I inherited a chair from my darling Nan. She died 11 years ago. I still think of her almost everyday and my chair is a precious link to her.
Nan was frequently having chairs upholstered and re-upholstered, so this one has good ‘bones’ but I did not like the fabric, a plush velvet in a dreary pink with tatty fringing.
My dilemma was whether we could afford to have it professionally re-upholstered? The answer was easy we could not. We would have to have a go ourselves….
This is how the chair looked as we very carefully stripped it back to basics
It then disappeared for awhile, to my talented other half’s workshop. he sanded, filled and smoothed it, finally painting it in my requested colour, a glossy sunshine yellow…
I took it to my sewing room and set to work. Quickly realising I did not have the skill to upholster it as it originally was.
My solution was to weave a back for the seat using strips of sewn fabric, pulled very tightly.
It took a whole day just to finish the back…
Next the seat cover, I added a layer of wadding to replace the horsehair (not ideal I know but we are saving pennies here don’t forget?)
I used newspaper to cut out a pattern, allowing lots of overlap.
Then holding my breath, I cut out the fabric…
My chair now looked like this…
To celebrate I sat on it! and enjoyed a well earned cuppa with a bowl of cadburys mini eggs
Now to tidy it up and add some finishing touches.
What could be better than a trim of Pom-Poms?
Luckily I had some in my stash.
The final flourish was completed by hand using strong thread and a thimble to cover my poor pricked fingers.
so from this:
to this:
Time to add a few well chosen accessories…
I sewed a new cushion cover in denim and the other half restored a beautiful vintage industrial Anglepoise light!
My Nan would have said ‘bit bright ducks’ and ‘very you’ and she would be touched to know I was loving and using her old chair.
Have you ever tried upholstery of any kind? next time I will wear gloves!
bestest
PS. Unfortunately the light is not ours it is a special commission for someone else and we have to let it go soon. How I wish we could keep it.