Friday, January 21, 2011

Wooden Chair re-do

I am finding a whole new appreciation for the bloggers out there that do tutorials with images – man – it’s a lot of work J I am sure this is way confusing, I should have wrote it as I did it instead of after while looking at pictures. I did the whole thing with a pattern on scrap fabric before I cut into the real stuff!

Here is a tutorial on how I made a custom cushion for my “new” chairs. This project cost me $2 – love that. The chairs were free from my mom (thanks mom!), the fabric was leftover from my Victorian Chair makeover. The padding was free (thanks mom!), I just picked up 2 cans of black spray paint - $1 each.

Here is my Before and after chair:


Then I went to the garage and started painting – I lightly sanded 1st, washed and put about 2 coats to cover. I didn’t prime it because they were already painted. I then sealed them. Three kids and 2 dogs – need to be sealed!

Then I went to my nice free foam



I measured the sides. Front to back, top side to side, and top bottom to bottom (does that make sense?)



Trace out your pattern. I did the bottom first – drew a straight line, Then I went up the length of the chair, made a small mark on each side, then in the top, measure the middle of the long straight line for the bottom, and made a mark – then I centered the next measurement for the top. Sorry – confusing….


Make sure it fits as you want on your chair – make adjustments as needed and use as your pattern for the rest.


Trace out as many as you need and cut – always use your first, so your sizes don’t continue to vary


Then – cut out a pattern. I used material I had laying around – didn’t want to waste my good fabric if it wasn’t going to work. This was my first time trying this. I traced the foam I had just cut out with chalk (one picture was from my pattern making, other was when I did my final ones)


Ok – still with me? Then I got a piece of paper – and cut about a ½ inch strip – and I made another outline around the edge. Because you cut exactly what the set is – you need to allow a seam allowance, and room for the cushion.


Side note: I was going to attempt a ruffle….yeah – no….Love myself some ruffels, not on these though....



Oh – when I did my pattern – I didn’t plan out my straps. I measure my chair – and cut the straps. I am going with a more sleek look – you can see from the pictures at the end – will go into more detailer later. But – they ended up being about 4 inches wide, by 8 inches long. I folded them in half the short way, flipped the top down – so it was a smooth end. And sewed a continuous line of 8 of them (2 for each of the 4 chairs) (insert 12-13). Then flip right side out.

And starch and press, while you have it out – starch and press all of your fabric. (See mom – I do use my iron – just not on my clothes)


Ok….Then you need to match like sides together and pin. Make sure to pin your straps where they need to be. Straps face inside of what you are sewing, so when you reverse them – they are on the outside. Mine went literally right to the corner.

After a few attempts – I learned for my pattern – to move the needle to the center point – and sew along the line. It gave me a good seam allowance and room for my insert.

Then flip them right side out – see if the foam fits (cross your fingers), and put on your chair.




What I did for my straps was have them short – wrap around the back, and use Velcro and a button for decoration. Easy to put on and off, and no tie required.


What do you think – I think they look sleek and modern. And – like our new puppy – isn’t he cute!!!



While I had the fabric out – my wonderful husband told me he didn’t like my corkboard I made earlier in the week, so I quickly recovered – and looks WAY better - even got some cute pictures up of my kiddo's.


Hope this was helpful - probably confusing - but hay - I am still learning.


Parties I am linked to - check them out!
Todays Creative Blog
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Hope Studios
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A Diamond in the Stuff
Domestically Speaking
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Remodelaholic -
Finding Fabulous -
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Fingerprints on the Fridge -
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Frou Frou Decor -
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southerninmyheart -

11 comments:

  1. Wow, girl. You NEVER stop, do you? What kind of foam is that?

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  2. I love this chair! I have similar wooden chairs and would do this in a hearbeat, if only I could sew! :-)

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  3. Your chair makeover is great!! Thanks so much for stopping by to say hi on the blog; so glad to have you as a follower!

    xo,
    - e

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  4. Wow! Love the chair, love the fabric, and love the dog ; ) Thanks for linking up at Time to Shine1

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  5. That looks fantastic! The cushion is perfect and the fabric is just beautiful. Great job! Thanks so much for linking up to Inspiration Friday this week!
    Vanessa

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  6. Darling chair- the cushion is is perfect in black and white! You did a great job on the tutorial too! I have to say, what a sweet pup you have!! Thanks for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  7. What you did looks great. The chair looks amazing in black and the you did very well with the foam. Love the pattern.

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  8. I have to admit it was the puppy that caught my eye! More pictures of your puppy! What's its name!

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  9. Whoa, are you sure that’s the same chair? You did such a good job that if you hadn’t posted the before and after shots side by side, I wouldn’t have known! I love the fabric that you chose for the cushion. I think it went very well with the new color of the wood. Oh, and I love that picture of your puppy beside your chair! Is that a chow-chow?

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  11. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

    Arts and Crafts & Indian Artisan

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