How to Lay Out Fabric for Tufting
Button tufting adds an interesting look to upholstered furniture. Headboards, sofas, chairs and ottomans all benefit from the look. Buttons pull the fabric close to the furniture, leaving puffy areas between the buttons. When done properly, pleats form between the buttons. The tufting is a many-layered process. The foam used in tufting contains holes where the buttons fit. Batting goes over the foam. You can mark or press the batting into the holes to note where the holes for the button tufting will lie.
Instructions
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1
Lay the fabric out on the workspace right-side down.
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2
Make a chalk line parallel to the selvage down the center of the fabric.
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3
Make a second chalk line perpendicular to the first, halfway between the top and bottom of the fabric. Where the two lines meet is the center of the fabric
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4
Lay the fabric over the piece to be upholstered. Thread the upholstery needle with the button twine.
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5
Pierce the back of the furniture with the needle and through the hole in the foam. Insert the needle through the center of the fabric. Thread the button on the needle and push the needle back through the hole in the foam. Pull the thread tightly and tie.
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6
Smooth the fabric so that the center mark lies directly above the button. Staple the fabric to support the work while you tuft. Smooth the rest of the fabric along the top of the piece and staple the fabric for support. Repeat with the fabric at the bottom of the piece of furniture.
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7
Press the fabric into the holes in the foam. Straighten the pleats with your fingers as you press the fabric.
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8
Tie the buttons closest to the center button just as in Step 5. Straighten the pleats with your fingers as you tie each button. Continue to work outward from the center until all the holes in the foam are filled with buttons.
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Tips & Warnings
When tufting something solid, such as a piece of solid wood, you can tuft the fabric with a small staple gun and cover the staple with a glued button.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
