'll take some small pieces of cotton to pad the corners. Zip it up and make sure it looks right. You can't fix it once its upholstered.

If you made it this far give yourself a big ol pat on the back and pour yourself a tall cold one, you deserve it.

I'm sure I left something out. Some of these other folks might have some more tricks to add.