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 1^st, 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.


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Button Thumb Tack

These are SO easy to make! Cute little Button Thumb Tacks. Great for you and for a gift!

First - you need supplies - a couple buttons, thumbtacks and a glue gun.

Oh yeah - and some thick thread - I don't know the name - it's thinner than twine.
A jar full of buttons is always handy!
I like to make them a little more decorative. So I add the twine to button.
I tied it to one of the button. And then glued the two together.
Then glued the thumb tack to the bottom of the button.
And voila - just put them on a small piece of cork - add a little decorative piece of cardstock - and it's ready!
You can even add them to a little plastic bag - and make it more giftable.

New Corkboard

So - I had the kids to bed at a decent hour - and I got to work! I have a lot of chairs and other project being painted. And I saw this frame:



My mom gave it to me a while ago. It's been sitting in my garage. I figured - while I had the spray paint - I am going to spray this too. So I sprayed it a flat black paint, and put a matte clear finish on it.


I went into the basement and found some thin cork - the rolled up kind. And I also had some foam core. I cut the foam core to size - and the cork. I had some scrap fabric left over also. So I cut the fabric about an inch on each size larger.


I took my staple gun and stapled around the corners so it was nice and tight.


I fit it inside the frame, stapled some more - and voila - it's done. It fit's nicely in the kitchen.


The buttons are thumbtacks I made - and the paperclip on the board is something I made too - i'll get to that tutorial later :)


For now - I am beat - I am going to bed. Hope you enjoy!

I totally redid this on January 21st! Check out the new corkboard in this post at the bottom - looks way better...here.