Information on Upholstering a Tub Chair
Recovering a club chair is one of the easier upholstery projects. Club chairs have clean lines with minimal tucks and curves. Since a chair is only as good as its frame, choose one that is plumb and made from strong hardwoods. A sturdy chair will be worth the effort of upholstery and will last for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
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Club Chair Characteristics
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Club chairs are designed for comfort, with dense padding and a chunky design. The back is low enough to support the user while allowing free neck movement. Club chairs became popular in the first half of the 20th century. Interior designers like Charlotte Perriand used club chairs to evoke the angular lines popular with modernists of the period.
Equipment and Supplies
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If you only upholster one or two chairs, you needn't invest in equipment. A regular claw hammer will work nearly as well as an expensive upholsterer's hammer. Metal skewers can be substituted for upholstery pins, used to temporarily hold fabric.
You'll need a heavy-duty pair of scissors as well as a tack puller to remove tacks. Pliers are useful for pulling tacks that have lost their heads. Straight upholstery needles will be used for most sewing, while curved needles will be needed in tight spots. Choose needles specifically designed for use with heavy upholstery thread. Purchase new upholstery tacks; avoid carpet tacks that may split the wood.
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Fabric Choices
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Fabrics with a uniform weave will wear longer than those with a jacquard or tapestry weave, in which there are both thin and thick areas of cloth. Fabrics with a rubber backing may not be suitable for upholstery beginners. For the traditional comfort and style of a club chair, choose a soft leather, leather-look upholstery or plush fabric.
Buy enough cloth to complete the chair in one purchase, since each dye lot, or batch in which fabric is dyed, varies slightly. If you purchase additional fabric later, subtle differences may ruin the look of your chair.
Construction
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Pull out all tacks and carefully remove the fabric. Use the old pieces of fabric as a pattern to cut the new cloth. Label each piece so you will remember exactly where to put it. Check to see that the internal springs are sturdy, the padding is in good shape and the webbing is intact. If any of these pieces are faulty, they must be replaced before the chair can be reupholstered. Extra padding is necessary if the chair has seen heavy use.
Finishing Touches
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Welting is often used to hide fabric seams. This is a strip of fabric that is cut on the bias (diagonally across the cloth) and rolled over cording. The welting may then be sewn to the chair at the seams. However, club chairs sometimes leave the stitch lines showing. Either way, be certain that all tacks are covered completely.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit chair brown image by Leonid Nyshko from Fotolia.com
